Australian Air Force, Navy, celebrate parallel training, joint pilot graduation
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) are celebrating a joint pilot graduation after the completion of a parallel pilot training program.
Enhanced training capability, introduced in 2024, now allows the Air Force to train RAAF and Royal Australian Navy pilots on both the East and West Coasts of Australia.
According to the RAAF, this integrated approach is a key aspect of Air Force delivering on National Defence Strategy objectives to build a more agile, scalable and integrated training system to ensure successful growth of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The joint graduation of the Royal Australian Navy and RAAF pilots from Course 278 ADF Intermediate Pilots Course marks a significant milestone in the progression of paralleled pilot training schools in Victoria and Western Australia.
“It’s amazing to be the first Navy graduate here on the East Coast,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Dunn said in a statement.
“Being able to complete all my training on the East Coast provided a quicker training pipeline, giving us continuous training throughout and support from the same instructors the whole way through. I am incredibly happy, it’s been a big year and a half to get here,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Natika Dunn said in a statement.
Dunn made history as the first Navy trainee to graduate with wings from 1 Flying Training School at RAAF Base East Sale.
“For the first time, a Royal Australian Navy pilot has completed their entire Intermediate Flying Training here at 1 Flying Training School (FTS), something that has been traditionally shared by 1FTS and 2FTS at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia,” said Commander Fleet Air Arm Commodore Matthew Royals, who is also the graduates’ reviewing officer.
Royals concluded: “This is not just another graduation, it is a monumental moment in our Defence Force’s history.”
RELATED
RAAF C130-J Hercules completes first ever Christmas airdrop over Palau
The post Australian Air Force, Navy, celebrate parallel training, joint pilot graduation appeared first on AeroTime.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) are celebrating a joint pilot graduation…
The post Australian Air Force, Navy, celebrate parallel training, joint pilot graduation appeared first on AeroTime.
