Taking Huey pilots under its wing

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Two 23rd Flying Training Squadron TH-1H Hueys from Fort Rucker, Ala., and 14 personnel, traveled to Columbus Air Force Base for training as part of the Undergraduate Helicopter Training Next (UHTN) program. CAFB answered a support request to provide physiology training for eight student pilots. “This training was required to execute AETC's Undergraduate Helicopter Training Next program,” said Maj. Jarrod Huffman, 23rd FTS innovation flight commander and instructor pilot. “AETC is testing a way for the pilots assigned to helicopters to skip the fixed-wing portion of pilot training and go straight to helicopter training. By having separate training for helicopter-student pilots and fixed-wing student pilots, pilot training will be more efficient.” While completing the Initial Physiological Training course, led by CAFB’s Aerospace and Operational Physiology flight, the student pilots learned about human factors, altitude threats, spatial disorientation, performance threats, egress, airfield flight equipment and vision, noise and aircraft vibration. During their hands-on training, the student pilots completed a night-vison lab, a Barany chair demonstration and a chamber flight for hypoxia familiarization. All student pilots normally go through the first stages of training together with helicopter student pilots selecting and transitioning to "helos" partway through the program. “There are many different factors to do helicopter-only training,” Huffman said. “So much of the training ... occurs at a pilot training base. You’ve got the physiology and you’ve got a numerous amount of academics here, so now we’re trying to figure out how we’re going accommodate for that at the 23rd FTS.” Each student pilot is assigned to various aircraft after a portion of training, one of those craft being helicopters. By skipping training done at other pilot training bases, helicopter student pilots will get through the courses quicker and it in turn will save money. Ultimately, Huffman believes that similar training such as IPTC can be accomplished at Ft. Rucker and will help pave a new way for AETC to conduct helicopter-only pilot training. (Source: Columbus AFB 09/02/20) https://www.columbus.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2334164/aetc-tests-new-innovative-way-of-helicopter-pilot-training/