Air Force Fighter Pilot Training

The US Air Force has a special procedure for joining, and an intensive training schedule. Each trainee must also remember that throughout each stage there is an elimination process which may prohibit him from continuing to the next stage.

Starting

To join the Air Force, trainees start with an Air Force commission. The best chance of receiving an Air Force commission is to compete for a pilot slot within the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) offered at many four year colleges, the Air Force Academy or the Officers Training School (OTS).

Flight Screening

Pilot training begins with flight screening. Flight screening covers 20 flight hours of instruction and is designed to test your aptitude as a pilot. The 20 flight hours also include ground-based instruction. Flight screening is approximately three months long.

Pilot Training

Pilot training has three phases, however there are nine flight evaluations run through-out the section. Phase I includes two months of ground school (air craft systems, basic aviation and physical training). Phase II is four months of training in a single-engine, turbo-prop aircraft. Phase III is six months of advanced training (either fighter or transport oriented) which includes frequent tests.

Survival Training

Survival training is four weeks preparing the pilot trainee for forced ejections over land or water. Survival training teaches the trainees how to survive in the wilderness, evade capture and survive as a prisoner of war.

"Aircraft Specific Follow-on Training"

During this final phase, the pilot trainees learn to fly in their assigned weapons system (either as a fighter, tanker, bomber, or a transport). Depending on the type of craft, this can last three to six months.

Misconceptions

Pilot training is not easy to get into, and it's even harder to get through the program without washing out. Most potential pilot trainees do not expect the difficulties they experience within the program.