RAF aids PTN 2.0 pilot training

AUSTIN, Texas – After a May 2018 visit here to the Air Force’s Pilot Training Next facility and facing a similar pilot shortage as the AF, the UK’s Royal Air Force is taking innovation forward with the inclusion of a student and an instructor pilot in the second iteration of PTN. PTN 2.0 is a continuation of the AF’s experimental training that is designed to integrate various technologies to produce aviators in an accelerated, cost efficient, and learning-focused manner. The RAF needs to reduce pilot training time and increase its numbers, according to British Army Col. Paddy Logan, assistant director for flight training. The RAF chief of aviation staff has given “us the go–ahead to push the envelope and innovate our pilot-training pipeline,” he said. “We don’t have the capacity to experiment … so having this (USAF) partnership … is invaluable.” The RAF is transitioning from the A-29 Super Tucano to the T-6 Texan II as its primary trainer aircraft, and its goal is to incorporate PTN lessons- learned into their undergraduate pilot training by this coming fall. For the PTN 2.0 team, the inclusion of the RAF duo has opened the eyes on learning that both air forces face similar challenges in terms of production and retention. “This strengthens the partnership with one of our closest allies by continuing to share best practices, and tackling difficult problems together,” Lt. Col. Paul Vicars, PTN director, said. (Air Education and Training Command 03/29/19) While the training is designed to teach students how to fly, priming them for transition training at flying training units, like Columbus (Miss.) AFB’s 14th Operations Group that is responsible for the 52-week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) mission, was a major consideration for PTN officials for this second class.