The first three Air Force pilots selected to proceed directly to unmanned aerial vehicle training after completing undergraduate pilot training are now full-fledged UAV pilots, according to an April 28 release from UAV-central Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The UPT grads first undertook a UAV fundamentals course and joint firepower course before beginning UAV flight training at Creech. In future, USAF plans to select 100 UPT grads per year for the UAV-first program as part of its effort to quickly boost the number of crews it can field. “The biggest strength of the UPT direct students was their ability and willingness to learn,” said Maj. Richard Kattau, an 11th Reconnaissance Squadron instructor pilot. He added that the “fast-paced” course was designed to place the UAV operators in the field “ready to fly.” (Creech report by SSgt. Alice Moore)
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
