CAFB’s 48th leading the way

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – The 48th Flying Training Squadron “Alley Cats” were the leading creator of Air Force pilots having graduate 233 pilots in 2018. In Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT), each class starts with flying the T-6A Texan II. Afterwards, based on track selection, some students will fly T-1A Jayhawks. That is where the 48th FTS comes into play. The 48th flew 9,100 sorties in 2018, more than any other SUPT T-1 squadron. Those sorties resulted in 19,500 flying hours which put the Alley Cats second overall out of 23 ‘white jet’ squadrons (non-operational aircraft) in the Air Force. However, being the No. 1 pilot creator doesn’t come without challenges. Between the ever changing weather conditions, syllabus updates, aircraft maintenance and unforeseen circumstances, the Alley Cats have mastered the art of “adapt and overcome.”(Source: CAFB 02/08/19)