How long is flight training?

2015-11-07T19:26:32-05:00

I have been selected to attend Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. I understand that course is one year in length, but how long does the entire 'formal' flight training process generally take to complete? I also understand it will vary greatly depending on track-select and airframe assignment. For all of you rated aviators out there, from day one of OTS to checking in with your first operational active-duty squadron, how much time usually elapses? Again, I know it varies considerably, so I'd like to hear from fighters, cargo, tankers -- anyone willing to chime in. Most of the pilots (they fly A-10s) at my unit advised I'll be in a 'formal' training pipeline for about 24 months. Sound about right? I know we're never really done training, but I'm just asking out of curiosity.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-11-07T19:29:30-05:00

In today's UPT world? 2 years would be awesome. All of the bases are backed up right now. I have multiple buddies who have been AD at their UPT base for over 8 months and are just now getting into the pipeline.
I EAD to Vance in May but would be surprised if I actually start flying before December.
Good luck and keep your nose up!!!

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made Nov 8 at 2015 6:39 PM

2015-11-08T18:39:24-05:00

20 years or separation, whichever comes first
A pilot is ALWAYS training.
And remember the Cardinal Rule:
regardless of what is going on or what happens and a whatever time, ALWAYS, ALWAYS: Fly The Damned Airplane.
In case of any uncertainty, revert to the previous maxim!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 3:22 AM

2015-11-09T03:22:46-05:00

Cokingm from a JSUPT base I will say that the lines are backed up, yes. It's my understanding from a close friend wrapping up UPT at that base now that it is about a year through training. However, training is somewhat prioritized. For example the guard guys know their predetermined tracks because their bases only facilitate usually one airframe. As such they'll start before the AD Personel, which backs that pipeline up too. At Vance AFB I believe the pipe is about a year.

Response by Capt Matthew Smith made Nov 10 at 2015 8:54 AM

2015-11-10T08:54:39-05:00

This was a few years ago, but I started OTS on 29 May, commissioned 16 August, arrived at my UPT base 26 August, started training 24 February, got my wings on 4 April (13.5 months; I PCS'd from Moody to Laughlin halfway thru, though, which they don't do anymore), did survival training during April and May, went to Altus for MWS training (KC-135) sometime mid-May, left Altus and arrived at my first duty station on 21 August. So all told that was about 27 months. Obviously if you've been through SERE already you can knock a few weeks off that, and you won't PCS in the middle of flight training, so that saves 3 weeks. The real wild card is how long you're sitting casual at your UPT base...and it can be very hard to use that time productively. That's your real challenge.

Response by Lt Col Richard Colarco made Nov 10 at 2015 9:56 AM

2015-11-10T09:56:31-05:00

Congratulations on your upcoming commission!

To answer your specific question, two years sounds about right these days from entry into OTS until your report to your operational unit.

When I entered OTS (in 1972), it was a sprint until I reported to my unit.

Now, you are likely to see a bunch of dead time while you are waiting for your UPT class to begin. Even in UPT, there will likely be some down time. I sure didn't have any (UNT and EWOT).

Don't forget to factor in survival schools, upgrade into your operational aircraft (unless you do in-unit upgrade, which seems to be the way of the world today). All these things take time. You might even do some basic officer PME on the way.

Response by Col Jeffrey Swegel made Nov 10 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-11-10T12:31:05-05:00

Congrats on your selection. The answer depends on what you refer to as "formal training". In the bomber world (and I promise I'm not offended you didn't include bombers in your list above:) ) the process from start of UPT to report at first base was 1 yr, 8 months, so add your OTS time to that. However, I attended other training between UPT and bomber FTU (CCTS at the time), AND when you report you are NOT "mission ready" until both conventional and nuclear training is complete. That took an additional 4 months. So.....it depends.

Response by Lt Col Augie Fuentes made Nov 10 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-11-10T15:30:11-05:00

I would say 18-24 months is about right depending on your class start dates. There is not much you can do other than work within the timing slots that are provided. Don't forget you also have to attend survival school and other training events. BTW, Congratulations!

Response by Col M P made Nov 10 at 2015 3:59 PM

2015-11-10T15:59:11-05:00

All the "Mom and Apple Pie" comments (fly the plane into the ground; you're always training) are all good and true. BUT, to answer the specific question that was asked, Yes about 24 months is a good estimate. As was said, after the year of UPT each air frame has it's own basic qualification time, plus more time for variants, plus more for tactics and weapons delivery (if applicable). Somewhere in there is land and water survival, plus (as in my case) a classified "special" survival course for certain air frames, which can't be discussed in this unclassified forum. Best of Luck to you.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-11-10T19:13:48-05:00

You'll soon find (if you haven't already) the standard aviation answer is "It depends." There are a lot of different factors that determine how long it'll be until you get to your ops squadron, including when you attend IFS, water survival, SERE, when you PCS to your follow-on training, and how long you sit casual between all of those events. When I got to Pensacola (I'm a navigator) I sat casual for about a month before IFS, then another 2-3 months before water survival - in that time, folks that had arrived on station after me had done both and classed up, so I actually graduated after some people that had been on station less time than me. Best of luck and hope to see you out in the wild blue yonder soon!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 8:47 AM

2015-11-12T08:47:21-05:00

Congratulations on your selection! It's a milestone you won't ever forget in your career! The timeline is different for everyone, as almost everyone has stated above. I was selected for my commission February of 2013, it was August 6th, 2014 before I stepped onto the OTS campus. I arrived at Vance AFB on October 13th, 2014 and I didn't start pilot training until May 18th, 2015. At the moment, UPT alone is backed up pretty good. Unless you're Reserve or Guard, expect a long wait before you start training. T-6's right now are running around 6 months alone with phase 1 and 2 of training (academics and flight training). After that you get phase 3 which is either T-1's for heavies, or T-38's for fighters/bombers. As previously stated, even after that you have to account for specific MWS training, SERE, and anything else you have to do for upgrade training before you're qualified. Even for me, I track next week for phase 3, and I -still- don't know how long it will be before I'm in my assigned platform mission ready. It all depends. If you have any other specific questions regarding UPT, feel free to message me. I will help in whatever way I can.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 4:22 PM

2015-11-12T16:22:52-05:00

The Air Force is likely different in many respects, but I had a number of "Zoomies" in my API and Primary classes at NAS Pensacola in 2000, so it would seem there are similarities. Once you are commissioned (congrats by the way!)...you have several stages of training, interspersed between ground schools, and in most cases, dictated by limitations (aka Budget) and once in a "class"...the weather. I received orders to API a couple of months before I "classed up", working for the base staff in-between (CFC isn't the most glamorous way to spend you first days as an O I can tell ya!). After that, there was API, then ground school and sims, then FAMs at the VT (training squadron) up to my graduation from Primary. I think that was all inside of a year. I didn't get beyond Primary, but my shipmates who did were still heading out to Ready Air Groups as I was completing my first deployment with the PHIBRGU nine months later. All in all, I'd plan for at LEAST two to three years including earning your gold bars.

Best Wishes, and Safe Landings!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 8:17 PM

2015-11-19T20:17:11-05:00

Until you pass fail or give up.Depends on your commander if you are a BOLO your commander may opt you out of the program .You have a mission ahead of you ,learn all you can to be the best at what you are going to be and don't worry about time,and remember if you pass you will have a career after you retire from the service. Have fun and Drive On !