Young pilot shares vision for Iraqi Air Force

Published Feb. 4, 2008
By Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel
506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Inside the newly opened Iraqi Flying Training school here, Iraqi Lt. Abdul applies fluid motions to gently land his aircraft on a digitized strip of runway.

His trainer, a U.S. Air Force major, stands silently in the background and nods with a sense of unconcerned approval, like a calculus teacher testing his best student on simple addition. The Iraqi soon exits the Cessna simulator he'd been flying and is met with a few words of praise and pointers from his instructor pilot.

To watch this seemingly routine exchange, it can be difficult to grasp the enormous impact these small events might have on the strategy for long-term success in Iraq.

In fact, the school itself appears unassuming at first glance. The significance of a re-born Iraqi Air Force is hidden within the school's dozen or so pre-fabricated structures that stand beside a row of one-engine Cessna's.

Like many things in this country, the Iraqi Flying Training school is a work in progress.
"All of us Iraqi pilots dream to fly the F-16 and F-15," said Lieutenant Abdul, whose real name cannot be revealed for security purposes. "But we know the Iraqi Air Force needs to start from zero, and it's a step-by-step process to get all the things we want."

For all the things the Iraqi Air Force must wait on, motivated trainees are surely not one of them.

"These young pilots understand they have the opportunity to lay down the foundation for their future," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Scott McCartt, an instructor pilot at the school. "They can change the way things have been in Iraq for generations and turn it in a positive direction. These guys don't take that lightly."

While Lieutenant Abdul ponders the possibilities of flying some of the most advanced fighter jets in the western world, it was only a couple years ago when he doubted his chances of becoming a pilot at all.

Like many U.S. pilots, Lieutenant Abdul was inspired by adrenalin-fueled epics featuring Americans "dog fighting" with multi-million dollar aircraft.

"I think the first time I ever dreamed of becoming a pilot was after watching 'Top Gun' when I was a child," said Lieutenant Abdul. "I saw the Americans flying their F-16s and F-15s; it all looked so heroic and exciting."

As he got older, the Baghdad-native pursued his education at a four-year university and graduated with a software engineering degree in 2006.

After college, Lieutenant Abdul jumped onboard the wave of 20-somethings who joined the Iraqi military to help their country and earn a steady paycheck while doing so. He chose to follow his trade and work as a structural engineer in the newly formed Iraqi Air Force.

"The main reason I joined was that I wanted Iraq to be great," Lieutenant Abdul said. "I love my country and want to live like many do in the rest of the world - in peace. But like everyone else in Iraq, I need money too. It wasn't a hard decision for me to make; there were many good reasons."

Despite working for an air force, the lieutenant never thought he would reach the seat of a cockpit and achieve his early aspirations.

His fate made a sharp turn one day when his engineering unit was asked to provide volunteers for a new pilot program.

"I got news one day that Americans were asking the engineers if they wanted to become pilots," he said. "There were 13 of us engineers, and we all raised our hands to answer 'yes.'"

Similar to the selection process in the U.S. Air Force, volunteers for the program couldn't just raise their hand to enter full-fledged pilot training. Lieutenant Abdul and his co-workers underwent vigorous medical and physical tests during the application process. Recruits were also required to pass an English proficiency course. Out of the 13 of his fellow engineers who originally answered 'yes,' only four could pass all tests.

"This was always my dream since I was a child, and the American pilots gave me a chance," he said. "I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do this; it was very exciting for me."

Lieutenant Abdul arrived at the Iraqi Flying Training School Oct. 1, 2007, to begin his first phase of training lasting one year. His training includes hands-on instruction with the Cessna 172 and 208 models. The lieutenant currently has 30 flight hours logged.

While the lieutenant reached his childhood dream, this personal success does not come without a price. Even now, Lieutenant Abdul cannot reveal his occupation to close friends in Baghdad.

"I have just one problem with this job; my family's safety," he said. "I must keep it a secret that I'm working with Americans - I can only tell my closest relatives. The terrorists would kill me if they found out I am a part of the Iraqi Air Force.

"When I come home to Baghdad, I always have a different story to tell my friends explaining where I am," added the lieutenant. "I'm not worried about my friends though; they would be happy for me. But it wouldn't be smart to reveal my occupation, because they could tell other people in the neighborhood."

He said terrorists have previously uncovered identities of other Iraqi Air Force pilots. They were murdered shortly after.

"My family is excited for me," he added, "but fearful at the same time."

The lieutenant admits to feeling "a little pressure," but has no regrets of putting himself in great personal danger.

"This is all worth it to me," said Lieutenant Abdul. "This is the only way I can help keep my country safe. I hope to bring peace to the people of Iraq."

Fortunately, Lieutenant Abdul said he feels no danger performing his daily duties alongside Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and students from many other Iraqi cultural and religious sects.

Tension and violence between these groups often dominate headlines from Iraq, but Lieutenant Abdul says these conflicts are non-existent in the Iraqi Air Force.

"Most of my friends here are Sunni, and I'm Shiite," he said. "We are all from different places in Iraq and many of us have different backgrounds. We never talk about these things at work though, and it's never a problem. In the Iraqi Air Force, the only thing that matters is your ability to be a pilot."

As Lieutenant Abdul progresses with every flight, the Iraqi Flying Training School continues on a similar path.

Iraqi pilots have begun flying their own missions and have earned some initial successes. An all-Iraqi crew flying on a recent reconnaissance mission spotted several terrorists manufacturing improvised explosive devices. The crewmember's alerted Iraqi Police who arrived on-scene soon after to impede the terrorist's efforts.

Since opening last fall, the school has graduated four instructor pilots and is expected to reach full operational capacity by July. The end goal is to have 130 Iraqis earn their wings each year at the school.

Upon graduation, the Iraqi pilots are assigned to a unit that conducts either an airlift mission with C-130 aircraft, or a surveillance mission with King Air 350, Cessna 208 and CH-2000 aircraft. The school is also planning to teach Iraqi's how to fly helicopters in the near future.

"The training here is good, and we are getting step-by-step experience from the Americans," Lieutenant Abdul said. "If we stick together like we have been, I have no doubt we will overcome the obstacles in Iraq. The situation can be dangerous right now, but everyday the Americans here are showing me a way I can help - by becoming a good pilot."

Along with the Iraqi Army and Police, pilots here believe they are taking the lead to secure a stable democracy in their homeland. Lieutenant Abdul's family encourages him to continue this role, as they talk of quieter nights and safer streets in their hometown of Baghdad.

"I hear from my family that the situation is getting better everyday with the help from the Americans and Iraqi government," he said. "Of course, the people are still going without certain things that would improve their lives. But the people of Iraq are tired of violence and want to be safe."

After graduating from pilot school, Lieutenant Abdul will work to accomplish another dream that also once seemed like a long shot.

"I want to travel to America to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy," he said.

Like the old adage says and this young Iraqi lieutenant has shown - where there is a will, there is a way.

And while the roar of an F-16 is still just another dream when Lieutenant Abdul cranks up his Cessna's engine - recent successes here show progress pays very little respect to boundaries.

Iraqi pilots look toward future