Air Education and Training Command officials awarded a $178 million contract for Initial Flight Screening activities to Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Doss Aviation. The Air Force decided last year to dispense with its six-year-old program employing several civilian flight schools to conduct introductory flight training, instead switching to a single operation. Doss now will evaluate all USAF candidates hoping to gain a pilot or combat systems officer training slot. Officials say Doss will provide a turn-key operation, offering all services, facilities, and equipment, including housing, transportation, facilities, and security. IFS students are scheduled to begin training at the company’s Pueblo, Color., facility on Oct. 1, 2006.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
