Solo flights exhibit Iraqi student pilots flying skills

Published Oct. 19, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez
506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq -- An Iraqi student pilot in a Cessna 172 idles on the runway here waiting for the air traffic control tower to approve his ascent into the sky. A U.S. Air Force pilot instructor, who just stepped out of the aircraft, anxiously anticipates watching his protégé take a huge leap in his training by flying the plane on his own.

"There are a lot of mixed emotions that go on in a solo flight," said Lt. Col. Robert Coleman, 521st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, instructor pilot, deployed here from the Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. "It's the longest walk (away from the aircraft) in the world because you're watching him take off and you're hoping you made the right decision and gave him all the right tools, mentally and physically, to be able to handle the situation."

Colonel Coleman elaborated on what the moment was like as he stepped away.

"You shake his hand, you close the door and you let him go. He's got to take that step; it's a big step for any pilot to be able to fly the airplane alone," the instructor said.

The wait was finally over when the officer from Iraqi air force Squadron 1 accelerated down the runway in his aircraft for a successful takeoff here Oct. 8. After roughly 30 minutes of flight time that took him up to altitudes of approximately 2, 000 feet, the pilot landed and taxied the aircraft into its parking space where he was greeted with applause by his fellow comrades. He now joins the ranks of his Iraqi pilot predecessors who awaited his return and who have all flown solo as they continue to advance as military pilots.

Colonel Coleman said preparing the students to take that first flight alone requires different blocks of instruction including basic control, flight patterns, and landing. After advancing academically, the instructors shadow the students throughout their entire pre and post-flight safety checks, evaluate their piloting skills and ultimately decide if and when they're ready to fly alone. The students average 15 flights with an instructor before a decision is made to let them fly solo.

"It's a huge leap for them to break down their flight training process to this basic level and build it back up much the same way that the U.S. trains," the colonel said.
Students who successfully perform their solo flights go on to other flight training programs including either rotary-wing training or fixed-wing training on larger aircraft. As they progress they'll move on to different airframes and a more sophisticated flight curriculum including instruments and visual navigation.

"For the students that stay with us, they graduate from the 172 to the Caravan 208 and learn more complex instruments, learn to fly an aircraft with a more complicated engine, and a more powerful constant speed propeller," said Colonel Coleman.

Colonel Nabeel Ahmed, Iraqi air force, instructor pilot, had some advice to help the future generation of Iraqi student pilots. He said that it's important they relax, pay attention to the instruments in the cockpit, and listen for the air traffic control tower.
Emphasizing the importance of the course material, he had one more particular piece of advice for the students.

"First thing, I all time give them my advice to study," he said.

The Iraqi students have taken many steps advancing to the next level of training and building up the new Iraqi air force. Iraqi airmen taking their first solo flight is viewed as a rite of passage for the pilots and serves as one example of how the U.S. and Iraqi military are working together to transition power back to the Iraqis.

The Iraqi colonel added, "The first solo is very important to any cadet ... that means he's starting to be a pilot."

Approximately 100 students got that experience since October 2007. The most recent class, which started May 2009, had 22 students fly solo. Colonel Coleman shared his view on what this means for the Iraqi air force.

"They will have a much more capable military force, they will have better educated and capable pilots, and they will be a force multiplier within the area," Colonel Coleman said. "As allies of the United States, hopefully down the road we will be able to make the world a better place as far as this local region, and overall for the rest of the region as well."