Opportunity lost?

Current ADF Pilot Training Challenges

The current ADF pilot training capability comprises:
a flight screening element conducted prior to enlistment,
a basic flying training element conducted at the conclusion of Service specific entry level training, and
an advanced phase of flying training that precedes the specialist training required to transition to operational aircraft.

All three Services utilise a combined approach for flight screening and basic flying training. Army is the first Service to stream from the common training pipeline with its advanced phase comprising a modest extension of basic training conducted by the ADF Basic Flying Training School at Tamworth. Army candidates then proceed to rotary wing training at Oakey. Both Navy and Air Force candidates proceed to an advanced phase of flying training that is conducted on PC-9A training aircraft at RAAF Pearce in WA, before being awarded their “Wings” and proceeding to their respective operational aircraft.

Whilst the existing training capability produces high quality pilots, failure rates are high, the time for candidates to graduate as operational pilots is excessive and the percentage of graduates suitable for demanding fast jet operations is low when compared with other comparable military pilot training systems. The management of the training capability as individual entities also precludes the adoption of common training and support systems that should improve effectiveness and efficiency, thereby delivering savings.

AIR 5428 (the fixed wing training program) has been subject to numerous delays, the latest being a 12 month slippage announced in late 2009. This delay is of particular concern in that this new training program now cannot be delivered in time to service the introduction of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF.) We will, in effect, be training 5th Generation pilot candidates in a 2nd or 3rd generation pilot training program.

Defence has released a tender for an interim basic flying training capability that will operate for up to six years until the mature training capability is delivered (whilst originally intended to run for three years, slippages in AIR 5428 have dictated a six year interim capability.) The tender for the interim system does not appear to have been informed by the analysis of AIR5428 requirements, as they are yet to be fully defined. In all likelihood, therefore, the interim capability will perpetuate the existing pilot training model. Furthermore, Project AIR 9000 Ph7 will reportedly go to tender in the second half of 2010, also before the output requirements of AIR 5428 (i.e. the input to AIR 9000 Ph7) have been defined.

The sequence of tenders and the delay in AIR 5428 does not reflect an end-to-end systems approach to the delivery of pilot training capability nor, frankly, an appropriate priority for training in the Defence Budget. We have missed the opportunity to upgrade our pilot training approach in preparation for our 5th generation operational capabilities. A training system, which lags the operational system it is intended to support, represents a failure of the acquisition system.

Future ADF Pilot Training System Needs

Defence is forecasting an increase in required pilot numbers and a requirement for 40% of pilots course graduates to be suitable for fast jet pilot training – double the current goal. This requirement is based on improving the aircraft/pilot ratio to better meet operational needs. In order to achieve these requirements a fundamental change in selection and training approach will be required. A simple platform replacement approach is clearly not the answer; a “change program” rather than a “re-equipment program” will be required to deliver the future ADF pilot training capability. Budget pressures and the Strategic Reform Program will continue to require that future training capabilities be delivered in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.

The ADF is not unique in the challenges it faces. Similar issues are being faced by the US, UK and Singaporean Armed forces. In response, these forces have adopted a systems approach to pilot training, for example the UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) program. The early lessons from these programs include the need to focus on the training system and not platforms and the need for innovative solutions where Defence partners closely with Industry to deliver an outcome and not just equipment.

The Williams Foundation ADF Pilot Training Seminar

Given the broad concerns identified in this article, the Williams Foundation will host an ADF Pilot Training Seminar in Canberra on 26 May 2010. It aims to discuss the current pilot training capability and to explore the need to develop a future capability that will address the ADF’s operational needs and meet the budgetary requirements in an SRP environment. The questions that will be explored in the seminar include:

will the current plans for pilot training deliver the required outcomes?

what needs to be done to produce sufficient numbers of combat ready pilots in a cost and time effective manner,
what are the required characteristics of any new training system,

what are the HR implications of the future training system – trainee candidate pool, characteristics, numbers and quality, and

The Williams Foundation does not purport to have all the answers to these important questions. Rather we seek to highlight impending challenges within the current ADF Pilot Training System and the lack of synergy across the pilot training related projects in the DCP. If we do not address the issues and concerns in a constructive manner, then surely this will be a lost opportunity?

A limited number of seats will be available for interested members of the public to attend the seminar. Email [email protected] to obtain more details.