Initial Pilot Training and Future Pilot Training

[Swizzle]

5 hours ago, DirkDiggler said:

CPs in MC-130s are PM only for assaults and always have been until AC upgrade or AC prep.  That model hasn’t been an issue for the community.

  The bigger issue is the lack of an actual Phase 3 trainer (T-1 sim only or T-6 only students).  The AF is really fucking these guys and girls over.  I’ve had several students over the last 6 months that seriously struggled to land the aircraft (in the sim) normally on a 13,000x150ft wide runway in day VFR conditions.  A lot of these students are behind in overall SA, comms, basic aircraft handling, and GK.

MC-J vol 2, 5.4 Qualification, para. 5.4.1 "First Pilots (FP) should accomplish a maximum effort take-off and landing in order to maintain this qualification."

Must suck to not "should" and learn for ~2 years or more...

[arg]

I can’t remember what the S in AFSOC is for

[DirkDiggler]

2 hours ago, Swizzle said:

MC-J vol 2, 5.4 Qualification, para. 5.4.1 "First Pilots (FP) should accomplish a maximum effort take-off and landing in order to maintain this qualification."

Must suck to not "should" and learn for ~2 years or more...

11-2MC-130J Vol 3 6.5.5.2: MC and FPs will not perform takeoffs or landings from the right seat under the following conditions:

6.5.5.2: During maximum effort or substandard airfield operations.

FPs (MCs really since the MC-130 doesn’t really do traditional FP) finish the sim phase and don’t sit left seat again until AC upgrade or AC prep (current AC upgrade min hours is 600) therefore there’s little to no benefit to qual them in max efforts.  I have not seen this be an issue during my time in the community, to include 2 schoolhouse tours and now current FTU CI.

Edit to add:  It's not that I haven't seen AC upgrade studs struggle with MEs; I have.  It's just that by the end of the AC upgrade syllabus the average student gets it.  Additionally, all the information in the MC-J HUD takes some of the art out of ME landings (power pull aside).

  I've seen far more ACUGs struggle with getting on/staying on the tanker, acting as the formation commander, and running a crew.

Edited 2 hours ago by DirkDiggler
afterthought

[Swizzle]

Maybe for this reason/policy, now rescinded

5.3.3. REMOVED. 5.3.3. SQ/CC may waive 30 percent of the total and PAA flying hours required for upgrade to aircraft commander...

This change of policy must've been for some [welcome] reason!? And I'm not saying that max efforts are a problem in that community, but it is a risk and training opportunity missed b/c of no FP max effort quals when it seems training and qualifications are priorities, but its also "additional" training (qual and beans) with inherent risk requiring flt hours. Its all about in-seat experience on both counts.