Afghanistan: Taking Off

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Paul Bedesem, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron instructor pilot, shakes the hand of Afghan National Army Air Corps Lt. Faiz Ramaki, after Lieutenant Ramaki's check ride, Feb. 23. Ramaki is the Air Corps newest pilot and the first pilot qualified to fly Afghanistan's newest aircraft, the C-27 cargo and troop transport aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class David R. Quillen)

Afghanistan: Taking Off

Lt. Faiz Ramaki, the Afghan National Army Air Corps' first C-27 pilot, stands between U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Piel, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Combined Air Power Transition Force commander, Lt. Col. Paul Bedesem, and Msgt. Chris Ringland both also with the 538th, on the tarmac after the Afghan pilot completed his final check ride at Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class David R. Quillen)

Airmen train Afghan National Army Air Corps' first C-27 pilot

Published Feb. 24, 2010
By Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Burke
NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Lt. Faiz Ramaki is the Afghan National Army Air Corps' newest pilot. He completed his check ride Feb. 23, making him the first Afghan pilot qualified to fly the Air Corps newest aircraft, the C-27.

"He's very sharp," said, Lt. Col. Paul Bedesem, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Combined Air Power Transition Force instructor pilot. "He's very intelligent, a quick learner and he has good hands. Being able to coordinate the power controls and flight controls together on single engine patterns is very challenging and he did very well."

The C-27 initial qualification regime takes approximately 90 days to complete, including three weeks of academic classes covering ground training, 12 flights and ends with a final check ride.

The 12 flights -- six day and six night -- totaling approximately 50 flying hours, consist of flying under visual and instrument flight rules on takeoffs and landings with different flap configurations.

Lieutenant Ramaki was also trained on the more advanced procedures of simulated single-engine emergency landings, as well as tactical and instrument approaches.

The Afghan pilot began the Aviation Leadership Program in May 2008 at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. During ALP, student pilots learn VFR, IFR, patterns and night flying in the T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft.

Before ALP, Lieutenant Ramaki attended the Defense Language Institute in San Antonio, Texas, for nine months of English proficiency training.

"I want to appreciate my instructors and I want to appreciate anybody who is involved in our training," Lieutenant Ramaki said, after completing his check ride. "I really appreciate my aircrew buddies and all they do helps Afghanistan and the Air Corps" said Ramaki after completing his check ride.

The next step for Ramaki is Mission Qualification.

He will begin flying operational missions in the C-27 throughout Afghanistan.

The C-27 is an all weather, twin turboprop, GPS-equipped troop and cargo transport aircraft. A C-27 crew consists of two pilots and one Loadmaster.

There are currently three pilots in the C-27 initial qualification process. Combined with the four Loadmasters in qualification, the ANAAC should produce its first-ever qualified C-27 crew this spring.