In recent days, it concluded at the’International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Decimomannu, the training process for military pilots coming from Canada and from United Kingdom.
Started in July 2023 at the 212th Flight Group / IFTS of the 61st Wing, the LIFT (Lead In to Fighter Training) course was completed one month ahead of schedule, allowing participants to finish the training programme well in advance of the original planning, demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of the teaching methods and technological support used at the IFTS.
During the course, the trainees tackled demanding challenges and tasks, and were able to make the most of the resources provided by IFTS, sharpening their skills and acquiring greater confidence in the use of advanced avionics. All of this was made possible thanks to’Integrated Training System (ITS) T-346, an integrated platform where the ground sector (simulators and learning systems) forms an integral part of the aircraft itself, making training activities more optimised and cost-effective.
The choice by foreign air forces to train their pilots in Italy (the school currently hosts pilots from Saudi Arabia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Great Britain, Qatar and Singapore) testifies to an Italian pre-eminence in the international flight training sector.
For the Colonel Vito Conserva, Commanders of the 61st Wing, “The’International Flight Training School (IFTS) is an Italian centre of excellence of international standing, which pools the Italian Air Force's established know-how in the flight training sector and the excellence of an Italian industry like Leonardo in the field of integrated training systems for military pilots. IFTS represents a benchmark for advanced military pilot training of air forces worldwide flying technologically advanced fighters, such as Eurofighter or F-35 aircraft, and is a virtuous example of national institutional and industrial synergy able to meet the growing demand of the Italian Air Force and partner nations for pilot training.“
Subordinate to the Schools Command of the Italian Air Force / 3rd Air Region of Bari, the 61st Wing is tasked with providing jet flight training: Phase 2 – Primary Pilot Training, common to all student military pilots, aimed at identifying the career streams they will fly on (fighters, remotely piloted aircraft, helicopters, transport); Phase 3 – Specialized Pilot Training, aimed exclusively at student pilots selected for the “Fighter” stream, which concludes with the awarding of the military pilot licence (toothed eagle); Phase 4 – Lead-In to Fighter Training – LIFT, preparatory to subsequent deployment on latest-generation fighter aircraft.
