The International Flight Training School (IFTS) awards the first Phase IV diploma (Advanced / Lead-In to Fighter Training) to two pilots of the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, following the completion of the training at the reality born from the partnership between the Air Force (AM) and Leonardo, in collaboration with CAE.
The training activity, which lasted about 9 months, took place at the Galatina airport (Lecce) - headquarters of the 61st wing of the AM - which currently hosts the IFTS, pending the transfer to the new Decimomannu campus, in Sardinia.
The IFTS project was born from the desire to put two national excellences in common: the skills in the training of military pilots of the Blue Army, particularly consolidated at the Galatina flight school in over 75 years of experience, are flanked by the advanced technological solutions by Leonardo, the main Italian industrial company in the field of aerospace and defense.
A program with a very high strategic value, therefore, which will allow, once fully operational, to double the overall current offer of the Flight School through the creation of a new training center, which for the military part will remain under the unique banner of 61. ° flock, distributed between the air base of Galatina and that of Decimomannu in Sardinia.
Thanks to highly experienced military and civilian instructor pilots and the advanced integrated training system based on Leonardo's M-346 aircraft (called T-346A by the Italian Air Force), the IFTS represents a pole of international excellence, with the goal of training military pilots to operate state-of-the-art combat aircraft, providing them with the technical and procedural skills necessary for use in modern, increasingly complex operational scenarios.
The new IFTS campus, under construction at the Decimomannu Air Force Base (Cagliari), was designed around the training needs of future pilot students. An entire building will be dedicated to Ground Based Training System (GBTS), consisting of latest generation simulation systems, which allow the creation of integrated training scenarios between simulated aircraft and real aircraft, thanks to the technology Live Virtual Construction (LVC). Furthermore, both the logistic-maintenance infrastructures will be created, to manage the operations of the fleet of 22 M-346 aircraft under the IFTS, and logistic-accommodation infrastructures, to accommodate the students in the training course (accommodation, canteen, sports facilities ). The maintenance and logistical support activities of the fleet of M-346 aircraft and simulators will be provided by “Leonardo CAE Advanced Jet Training”, a company born from the partnership between Leonardo and CAE.
During the Phase IV course (Advanced / Lead-In to Fighter Training), attendees also have the opportunity to train in real shooting in dedicated training areas, thus being able to test the skills acquired directly in the field.
At the moment, in addition to Germany, other countries have also chosen IFTS for the advanced training of their pilots, confirming the interest and attention towards the Italian training system, which constitutes a unique reality on the international scene.
