Naval Pilot Training
The Training Focus
The T-44/TC-12 track has a main focus of developing aviators in a multi-engine aircraft, with a heavy emphasis in instrument training and crew coordination.
Before you begin training at Corpus Christi, you will be required to attend SV-80 Non-Parachuting Water Survival in NAS Pensacola.
Expectations
"The Big Boy Program," is a phrase you’ll hear often, both in rumors before you go down to Corpus and also from instructors while you’re there. Its’ meaning: You’re Responsible for it all! Your own preparation and study is entirely expected before each syllabus item. Once here, you are considered an advanced student.
In T-37’s you basically knew exactly what you were going to fly beforehand, and you briefed that. These ‘canned’ rides don’t often occur in T-44/TC-12's, the training is dynamic, and the instructor will usually decide which approach to be done during the sortie.
P-Mission prep
For another example, before each new phase of training in T-37’s there were
P-Missions taught by the instructors to teach all aspects of that phase, then
you received "demonstrate/perform' type instruction in the aircraft.
In
the T-44/TC-12 track you will be expected to read and teach yourself all the flying
procedures prior to each flight, then demonstrate them to your instructor.
This results in a better overall use of your time in the aircraft.
Self study & personal initiative
The bottom line is; your own initiative is paramount to your success in the T-44/TC-12 track. Expect to be challenged, but expect to have fun while you are learning.
Priority One
Flying the C-130 for the Air Force. Your final ranking to determine where you go and what you’ll do after Corpus is based solely on your academic and flight performance
The Syllabus/Timeline:
(6 weeks) Academics
(6) Cockpit Procedure Trainers
(14) Familiarization Flights
(4) Night Familiarization Flights
(6) Basic Instrument Simulators
(30) Radio Instrument Sims/Flights
(12) Low-level/Tactical Formation Flights
The program is set-up to be accomplished within a 26 week time span. Just as the T-37 program has phases of training, this program also follows that same type of structure:
Academics
You’ll cover the topics of systems, instruments, meteorology, etc many of these classes will be a review from the information you first learned in T-37 academics.
CPT's (cockpit procedure trainers)
Next, are 6 simulator flights of Cockpit Procedure Trainers. These rides are very similar to the switchology sims. You learn how to start-up the plane and run checklists, to include performing EP’s.
FAMs
The Familiarization flights are the first time you’ll hit the flight line, for a total of 14 events. This is similar to the Contact phase of training in T-37’s. You'll spend half of your sortie in the areas, practicing stalls, turns, and maneuvers. The other half of the sortie will likely be spent in the visual pattern, performing overheads and landings at the auxiliary and home fields.
The 13th FAM is a checkride, to be followed immediately by the 14th FAM: a pattern solo.
During this phase you’ll be assigned an ‘On-Wing’ instructor, with whom you will perform your first 8 events. This gives you a smooth and consistent transition to the flightline. Your on-wing instructor usually becomes your unofficial mentor, your performance later is a reflection of him/her.
You'll also learn Navy "Course Rules", which is actual VFR procedures in the local area. Trust me, the departures you do during T-37 Contact phase are Instrument Procedures... This is true VFR.
Another significant difference here is the fact that you aren't primarilly responsible for staying in your working areas. If you have the SA to remain on your own, that's great, but it is the instructors responsibility as well. This is due to the fact that you will never actually solo in the areas anyway.
Night FAMs
Following the Fam stage, Night Familiarization is four flights in the syllabus culminating in a student night solo at the home field. It’s the same as the day FAM flights, except that it’s dark, and there is no area work. The entire stage consists of 2 instructor flights, a quick checkride and a Solo flight in the local pattern.
BI Stage (Basic Instrument)
The Basic Instrument Flights take place in the simulators. It is a series of six sorties in which you’ll become proficient at your instrument scan, trimming the airplane, and partial panel instrument flying.
RI Stage (Radio Instrument)
The Radio Instrument phase is the bread and butter of this program. Thirty sorties are dedicated to instrument approaches. You’ll also experience a wide variety of simulated emergency situations.
You will fly each type of approach first in the simulator, then go to the aircraft and fly it. You will be well prepared before you fly. The instructors have the freedom to dynamically choose from numerous fields in the local area to perform training. You'll be told what approach is next once you complete the previous one. You will frequently use uncontrolled fields and civilian fields for your training. You'll go in depth with the following type of approaches:
Non Precision: NDB, VOR, TACAN, ASR, Visual, Circling, Localizer, Localizer Back Course
Precision: ILS, PARDuring the last week of RI Stage, you'll be in the "Review Stage". These are the most difficult flights because you can be given any kind of situation, and expected to perform the approaches, handle the emergencies and communicate with ATC. You'll have three review stage flights. An instrument checkride follows the third review stage flight.
90% of your time in RI Stage you'll be handling some sort of simulated in-flight emergency.
Cross Country & Air/Nav Solo
Prior to the RI Review Stage, you will take a weekend cross country trip with an instructor. The range of the T-44/TC-12 limit you to flights within the Continental US.
Within 3 days after completing your Instrument (RI) Check, you will go on an Air/Nav solo flight with another student. You will plan and execute an out & back flight to a Military field within the range of one tank of fuel. There is NO INSTRUCTOR with you!! You are the boss for the day. This is an extreme confidence builder!!
TAC Formation/Low Level
This is the fun stuff, and an appropriate prelude to what you'll be doing as a C-130 Hercules Pilot in the Air Force. You'll begin with 6 single-ship low level sorties, learning to use the visual clues to navigate a route and find a Drop Zone. The final 6 flights in the program will be formation low level flights, doing just what you did on your single ship sortie, with a few others nearby. These flights are taught to C-130 standards, they are specifically designed to prepare you for the Little Rock RTU. It’s the only portion of training that the Navy and Marine students do not accomplish.
Navy Grading Procedures
Different Grading System
86% is your flying grades all equally rated and 14% is from the academics. A flight commander ranking is not included. Your ranking is up to you and only from your grades.
Big Picture Rides
The grading system is different from the T-37 scale that is used. For every item in every sortie will be graded above average, average, or below average. To get this overall ‘big picture’ grade each graded event starts out in the average column and then that item can either go to an above or a below. For example, if you get an above average on holding and a below on a PAR approach your net will be an overall average for that ride. The bottom line is that the IP’s overall assessment of the ride = the grade.
Down = Hook
The most important aspect of the grading to grasp is the "down" or "hook". Every ride in the Navy is the equivalent to an Air Force 88, 89, or 90 ride. If you bust a daily ride in Tweets it doesn’t carry the same weight as busting a check-ride. However, the Navy considers any down like a check-ride bust, and keeps a running tally of how many downs each students has.
Remedial action is then taken based on the number of downs a student has. Fortunately, downs are much less common and the majority of students complete the entire advanced training syllabus without receiving a down. While the attrition rate for this advanced training program is in fact equal to or slightly less than the T-1 or T-38 tracks.
Clean slate?
At one time, you brought your T-37 check-ride busts with you to Corpus Christi, to count toward your overall 'down' total. That is no longer the case, you now begin with a clean slate, just like your friends in T-38's, T-1's and UH-1's. However, this does not prevent instructors from looking at how you performed in T-37's. If you get too many 'downs', your overall flight record is considered during remedial action.
Daily Life
The daily schedule of an advanced pilot training student at NAS Corpus Christi is significantly less structured than what you are used to. You will only be required to be present for the activity you are scheduled for, and you will be expected to plan your own study schedule to meet the expectations of training.
You will be able to check your schedule on-line the evening prior. You'll also be able to look up your grades online, and track your progress.