Questions About Aviation Training

[WriterGirl332]

Hi! I've just joined the forum and I wanted to ask some questions. To introduce myself, I'm 21 and in college. I'm also an aspiring writer, which is why I wanted to ask a few questions (I'm working on a JAG fanfic that involves Aviation Training and I wanted to get everything right - and to that, please bear with me if I get something wrong!)

To anyone who answers, please know how much I appreciate this!

1) What is the basic sequence for becoming a pilot? Specifically, what kinds of traing, classes, and tests does one have to undergo and in what order?

2) Can someone explain the procedure for flying quals, specifically for aviation students who are about to get their wings?

3) When undergoing aviation training, can a student act as another student's RIO?

4) What scores on tests are passing and what scores are considered excellent? And if anyone could make a list of some sort, of all tests, written, in-plane, etc and scores, that would be much appreciated.

5) Can someone tell me about any Academy traditions involving aviator classes? Specifically, are there any traditiond, rites of passage, initiation type activites that the class might engage in on their own te night before a test/qual?

I think that covers everything, but if anyone has anything to add, anything I've left out, feel free to add it! Thanks again!

 

[vschip]

writer, been 10 years since i was in training, but here it goes
1. start out with API(aviation preflight indoc, i think), about 6 weeks, then on to primary, about 6 months of learning to fly a single engine turbo-prop, the T-34, including aircraft systems, instrument flight, formation, ect. Then you select either jets, helos or props, then you do the same thing you did in primary, just in T-45(jets), H-60(helos) or T-44(props), except more in depth in every phase.
2.flying quals, each plane you fly, you have a variety of stages(fams, forms, tac form, basic inst, radio inst, airnav, weaps, ect) each stage has a check ride, if you pass the check ride, you move on, if not, you go to extra training.
3. can't speak for tomcats, but in the s-3, all of the sims were flown with studs flying together, in the plane, studs flew with studs during field carrier landing practice only. Generally, in a 2 seat plane, at all times, one of the seats is occupied by a instructor(not counting solo flights in the T-45, and some random stud/stud in H-60/T-44)
4.each of the stages in training had a test, but generally the "gouge" was out, so if you got below a 95, you were below average. no clue on how many tests, maybe current studs could give you a clue
5.not sure about the academy, but after you soloed for the first time, there was a "tie cutting" ceremony(cutting your tie to earth, i think), after your last flight before your winging, you got drenched by your buds w/water after you climbed out of the plane, and don't forget the bets between studs and the landing signals officer, which are historically one sided(never lost a bet to my studs, whether they won or not!)
hope that helps, guys/gals that are in training could probably help you out more.
chip

 

[WriterGirl332]

VSChip, thanks so much...anything is a help and you gave me a lot and thanks for the advice about asking people in training...I'll do that.

PS - I assume stud means a student?

 

[vschip]

yup, stud=student, and sorry about the th-57/h-60 screw-up, like i said, its been a while