SHINDAND, Afghanistan - The first three aircraft slated as initial trainers for the Afghan Air Force undergraduate pilot training program arrived at Shindand Air Base today, marking a historic day for Afghanistan and its nascent Air Force.
Arriving in front of onlookers including Afghan and coalition leadership, the three Cessna 182 Turbo aircraft, are the first of six to be used as initial flight training aircraft, with six additional Cessna 208B’s scheduled to arrive over the coming months as the fixed wing follow-on trainer.
In addition to the fixed wing program, there will be six MD-530 light helicopters delivered later this year, devoted to the rotary wing portion of UPT. These aircraft, along with six Mi-17 helicopters, will be used for advanced follow-on training. The initial instructor cadre of the training program is staffed by a handful of U.S. Air Force, coalition and Afghan instructors.
In 2009, the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense selected its first group of pilot candidates on which to build its future Air Force. Absent any indigenous training resources or facilities, the future pilots were sent to the U.S. where they were enrolled in language immersion training, followed by U.S. Air Force undergraduate pilot training.
According to officials, the AAF has begun a new and exciting chapter in its history by officially beginning its first-ever Afghan Flight School.
“Six years ago we had nothing, and today we are receiving our first three training aircraft,” Major General Abdul Wahab Wardak, Afghan Air Force Commander, stated in his speech during the arrival of the C-182T’s. “I once looked out to see our Air force scattered across Afghanistan, today we have brought our Air force back together here at Shindand, the only Air Force training base in Afghanistan.”
Wahab went on to thank the coalition and all of the advisers for helping them reach this historic occasion.
Officials also indicated the arrival of these first aircraft is a momentous step towards the creation of a self-sufficient, Afghan led flying training center of excellence at Shindand AB; a crucial piece in the development of a fully independent and operationally-capable Air Force.
Shindand AB will not only be the center for pilot training, but will eventually serve as the training center for much of the AAF. Included in the training center will be maintenance, language and professional military education as well as training and support functions and skills necessary for nearly 1,400 Shindand Air Wing Airmen to sustain base and flight-school operations.
“This is a huge task, developing an entire UPT program from the ground-up, to include infrastructure, aircraft, maintenance and personnel. But it is of the utmost importance to ensure it is done right in order to establish long-term sustainment of the AAF,” said Lt. Col. James Mueller, 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Commander. “One of the most obvious signs of the importance of the mission and the long-term impact it will have on the AAF is the international coalition support you see here [in Shindand]. The U.S., Italian and Hungarian Air Forces as well as the U.S. Army and civilians are working hand-in-hand with our Afghan counterparts to ensure the future success of Shindand AB.”
During the ceremony, Col. John Hokaj, 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group Commander, reminded attendees of Afghanistan’s history and the commitment of the coalition forces.
“Throughout history, Afghanistan has seen many external powers come with the purpose of gaining access to resources, trade routes and markets,” the colonel said. “The mission of NATO and her coalition partners is vastly different. Our objective is to set the conditions for irreversible transition to full Afghan security responsibility and leadership.”
The first class of AAF pilots will begin later this year, marking the first time in decade’s new fixed-wing pilots have been trained in Afghanistan.
These students, along with their Afghan counterparts currently undergoing flight training in the U.S., will graduate as fully-rated instrument pilots and serve as the backbone of the AAF and will fill a critical role in the transition to a fully capable and self-sufficient AAF explained advisers.