Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Pilot Training is Underway...


Everything we've been hoping to get started on is finally coming to fruition. Michael has jumped into pilot training and he's loving every minute of it. He says, "I can't believe I get paid to do this," at least 3 times a day! With all this fun comes lots of hard work. My husband literally spends hours and hours studying, pretend flying, and quizzing himself. I recall one Saturday, he was closed in his study room for 11 hours straight. I think I heard a toilet flush ONCE! His hard work has paid off thus far. He earned an 'A' average in the first phase of academic tests. Just to recap his training schedule timeline, here goes. Keep in mind, nothing in the military is 100% set in stone, so these timelines could change! "SIGH"

Phase 1: IFS
Runs: 2-3 weeks
Where: Pensacola, FL
What it consists of: 2 weeks of academic tests, followed by 13.5 hours of flight instruction in the actual aircraft. To date, Michael has completed just over 7 hours of the required 13.5.

Phase 2: API
Runs: 6-8 weeks
Where: Pensacola, FL
What it consists of: Academic classes.

Phase 3: Primary
Runs: 6-8 months
Where: Pensacola, FL (some do it in Corpus Christi, Tx)
What it consists of: A variety of academic classes and in-flight instruction.

***You find out which type of aircraft you will fly after your final flight in this phase. It's a pretty big day! You are asked to rank your preferences. Command ranks you against your peers and gives you a decision. The majority of Marine Corps pilot get helicopters, simply because there are more to go around. Jets, C130, and Osprey slots are harder to come by because there are fewer slots to give.

Phase 4: Advanced
Runs: Between 6 - 15 months depending on type of aircraft
Where: Depends of which type of aircraft you select.
*Jets (Meridian, MS or Kingsville, Tx)
*Helicopter (Pensacola, FL)
*Ospreys (Corpus Christi, Tx)
*C130s (Corpus Christi, Tx)
What it consists of: A variety of academic classes and in-flight instruction.

We actually got to watch him take off and land the other day. Mariah and I drove out to the airfield where he is flying and watched for a few hours from inside the air conditioned car. :) More updates on flight school to come...

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