KC-135 Training
16 Aug 2004 through 29 Nov 2004
BACK
22 Aug 04 29 Aug 04
05 Sep 04 12 Sep 04 19 Sep 04 26 Sep 04
03 Oct 04 10 Oct 04 17 Oct 04 24 Oct 04 31 Oct 04
22 Aug 04
29 Aug 04
The program here at Altus is a refreshing change compared to Columbus. On day one, they gave us an academic schedule which takes us through TD 41 (Training Day 41) - on that day we report to the flight line. Most of the training here is self-paced. We have scheduled IBT's (instructor based training) throughout the program while all the other CBT classes (computer based training) can be done anytime before TD 41! So, essentially you could accomplish all the CBT's in the first week and have tons of free time.
The training is slpit into 3 phases - the first phase is academics (40 days and 4 tests), then simulator training (11 sims and 1 EP sim), and finally flying (8 flights and 1 checkride). Whenever you accomplish all the requirements, you're done. If I happen to finish two weeks early, I can leave the next day! We're scheduled to be done no later than 29 November, so hopefully I can finish before Thanksgiving.
Even though the program is self-paced I still feel overwhelmed. The pile of books/pubs/Student guides they gave us literally stacks 3 feet high. Section one of the Tech Order is over 1000 pages! Because we're all rated pilots, they dont bother teaching us basics, Air Force or FAA regulations, instead we focus only on the airframe itself. Once leaving I should have a working knowledge of the entire KC-135 airplane to include ALL systems. Right now im focused on studying for the first test (covering Pneumatics, Auxillary Power, Engines, Autopilot, Hydraulics, Electrics, and Flight Director) and learning the 87 steps of the interior inspection. Each step also has several sub-steps. For example step 72 is "IFF & TCAS - Checked and Set" I have to know exactly what to check and what to set...this one has 19 sub-steps.
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."
Aristotle
05 Sep 04
12 Sep 04
Altus AFB is filled with people from many different backgrounds. Not only do they train Co-pilots here, but they also train boom operators, Aircraft Commanders, and Load masters for the KC-135, C-5 and C-17's. My KC-135 class has about 15 CIQ's (Co-pilot Initial Qualification), 5 ACIQ (Aircraft Commander Initial Qual), and 10 ACRQ (Aircraft Commander Re-Qual). Each co-pilot is paired up with an older more experienced Aircraft Commander for all the Sim missions, and flights throughout the program. This arrangement works out great - these officers have a ton of real world knowledge to share.
We have another week and a half of Academics before we start full time sim training. The first test went good, I studied hard an passed with a 96%, unfortunately others werent so lucky. A failing grade is anything below an 85%, and we cant fail more than one test. The second test covers Aerodynamics, Air Refueling, Normal Procedures, Flight Controls, and Fuels. The other test covers Emergency Procedures with a Cumulative Final Exam. These can be taken anytime you feel ready - I plan to focus my efforts at the beginning and finish all the tests early.
"If we all worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true is really true, there would be little hope of advance.
Orville Wright
19 Sep 04
26 Sep 04
Had a busy week - finished up Academics and had 3 sims. I was also fortunate enough to pass the second test with a 94%. The Emergency Procedures test has three parts; a 20 question take-home test, a Boldface exam and a 50 question closed book exam. I scored 100%, 100%, and 96% respectively.
Im off to Dallas this weekend - to attend a wedding. And, it turns out my brother has a golf tournament in Fort Worth, so that worked out perfect. Congrats to Chris and Bonnie...Good Luck to Jay!
03 Oct 04
10 Oct 04
Backlog from Tuesday - Tonight I had my final acceptance sim (#12) which was a chckride profile. I ended up passing with an excellent, so I'm cleared to the flight line.
Each sim breaks down like this: An hour beforehand we meet for the preflight, talk about the profile, answer any questions, and go over the reading assignments. Then, the copilot heads to the sim to start his preflight checks (first 40 steps are done before the other crewmembers board). Once the pilot gets settled in the cockpit, we finish all the ground checklists which include, preflight, starting engines and before taxi, taxi, and before takeoff. It usually takes an hour before we're lined up for takeoff. Once airborne and leveled off, we're given several emergency procedures. Afterwards, we perform a rendezvous with a receiver and offload several thousand pounds of gas. On the return route, more EP's and an hour of pattern work. After four hours in the sim, we have an hour debrief. Although it only seems like 30 minutes, all in all its a 6 hour ordeal.
The KC-135 training here at Altus has two different spectrum's - the FlightLine side and the FlightSafety side. Academic and Sim instructors are all civilians (usually retirees) who work for a company called FlightSafety. For the first 2 months we're trained by these individuals. Afterwards, we literally head across the street to the flightline. This is where the actual Flying Squadrons are located - filled with Air Force KC-135 flight instructors. This part of the spectrum involves all the flying.Needless to say, there's a lot of tension between FlightSafety and the Flightline. FlightSafety focuses strictly on textbook maneuvers, old fashioned techniques and being very conservative. On the other hand, FlightLine instructors give valuable information about "real world" mission training, and useful techniques for everyday flying. Im sure this is done intentionally so pilots have an appreciation for both points of view.
I report to the flightline on Thursday morning, and I imagine I'll have my first flight early next week!
"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."
John F. Kennedy
17 Oct 04
This is a test!
24 Oct 04
This is a test!
31 Oct 04
This is a test!