Petersen provides ENJJPT update to MOAA members

  • Published
  • By Mike McKito
  • MOAA member
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The commander of the world's only multi-nationally run flying training organization provided current and retired military officers an update Aug. 11 on the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program at Sheppard. 

About 50 people huddled in the Sheppard Club during the Wichita Falls Chapter of the Military Officer Association of America's quarterly meeting.
 
Col. David Petersen, commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing and ENJJPT said there are five countries that are actively involved by sending students and instructor pilots to the program - the United States, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Spain and Canada participate with instructor pilots only.
 
Currently, about 75 percent of an average of over 200 ENJJPT graduates each year is from the United States, the colonel said. With the advent of "ENJJPT 2008," Colonel Petersen said countries will be able to enter and exit the program at various points, which should increase the number of international pilot-training students.
 
Within the next couple of years, the program will expand somewhat when Spain and Denmark begin sending students to the program once again. Greece is also very interested in sending students to the program.
 
There are three phases of pilot training: basic academics, T-37 Tweet training, and T-38C Talon training. The venerable Tweet is seeing its last days as the Air Force phases out the long-time introductory trainer. The wing has already taken delivery of about 30 of the Tweet's replacement, the T-6A Texan II. This transition is scheduled to be completed by September 2009. 

Colonel Petersen said discussions are just beginning on what should replace the T-38 aircraft. 

The 80th FTW is the only training wing that teaches its own instructor pilots. Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio teaches instructor pilots for the three other Air Force pilot training bases. 

Asked about the Air Force role in the Global War on Terrorism, the colonel said there are many changes, not the least of which is the increase in rated pilots, some who graduated from ENJJPT, going into non-traditional aircraft, or "flying" unmanned aerial vehicles in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.