Afghan Air Force C-27 pilots - Double Up

Published July 4, 2010
By Capt. Rob Leese
438th AEW PAO

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan Air Force's 373rd Fixed Wing squadron added another three C-27 pilots, doubling their numbers on July 3, 2010.

Col. Kenneth Madura, the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander presented certificates of C-27 Initial Qualification to Col. Aimal Pacha Saydi, Maj. Qabil Khan and Capt. Nik Mohammad Yosufi in a small ceremony among their peers and the advisors of the Combined Air Power Transition Force.

To earn their certificates, the pilots completed 60 hours of academics and 55 hours of C-27 Spartan initial pilot qualification course. The academic portion included an extensive review of all aircraft systems, instrument and visual flight rules and cockpit procedure training. The flying portion of the course involved training in both normal and emergency visual flight rules patterns at numerous bases throughout Afghanistan. The pilots were trained and became proficient in precision and non-precision instrument approaches during flight at night and in actual weather conditions.

Col. Aimal Pacha Saydi, one of the AAF's graduating C-27 pilot, "I appreciate all the training and the people involved in the C-27 program. I am really happy to be here and to fly the C-27 together."

The new pilots worked towards their qualification during the last four months of training and passed their check ride on July 1, 2010.

Lt. Col. Chris Kampsen, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Operations officer explained, "These new qualified pilots will move on to the pilot seasoning phase by flying operation missions throughout the country for next few months and then they will begin the transition to becoming aircraft commanders."