LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
There's a good reason for excitement around the 318th Training Squadron's Training Operations Flight.
Receiving the latest equipment and technology to replace older training tools tends to generate enthusiasm and energize both students and instructors.
The excitement stems from the recent installation of new computer-based flight simulators, an upgraded tool for students from Inter-American Air Forces Academy partner nations enrolled in the instrument procedures course. The course provides students a foundation in flying aircraft by instrument flight rules.
"It's been a long time coming - we've needed this," said Maj. Jorge Nunez, 318th TRS Training Operations Flight commander. "This is going to benefit both the students and the instructors. When the student finishes the course, he's going to be a much better prepared pilot."
While the simulators have helped create this euphoria for the flight commander and the course's guest instructors, it will be off the charts once they are fully integrated into the curriculum during the coming year.
Capt. Eduardo Nanclares, a certified guest instructor from the Argentina air force, said the new simulator creates an improved environment for students and instructors.
"The interface for the instructor is a lot simpler," said Captain Nanclares before he recently returned to Argentina after teaching the course for three years. "It does enhance the student's experience."
Two older simulators still in use while the new equipment is integrated into the course require two students to operate. The cockpits of the older simulators are enclosed and make it difficult for an instructor to observe. The new simulators have three large screens designed for one student, and can be placed in an open area for easy instructor access. Major Nunez said the new simulators change a student's mentality from two seats with assistance to a single seat where a student is more one-on-one with the instructor.
"(The new simulators) are much more realistic," Major Nunez said, "including the weather environment. The fidelity of the control will be almost identical to (the way) a real aircraft (behaves)."
In addition to better preparing students to fly ISR with an instructor upon return to their home country, the new simulators come with Global Positioning System training, a common student request.
"Students ask about GPS and we've been unable to provide that in the classroom because (the old simulators) don't have it," said Lt. Col. Clifford Rich, 318th TRS commander. "Now they'll have it and it will enhance what the student is learning."
Updates and maintenance of the new simulators are another advantage over the MSDOS-based and Windows 95 systems in the older simulators.
"If something breaks (in the older simulators), I don't know how long it would take to be fixed or even if it could be," Major Nunez said. "With the new computer-based simulators, if one goes down we could buy a new computer, load the software and crank it up.
"The down time goes from an unknown to very quick, possibly within days."
Students attending the 11-week course, available for 10 students three times a year, are from Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and national police in partner nations. Most have little experience flying IFR.
The course has three blocks. In the first block, students learn instruments, flight maneuvers and procedures before applying those theories on a simulator. The second block involves more advanced maneuvers and procedures on a simulator. The third block is in-depth flight instrument procedures and rules to insure students know all the techniques used in the Air Force and understand the IFR concept.