The first batch of six Indian Air Force flying instructors have successfully completed their "Convex Flying Programme" on the Hawk Advance jet trainer at RAF valley in the United Kingdom.
During the 10-week programme, the pilots underwent ground school training and simulator sorties at Royal Air Force Valley, avionics training at BAE Systems in Brough, and sea survival training, prior to flying training.
The flying phase covered 15 flights per pilot, including night flying over a five-week period.
In 2004, India had signed a Rs 8,000 crore deal with BAE systems, the premier defence and aerospace company, to acquire 66 Hawk AJTs to meet the IAF's requirement of the transonic fighter trainer.
Of these 66 aircraft, 24 were being supplied by BAE in ready to fly condition while the rest would be manufactured at Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under licensed production.
According to the deal, BAE Systems will also provide ground based training systems, associated support and interim pilot training at RAF Valley in Wales.
"Once the first Hawks have been delivered to the Indian Air Force later this year, these instructors will develop the new advanced fast jet training system and begin training students who will be the IAF's next generation frontline pilots," the BAE systems has said in a release on Tuesday.
Paul Comer, Indian Hawk senior instructor pilot, said the programme covered all aspects of fast jet flying training.
"The course has been very wide ranging, covering all aspects of fast jet flying training," Comer said. "Despite the unseasonable UK weather, the 90 required sorties have been flown in just five weeks using, on average, only two aircraft. This rate of flying is quite an achievement for the aircraft and all of the Indian Hawk Convex team," he said.
All six IAF pilots have adapted well to the new aircraft and have achieved a good standard in all the disciplines, he said. The IAF has been sending pilots for Hawk training in batches of six to eight to the Royal Air Force Valley in the UK since June 2004 as per the deal. The training is scheduled to be completed by end of February 2008. The IAF is also sending a few instructors to RAF Valley as the pilots join the squadrons after completing their training in UK and do not come back to the training command.
