Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School: Difference between revisions
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{{Update|type=|date=June 2020|reason=ADF BFTS is no longer in use, having been replaced by No 1 Flying Training School. Article requires update to past tense.}} |
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The '''Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School''' (BFTS) |
The '''Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School''' (BFTS) was located in [[Tamworth, New South Wales|Tamworth]] in northern [[New South Wales]]. It was run by [[BAE Systems]] Flying Training Academy, which conducted tri-service flight screening and basic flying training for the [[Australian Defence Force]] (ADF) aircrew from the [[Australian Army]], [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) and the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) using [[PAC CT/4 Airtrainer|CT-4 Airtrainer]] aircraft. |
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BFTS was raised in response to the RAAF and RAN beginning all-through training on the [[Pilatus PC-9]] in December 1992. in 1993, Headquarters Training Command Detachment A was raised in Tamworth consisting primarily of civilian instructors. Army students were trained here as the PC-9 course was not appropriate. The detachment also screened prospective military pilots at this time. BFTS was officially reformed in 1999 and quickly began tri-service training.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2019-01-05|title=Colour party – BAE and the ADF prepare to farewell the 'Plastic Parrot'|url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/01/bae-and-the-adf-prepare-to-farewell-the-plastic-parrot/|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Australian Aviation|language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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The training preceded streaming into single service flying training, with RAAF and RAN pilots having moved to [[No. 2 Flying Training School RAAF|No. 2 Flying Training School]] (2FTS) at [[RAAF Base Pearce|RAAF Pearce, Western Australia]] while Army pilots undertook further training at the [[Australian School of Army Aviation]] in [[Oakey, Queensland]]. All flying training was conducted by the ADF with the provision of aircraft and support services from BAE Systems Tamworth. Flying instructors were from all three branches of the ADF with several civilian flying instructors from BAE.<ref>Horner 2001, p. 300.</ref> The school formed part of [[Air Training Wing RAAF]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Air Force Training Group|url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/About-us/Structure-of-the-RAAF/Air-Command/Air-Force-Training-Group/?RAAF-hq2wskEcYXfEfqWNOvO1s4mdhi2R+mo+|publisher=Royal Australian Air Force|accessdate=15 January 2017}}</ref> |
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In 2015, BAE Systems lost a contract bid to [[Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin Australia]] for the ab-initio training of pilots. Training was transitioned to [[No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF|No. 1 Flying Training School]] (1FTS) on the [[Pilatus PC-21]].<ref name=":0" /> Thw drawdown of training in Tamworth began in 2018 and the final ADF course graduated from BFTS in February 2019. In the years of operation, the school trained approximately 4000 military and flight screening students and operated over 280 000 flight hours. Flying training for the ADF is now conducted at 1FTS.<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[File:VH-YCR Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainer BAE Systems Australia (9697763338).jpg|thumb|A BFTS Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainer at the 2008 Defence Force Air Show [[RAAF Base Amberley]].]] |
[[File:VH-YCR Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainer BAE Systems Australia (9697763338).jpg|thumb|A BFTS Pacific Aerospace CT-4B Airtrainer at the 2008 Defence Force Air Show [[RAAF Base Amberley]].]] |
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Revision as of 11:03, 15 June 2020
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: ADF BFTS is no longer in use, having been replaced by No 1 Flying Training School. Article requires update to past tense.. (June 2020) |
The Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) was located in Tamworth in northern New South Wales. It was run by BAE Systems Flying Training Academy, which conducted tri-service flight screening and basic flying training for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircrew from the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) using CT-4 Airtrainer aircraft.
BFTS was raised in response to the RAAF and RAN beginning all-through training on the Pilatus PC-9 in December 1992. in 1993, Headquarters Training Command Detachment A was raised in Tamworth consisting primarily of civilian instructors. Army students were trained here as the PC-9 course was not appropriate. The detachment also screened prospective military pilots at this time. BFTS was officially reformed in 1999 and quickly began tri-service training.[1]
The training preceded streaming into single service flying training, with RAAF and RAN pilots having moved to No. 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Pearce, Western Australia while Army pilots undertook further training at the Australian School of Army Aviation in Oakey, Queensland. All flying training was conducted by the ADF with the provision of aircraft and support services from BAE Systems Tamworth. Flying instructors were from all three branches of the ADF with several civilian flying instructors from BAE.[2] The school formed part of Air Training Wing RAAF.[3]
In 2015, BAE Systems lost a contract bid to Lockheed Martin Australia for the ab-initio training of pilots. Training was transitioned to No. 1 Flying Training School (1FTS) on the Pilatus PC-21.[1] Thw drawdown of training in Tamworth began in 2018 and the final ADF course graduated from BFTS in February 2019. In the years of operation, the school trained approximately 4000 military and flight screening students and operated over 280 000 flight hours. Flying training for the ADF is now conducted at 1FTS.[1]
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Aircraft
| Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mudry CAP-10 | CAP-10B | France | Two-seat trainer, aerobatic aircraft | 2005-current | Three aircraft |
| PAC CT/4 Airtrainer | CT/4B Airtrainer | New Zealand | Two-seat primary trainer aircraft | 1991-current | 31 aircraft |
| Piper PA-34 Seneca | PA-34 Seneca | United States | Twin-engine light transport, liaison aircraft | 2005-current | One aircraft |
See also
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
Notes
- ^ a b c "Colour party – BAE and the ADF prepare to farewell the 'Plastic Parrot'". Australian Aviation. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Horner 2001, p. 300.
- ^ "Air Force Training Group". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
References
- Horner, David (2001). Making the Australian Defence Force. The Australian Centenary History of Defence. Vol. Volume IV. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-554117-0.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help)
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