Training Progression: Flying Branch

Our training schedule for the Flying Branch is conducted in phases, each a progression from basic to more advanced levels of aviation. Each phase, known as a Stage is conducted at a different Flying Training Establishment, to give you exposure to varied flying environments.

Training for the Flying Branch is divided into:

• Flying Training
• Specialisation

Flying Training
This stage includes the basic and advanced stages of Flying. At the end of this stage you are awarded your Wings and sent for specialisation on Helicopter, Fighter or Transport aircraft. This stage includes the following:

• Pre Flying Training Course (PFTC)
  
• Basic Stage
  
• Advanced Stage

  
  Pre Flying Training Course (PFTC)
  If you have been selected through the CDSE, you will take this course at Begumpet, Hyderabad. This course that lasts 24 weeks, does not involve any flying.

  Basic Stage
  On completing the Pre Flying Training Course, you move to the Basic Stage at the Air Force Academy. If you are from National Defence Academy, you are sent here directly after passing out. Here, you are taught the basics of flying on the HPT-32, a piston-prop aircraft. The course content also includes Ground Training.

  
  Advanced Stage
  On successful completion of the Basic Stage, you progress to the Advanced Stage. For this stage of training that takes 24 weeks, you are either sent to Air Force Academy or the Air Force Station, Bidar. The course curriculum for both is identical. During this stage, you are trained on the HJT-16 aircraft, an indigenously built jet trainer.

  At the end of this stage, you are awarded the President's Commission in the rank of Flying Officer and are also entitled to wear the coveted Wings. At this point, depending upon aptitude, you are selected for specialisation on Fighter, Helicopter or Transport aircraft.

Specialisation
After getting your wings, you are sent for specialisation on any of the following aircraft, depending upon your aptitude:

• Fighter
  
• Transport
  
• Helicopter

  Fighter Aircraft
  If selected for Fighter aircraft, you are sent to AF Station Hakimpet, where you undergo a semester of training called the Applied Stage. You will be trained on the Polish-built ISKRA aircraft for exposure to the basic tenets of fighter flying.

  On completion of this Stage you move onto fast jets for a year to gain exposure to Operational conversion and flying Fighter aircraft (MiG-21 variants). This is undertaken before you are actually sent to an operational Squadron.

  Transport Aircraft
  If recommended for specialisation on Transport aircraft, you will undergo a year of training referred to as Stage III at Transport Training Wing Yelahanka, Bangalore. You will be trained to fly the Avro, AN-32 and Dornier 22-8 aircraft. You will also be instructed in all aspects of route flying, as well as gain exposure to the intricacies of flying passengers, casualties, freight, para-drop missions and the like. After you have completed this stage you will be posted to an Operational Transport Squadron.

  Helicopter Aircraft
  If selected for Helicopter aircraft, you will initially be exposed to a semester (24 weeks) of Stage III training at the Helicopter Training School (HTS) located at Hakimpet. Here, training is conducted on the CHETAK Helicopter, an aircraft built indigenously by HAL. The next semester is conducted either here at the Helicopter Training School or at Yelahanka, Bangalore.

Click here to know how you can join the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force.