In considering the idea of NZ operating the MB-339CB, I've started to collect information on both NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada) and flight training generally.
In Canada, flight training appears to generally cover four phases, of these, phases II through IV are part of the NFTC program. Initial pilot instruction looks to be undertaken by Bombardier (Phase I) under contract with Canada. Participating countries are responsible for the equivalent to Phase I training prior to entry to NFTC.
Phase IIA Basic Flying Training is conducted on one of the 24 Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II turboprop trainer, aka T-6 Texan II. The course runs for 6.5-8months depending on time of year and flight conditions and includes 94 flying hours and 36 simulator hours, as well as over 220 hours of debriefings. After the completion of Phas IIA, student pilots who pass will progress to one of three areas, these are Phase IIB Jet, Phase III Multi-engine, or Phase III Rotary wing. The later two, Multi-engine and Rotary wing are both not part of the NFTC program.
Phase IIB Jet is a prep course for pilots who will operate fighter aircraft. It is also conducted on the Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II turboprop trainer, and the course covers 46 flying hours and 4 simulator hours, as well as ~67 hours of debriefing. Successful completion of Phase IIB allows the graduate to progress to Phase III.
Phase III Advanced Flying Training uses the BAE Systems Hawk 115 (CT-155 Hawk), with either 12 or 22 inventory (have conflicting numbers on this). The course runs 5-6 months depending on the time of year, covering 71 flying hours, 31 simulator hours and 200 hours of debriefing. Successful graduation allows progression to Phase IV.
Phase IV Flight Lead-In Training uses the BAE Systems Hawk 115 to provide basic knowledge needed to progress through any OCU and minimize the time needed to become a combat-ready pilot. It runs for 4 months, covering 49 flying hours, 18 simulator hours and 183 hours of debriefing. After completion of this phase, the pilots would move to their respective nations' OCU training for the different fighter aircraft.
Current participants are:
- The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) which sends 6 pilots through Phase II each year. Five of which will progress to Phases IIB, III, and IV. If the 6th student passes they are entered into Phase III for either Multi-engine or Rotary wing.
- The Royal Air Force (RAF) sends 20 pilots through Hawk 115 conversion training each year, followed by Phase IV training.
- The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) sends 6 pilots through Phases III and IV each year, with Phase IV being extended.
- The Italian Air Force (IAF) sends 3 student pilots through Phase II, and depending on success rate, onto Phases IIB, III and IV.
- The Hungarian Air Force (HuAF) send 7 pilots to Phase II training each year, with 5 then going onto Phases IIB, III and IV. The remaining 2 are sent to Phase III Rotary wing training.
Having gone through that, it appears that the NFTC program provides 140 hours flight time in a turboprop, and 120 hours in a fast jet/lead-in fighter. There is also 40 and 49 hours of sim time respectively. Also, from the program description
http://www.nftc.net/nftc/en/flash/nftc.jsp
the intent is to provide student pilots with flight experience and prepare potential fighter pilots for operations where situational awareness, etc is key. It doesn't seem to provide actual air combat training, or act as an OCU.
If the primary intent is to accumulate flight experience, I could see NZ being able to provide just such training environment. Granted, the RNZAF might need to increase their number of CT-4E Airtrainers, and possibly add in an intermediate turboprop trainer (like the Pilatus PC-9/A or PC-21) but it I believe is possible. Also, if conducted along the lines of the NFTC, the fees collected in training foreign pilots can be used to offset the training for NZ pilots and operations. One question that would need an answer is, how many student pilots could be trained to an equivalent level as the NFTC provides, using the 17 MB-339CBs, and how long would it take.
The question then becomes, if such a flying school were established in NZ, who would be trained. The ADF seems able to meet their training needs, though perhaps a few additional slots for pilots wouldn't go amiss. With Singapore participating in NFTC, I would assume that the local flight training programs aren't sufficient to meet the need for pilots in the RSAF, so perhaps a few slots could be filled by Singapore, but more information would be good.
Does anyone have information on the RMAF pilot training program? I'd be interested to see how many pilots the RMAF graduates, how long the program runs, and what the accumulated flight time is per pilot.
Possible candidate countries for flight training would be countries that operate small numbers of both fast jets and trainers, particularly if the country conducts it's own flight training program.
I'm interested to hear what people think.
-Cheers
, trying to down a rouge Cessna 172 flying over an urban environment with a IR missle seems abit overkill anyway:gun