RNZAF Flying Instructors Honing Their Skills in South Island

24 Desember 2018

RNZAF T-6C Texan II aircraft are flying around the South Island until December 21 and again in early January as part of an Air Force flying instructors’ course. (photo : NZDF)

Keeping a stream of highly skilled pilots flowing through the veins of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) comes down to the high calibre of qualified flying instructors, some of which are honing their skills in the South Island skies this week as part of a flying instructor’s course.

All the pilots on the course are converting from other RNZAF aircraft and have been captains on either C-130H (NZ) Hercules, P-3K2 Orion, Boeing 757–2K2 and NH90 MUH capability.

They are getting to grips with the capability and power of the T-6C Texan II aircraft in navigation, formation and low-level flying in terrains they may not have encountered before.

The flying instructors’ course can be considered in two parts. The first part is converting already skilled pilots onto the T-6C and the second part is training those pilots to be excellent instructors.

“They all have different skillsets, and this is a great opportunity for them to cross pollinate the knowledge, experiences, thought processes and tactics they have gathered over their careers,” says Central Flying School Flight Commander Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) James Peters.

RNXAF NH90 MUH (photo : AircraftNut)

“They all bring something different to the table and this course is about standardising those skills and getting everyone at the same level.

“For example, pilots on the Orion would not have a lot of mountain flying, but plenty of search and rescue and surveillance experience.”

The pilots will be training out of Christchurch until December 21 and again from January 7–10. Being away from home base with four T-6C aircraft familiarises them with operating around the country with the aircraft in scenarios they will encounter with future students.

“We really appreciate the communities around New Zealand that welcome us to train in their back yards. We need to be able to train in all terrains and scenarios to ensure we are ready for all eventualities,” says SQNLDR Peters

“Qualified Flying Instructors are crucial to keep the ab initio pilot training going and to ensure we have an uninterrupted flow of pilots through the Air Force.

“This is a high priority flying course in the Air Force, as these future instructors will grow the next generations of RNZAF pilots and aircrew.’

(Medium)