Sat, May 23, 2020
Training Will Also, In the Future, Place Greater Emphasis On Synthetic Training
Squadron Leader Chris Pearson and Flight Lieutenant Jamie Bell are the first to partake in a trial which may provide an alternative training pipeline pathway to flying a fast jet.
Having achieved their wings in under a year, both pilots will now progress onto the Hawk T2 with 25(F) Squadron at RAF Valley later in the summer. In so doing they may pave the way for future fast jet pilots to earn their wings at RAF College Cranwell.
The two pilots began Elementary Flying Training (EFT) with 57 Squadron at RAFC Cranwell in May 2019. Upon successful completion of EFT and after being streamed for Fast Jet, they were selected to partake in a novel collaboration between the RAF and Ascent Flight Training, the Prefect-direct to-Hawk initiative.
Part of a wider review aimed at streamlining how student pilots reach the front line, pilot training will also in future place greater emphasis on synthetic training with virtual reality, mixed reality and 360 degree video training aids blended with piloting of aircraft. Students may also follow different pathways dependent on the aircraft type they are destined to fly on the front line.
Flight Lieutenant Bell, from Bristol, joined the RAF in 2016. He went on to hold at RAF Leeming with Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron (NUAS) where he experienced his first ever flight. Squadron Leader Pearson, from Poole, joined the RAF in 2004 and served as a Tornado Navigator on the Tornado F3 and GR4, becoming a Weapons Instructor in 2014. He was one of a small number of Navigators selected for Pilot training post Tornado withdrawal from service.
Flying training has continued at a reduced rate during lockdown with all reasonable precautions taken to protect personnel, including social distancing precautions. The training has focussed on supporting the front line to ensure we have people ready for operations and are able to sustain our commitments.
More News
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]