Fixed Wing Qualification Training Program departs Vance

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Carroll
  • 71 Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  More than 30 years ago after the Vietnam War, the initial version of the Fixed Wing Qualification Training Program represented a refresher course for trained Air Force pilots who had not flown for a long time.
Gene Kornman, Vance Air Force Base registrar, said the Air Force had too many trained pilots at the time.

"In a large industry, this cycle repeats itself over and over, but it depends on how we handle it," he said. "As production sometimes gets ahead of our needs, these rated officers became part of a banked program and performed other military jobs until the AF needed them as pilots. After gaining experience in their original career fields, they were able to revitalize their flying skills in the FWQ Training Program."

Vance AFB offered the FWQ Training Program as a side course of the Joint Primary Pilot Training for 20 years. It is now an accelerated version of the Undergraduate Pilot Training and teaches qualified rotary-wing pilots to fly fixed-wing aircraft. Vance is the only Air Force Base conducting Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and International students. The vast majority of FWQ students today are transfers from the U.S. Army to the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserves. Capt. Jared Sproat and 2nd Lt. Dennis Philapavage are the last two students completing the FWQ training in the T-6A at Vance AFB. Captain Sproat has flown the CH-47D Chinook helicopter since 1994 in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Currently he is training to become a KC-135 pilot for the Hawaii Air National Guard.

Lieutenant Philapavage was a UH-60 Black Hawk instructor pilot in the active-duty Army since 1999. After finishing his training he will return to his ANG unit in Martinsburg, W. Va., as a C-5 pilot.

According to Mr. Kornman, this program gives helicopter pilots the opportunity to face a new challenge in their military flying career: They are able to profit from acquired aviation skills, but also learn different flying principles and techniques. They are able to stay in the military system, but are confronted with a new environment and mentality. They have to adapt to a new subculture, and its standards, while operating under strict timelines. After having completed the Air Force "re-blueing process", they return to their respective component as trained and qualified fixed-wing pilots.

"I think I can speak for all FWQ students, when I say that the most challenging aspect of the program is readjusting to being a student pilot again after once having been a competent rotary-wing aviator," Lieutenant Philapavage said. "Despite the readjustment, I personally feel that the program so far has been excellent. From academics to the instructors, everything and everyone has been top notch."

For the last three years, Capt. Scott Linck, flight commander and Maj. Steve Stoner have been instructing FWQ student pilots at Vance AFB.

"FWQ students have more experience in the aviation field, which gives them more knowledge of the flying environment, the air space and radio calls, but it is difficult to change their engrained habit patterns," Captain Linck said.

Major Stoner, who graduated at Vance in 1990, agreed.

"We treat them as pilots, not as students trying to become pilots. We already give them respect as pilots," he said.

The program is changing its location because Vance already runs several programs and one more is on the way. This August, a new squadron will be gained to run the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals program. According to Mr. Kornman, "whereas other bases are like cheese pizzas, Vance AFB is like a supreme pizza. Moving the FWQ Training program to Laughlin AFB, Texas, is an opportunity to spread wealth and puts one pepperoni on Laughlin's cheese pizza."

Captain Linck, O-Flight commander with the 8 FTS, leaves Vance this month. He said that he really enjoyed flying with students, and his time at Vance AFB was very rewarding. "I'd like to think I'm a better pilot because I was here for three years." Major Stoner described his experience at Vance as the best assignment he ever had and said, "I personally like to build things and see what you created at the end. It is very satisfying to have created pilots."