Analysis of Transportation Alternatives for Ejection Seat Training

Abstract

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Student Military Aviators who complete primary flight training at Training Wing FOUR and select jets for their advanced training track will require Naval Aviation Survival Training Program (NASTP) Class 1 training until the T-6B replaces the T-34C as the primary flight training aircraft. This Class 1 training instructs students in ejection seat equipment and procedures for emergency egress of their new aircraft. Of the eight available Aviation Survival Training Centers (ASTC) Training Wing FOUR sends its students exclusively to NAS Pensacola. Training Wing FOUR utilizes a TC-12B training aircraft for the logistical transport of students to and from Class 1 training approximately twice weekly, called the DJET. CDR Christian Schomaker, Training Wing FOUR Operations Officer, commissioned this study to provide an analysis of alternatives to the current method of transporting students. RECOMMENDED OPTIONS A. Provide all flight students Class 1 training at ASTC Pensacola, Florida while in Pensacola as part of the Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) curriculum prior to permanent change of station to Corpus Christ, Texas. B. Adjust the DJET flight schedule to a Sunday departure rather than a Friday departure, resulting in a $209.00 savings per student of per diem cost which amounts to approximately $21,000.00 per fiscal year. C. Readdress current local restrictions and classification of student naval aviators as aircrew to enable multi-engine student flight training on DJET flights. D. Consider utilizing other ASTC facilities; specifically, aligning the Class 1 ejection seat training with the required Centrifuge-based Flight Environment Training (CFET) at ASTC Lemoore.