Hellenic Air Force Academy - Flight Training

Flight Training

The training aircraft operated by the Hellenic Air Force Academy are the T-41D Mescalero (the military version of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk) for basic flight training, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II for intermediate training and the Rockwell T-2 Buckeye used for intermediate and advanced jet training.

From the first year in the academy, the trainees have direct contact with the aircraft and the ideal of flying. The freshmen conduct 16 flights with T-41 type aircraft, completing 19 flight hours per student. During the 2nd year of training the trainees conduct 48 flights with the T-6 Texan II aircraft, completing 60 flight hours per student, while during the 3rd year, the flights upgrade to 54 and the flight hours to 70 per student.

With a total 150 flight hours (on training aircraft) to their flight logs, the pilots graduate from the academy with the rank of Anthiposminagos (Pilot Officer equivalent to 2nd Lieutenant). Training continues to their appointed flight wings on the aircraft type operated by each wing. As pointed out to the magazine "Defence Matters" (vol.248, May 2007) by the commander of the Academy Air Vice-Marshal Constantinos Kalamatas, according to statistical facts "8 out of 10 graduates take the fighter pilot specialization, while 60% of all students that take this specialization, graduate". These numbers are considered satisfactory.

The graduates who have the "pilot" specialization (ranked Pilot Officers) can reach the highest rank in the chain of command, that of Air Chief Marshal (equivalent to General or Admiral), the rank awarded only when the Defence General Staff is headed by an Air Force officer. The Commander of the Air Force General Staff is always a pilot. Engineer Officers and Air-Defence Controller Officers can only climb to the rank of Air Marshal (equivalent to Lt. General or Vice Admiral).