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I have been selected to attend Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. I understand that course is one year in length, but how long does the entire 'formal' flight training process generally take to complete? I also understand it will vary greatly depending on track-select and airframe assignment. For all of you rated aviators out there, from day one of OTS to checking in with your first operational active-duty squadron, how much time usually elapses? Again, I know it varies considerably, so I'd like to hear from fighters, cargo, tankers -- anyone willing to chime in. Most of the pilots (they fly A-10s) at my unit advised I'll be in a 'formal' training pipeline for about 24 months. Sound about right? I know we're never really done training, but I'm just asking out of curiosity.
Training
Air Force
Pilot
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 12
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20 years or separation, whichever comes first
A pilot is ALWAYS training.
And remember the Cardinal Rule:
regardless of what is going on or what happens and a whatever time, ALWAYS, ALWAYS: Fly The Damned Airplane.
In case of any uncertainty, revert to the previous maxim!
A pilot is ALWAYS training.
And remember the Cardinal Rule:
regardless of what is going on or what happens and a whatever time, ALWAYS, ALWAYS: Fly The Damned Airplane.
In case of any uncertainty, revert to the previous maxim!
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
AMEN...no matter what your specialty is...the day you stop training is the day you get hurt. There is always a better way of doing things or manipulating a weapon system to do more. The day we stop that is the day we fall behind our enemies.
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Col Robert Ginn
To all potential pilots: Sgt Walcott and Col Shuttleworth are dead on. Fly the airplane, or whatever's left of it! Fly it till all the noise stops. Never think you have learned it all. Sounds simple to say, but there are "pilots" who get "bored", "stale", etc. Get them out of the cockpit (difficult to do, yet possible) before they kill them selves and others, combat or not. AND, lucky you going into flying. It's the greatest feeling in the world, to arise in the AM and head to the squadron to FLY ! Lastly, the AF personnel system is NOT there for your convenience nor for your abuse. Your contract is unilateral, the "exigencies" of the service come first. As I was told, once upon a youthful day of arrogance, "listen Lt., those wings, that bar mean ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, ANY TIME ! Got it?" (Craig AFB, 1954) I got it and loved it. And, btw, its "nose DOWN, spool up" Best to you and ALL you lucky Americans who fly.
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Col M P
All the "Mom and Apple Pie" comments (fly the plane into the ground; you're always training) are all true. BUT, to answer the specific question that was asked, Yes about 24 months is a good estimate. As was said, after the year of UPT each air frame has it's own basic qualification time, plus more time for variants, plus more for tactics and weapons delivery (if applicable). Somewhere in there is land and water survival, plus (as in my case) a classified "special" survival course for certain air frames, which can't be discussed in this unclassified forum. Best of Luck to you.
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2d Lt (Join to see)
Gents, I really appreciate your input. Thank you. I'm just awaiting my flight physical results. Pending that does well (not inclined to believe it won't) my package will be forwarded to the OTS Program Manager. I'm hoping to have an OTS report date by Christmas. Thanks again!
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In today's UPT world? 2 years would be awesome. All of the bases are backed up right now. I have multiple buddies who have been AD at their UPT base for over 8 months and are just now getting into the pipeline.
I EAD to Vance in May but would be surprised if I actually start flying before December.
Good luck and keep your nose up!!!
I EAD to Vance in May but would be surprised if I actually start flying before December.
Good luck and keep your nose up!!!
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2d Lt (Join to see)
2d Lt (Join to see) -
Happy to help. Congrats on the OTS selection and UPT placement. Keep us posted with your progress and hope to see you in the skies.
Happy to help. Congrats on the OTS selection and UPT placement. Keep us posted with your progress and hope to see you in the skies.
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2d Lt (Join to see)
Will do and thank you, sir. Speaking of progress, how long ago did you graduate from OTS? What's a typical wait time between graduating OTS and starting UPT? And what do you do during that time? If you're headed to Vance in May, what has the Air Force had you doing the meantime?
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2d Lt (Join to see)
2d Lt (Join to see) -
I'm actually an ROTC Grad. The AF is supposed to have you active duty within a year of your commission, but between your commission and EAD (Enter Active Duty) date, you serve as an inactive reservist. Not sure of the process for OTS or the Reserves, but for ROTC you literally sit and wait. You don't have any commitments such as drill or weekends. You gather time in grade as an O-1, but it's 1/2'd since you're inactive. So if you wait a year to go active duty, you'll EAD with 6 months of time in grade as an O-1.
I'm actually an ROTC Grad. The AF is supposed to have you active duty within a year of your commission, but between your commission and EAD (Enter Active Duty) date, you serve as an inactive reservist. Not sure of the process for OTS or the Reserves, but for ROTC you literally sit and wait. You don't have any commitments such as drill or weekends. You gather time in grade as an O-1, but it's 1/2'd since you're inactive. So if you wait a year to go active duty, you'll EAD with 6 months of time in grade as an O-1.
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The Air Force is likely different in many respects, but I had a number of "Zoomies" in my API and Primary classes at NAS Pensacola in 2000, so it would seem there are similarities. Once you are commissioned (congrats by the way!)...you have several stages of training, interspersed between ground schools, and in most cases, dictated by limitations (aka Budget) and once in a "class"...the weather. I received orders to API a couple of months before I "classed up", working for the base staff in-between (CFC isn't the most glamorous way to spend you first days as an O I can tell ya!). After that, there was API, then ground school and sims, then FAMs at the VT (training squadron) up to my graduation from Primary. I think that was all inside of a year. I didn't get beyond Primary, but my shipmates who did were still heading out to Ready Air Groups as I was completing my first deployment with the PHIBRGU nine months later. All in all, I'd plan for at LEAST two to three years including earning your gold bars.
Best Wishes, and Safe Landings!
Best Wishes, and Safe Landings!
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