Hello everyone!
I am currently engaged in the USAF's Initial Flight Screening (IFS) program in lovely Pueblo, Colorado. It is a 4 week "screening" process where everything from academics to solo flights are accomplished.
It is 100% contracted out to Doss Aviation, where all the instructors are civilians (most ex-military flyers). We eat, sleep, workout, study, and everything else in one large complex. This is meant for there to be little to no distractions while going through this course. (For example: Spouses are not recommended to accompany students, no visitors past 2200, and every room has ZERO windows! So there is literally minimal distractions).
The aircraft that is to be flown is the mighty DA-20, a 125 horsepower, twin seat trainer. There are about 45 aircraft here and can be distinguished by the tiger teeth painted on the front.
This course, IFS, is the "screening" phase before beginning the big, real deal, 1 year UPT - Undergraduate Pilot Training. So this course is a pass/fail, with an attrition rate of around 10%. My flight class consists of a total of 81 people. The logic for this screening is that it is cheaper to have people "washout" here, only costing around $17,ooo, versus them washing out at UPT, where costs can get as high as $1,000,000.
I'll try to keep you all updated as much as possible!
Sincerely,
EMAN
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