The Hindu : National : IAF pilots get to fly Hawks

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Friday, Jun 29, 2007
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IAF pilots get to fly Hawks

Special Correspondent

Responsible for training frontline pilots

RAF to deliver a convex flying programme
First stage is ground school training

NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force pilots have, for the first time, got their hands on the Hawk aircraft for training the next generation of pilots. Once the first Hawks are delivered to the IAF later this year, these instructors will be responsible for training its frontline pilots.

As part of a contract to supply a total training solution, which includes manufacture of 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft, the BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force will deliver a ‘Convex Flying Programme’ converting IAF-qualified flying instructors and HAL pilots to the new Indian Hawk. Six flying instructors will undergo training on the Indian Hawk between June and September.

The first stage of the programme is ground school training, carried out in the RAF Valley by the BAE Systems specialists. The instructors will also carry out five U.K. orientation simulator sorties on the Hawk Synthetic Training Facility located at the RAF base, delivered in partnership by the BAE Systems and the RAF.

After this stage, the instructors return to the BAE Systems, Warton site for sea survival training and to the Brough site for avionics training before commencing their flying training at Warton. Each IAF instructor will fly 15 training sorties on the new Indian Hawks before qualifying himself.

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