An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

New flight simulators give Afghan airmen an edge

  • Published
  • By MC2 Dave Quillen
  • 438th AEW PA
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Afghan Air Force pilot candidates now train on flight simulator equipment as airmen develop skills prior to intensive military flight training at NATO nations overseas.

The Combined Air Power Transition Force, a force of NATO nations, which develops the Afghan Air Force, bought the simulator packages for future pilots at the Afghan Air Force base in Kabul.

"We have purchased Microsoft Flight Simulator 10 with the advanced instrumentation package and professional flight controls (yoke and stick, throttles, and rudder kit). Those only slightly familiar with this program will think it is just a game, but it is not. It closely matches what is called a basic aircrew training device that costs many thousands of dollars," said Lt. Col. Wayne McCaskill, director of operations, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, CAPTF.

Costing just over $5,000 for 13 simulator packages, the advanced software has full visuals, an interactive cockpit and programmable locations and weather patterns. It include 22 locations in Afghanistan as well as a menu of selectable aircraft which will soon include the T-6 Texan II single-engine turboprop aircraft trainer used by the U.S. Air Force during pilot training. This provide the Afghan pilot candidates an edge when they attend undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi for fixed wing planes or the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala. for helicopters.

"The purpose of the training program is to introduce them to and build the basic pilot skills they will need in pilot training," said Colonel McCaskill. "The more comfortable and knowledgeable we can get them now, the more likely they will be able to succeed in their follow-on training as they will also have the added stress of trying to learn how to fly in English."

That's why flight training in Kabul is completely in English. It's part of the "Thunder Lab", a newly-created English language and culture immersion facility designed to better prepare Afghan candidates for training in the West.

There are four classes per week and each class covers one lesson which has an academic portion and a flying portion. The students prepare for the class, review material in class and practice on the simulator with a flying lesson with measured objectives. The instructor assesses students and records the results in each student's training folder. There is a comprehensive test at the end of each block. Currently there are three blocks, each with about six lessons.

The first block is basic maneuvers, the second is advanced maneuvers, and the third is instrument flying. This will mirror what Afghan candidates can expect in the undergraduate pilot training.

With this new simulator package, Colonel McCaskill is excited for the Afghan trainees.

"If you would have told me we were doing this 5 years ago I would not have supported it, I did not think the software was realistic enough. Now however, I am a true believer. The software very closely matches the real aircraft and the flexibility and realism provides for incredible flexibility and realism in training," said Colonel McCaskill.