UPT

UNDERGRADUATE
PILOT
TRAININNG

UPT

WHAT IT IS

HOW IT WORKS

WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD

WHAT IS IT, REALLY

3 PHASE
58 WEEK (APPROXIMATELY) PROGRAM
TAUGHT BY AIR FORCE/NAVY
MINIMUM OF 2 DIFFERENT
AIRCRAFT

WHERE IS IT

MISSISSIPPI (Columbus AFB)

TEXAS (Laughlin AFB, Sheppard

AFB, Corpus Christi NAS)

OKLAHOMA (Vance AFB)

ALABAMA (Fort Rucker AAF)

WHO IS IT

USAFA
ROTC
OTS
NATIONAL GUARD
AIR FORCE RESERVES
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS
AND INSTRUCTORS

PHASE I
ACADEMIC CLASSES/PREFLIGHT
TRAINING

Ejection Seat / Egress Training, PLFS (aerospace

physiology to include altitude chamber)

Aircraft Systems Class + Test (2)

Basic Instruments Class + Test (2)

Mission Planning / Navigation Class + Test

Aviation Weather Class + Test

Formation Class + Test

PHASE II
PRIMARY AIRCRAFT
TRAINING
Approximately 90 hours of flight training instruction, 26
weeks of training

Purpose: teach students basic flying skills

Focus: Contact, Instruments, Formation (2-ship), Navigation

At end of phase, students pick which Advanced Track they

wish to fly

Students pick based on their performance / ranking in Phase 2

T 6, T-37 (Sheppard until Oct 2008, then all T-6s)

TRACK SELECTION

Students request Track preference - you pick your

Track, not your Aircraft
Quota for each Track determined on a class by class
basis - based on USAF needs
Selection based on merit and instructor
recommendation
Students rank order based on: checkride scores, daily
ride scores, academics, and flight commander
assessment of military qualities (Commander's
Ranking)
Wing Commander approves track placement
The track that you select determines what type of
aircraft you are assigned after UPT (except U-28s and
NSA, all tracks can get them)

PHASE III

FOUR POTENTIAL TRACKS

UH-1H Huey - Helicopter Training
C-12 Huron / T-44 King Air Multiengine Turboprop Track
T-1 Jayhawk - Airlift / Tanker Track
T-38 Talon - Fighter / Bomber
Track

TRACK SELECTION
PROCESS

How do you pick which track you will

pursue?
Students request Track
preference - you pick your
Track, not your Aircraft
Quota for each Track determined on a class by class
basis - based on USAF needs
Selection based on merit and instructor
recommendation
Students rank order based on: checkride scores, daily
ride scores, academics, and flight commander
assessment of military qualities (Commander's
Ranking)
Wing Commander approves track placement
The track that you select determines what type of
aircraft you are assigned after UPT (except U-28s and
NSA, all tracks can get them)

UH-1H Huey Helicopter Training

Approximately 115 hours of flight instruction,

28 weeks of joint training at FT Rucker, AL
Purpose: prepare graduates for USAF
helicopter assignments
Focus: Transition, Instruments, Navigation,
Low-level, Remote Ops
Joint training for all USAF and US Army
helicopter pilots
Graduates select UH-1, HH-60, MH-53, CV22

CV 22

C-12 Huron / T-44 King Air Multiengine Turboprop Track

Approximately 115 hours of flight instruction, 26

weeks of joint training at NAS Corpus Christi, TX
Purpose: prepare graduates for multiengine
turboprop assignments
Focus: Transition, Instruments, Navigation, Lowlevel, Formation
USAF students receive specific C-130 or C-27tailored training - low level formation airdrop
training
Joint training for all USAF, USN, USMC, USCG,
Foreign military pilots flying Turboprops
Graduates select C-130, MC-130, AC-130, EC-130,
HC-130, LC-130, MP-130, C-27, U-28, C-12

U-28

C 27

T-1 Jayhawk - Airlift / Tanker

Track

Approximately 90 hours of flight instruction, 4

weeks of academics then 24 weeks of flight
training
Purpose: prepare graduates for airlift and
tanker assignments
Focus: Transition, Instruments, Navigation, Lowlevel, Formation, Aerial Refueling/Airdrop
All students receive basic airdrop / refueling
training
Graduates select C-5, C-17, KC-10, KC-135, C21, U-28

T-38 Talon - Fighter / Bomber

Track

Approximately 100 hours of flight

instruction, 3 weeks of academics then 24
weeks of flight training
Purpose: prepare graduates for fighter /
bomber assignments
Focus: Contact, Instruments, Formation (2/4
ship), Navigation, Low-level
Graduates will pick follow on aircraft based
on merit and instructor recommendation
Graduates select F-15C, F-15E, F-16, F-22, A10, B-1, B-2, B-52, U-28

PHASE I,II,III
COMPLETE
FINISHED
NOT
NOW

WHAT

ASSIGNMENT SELECTION
PROCESS
MERIT ASSIGNMENT

At completion of Phase-3 advanced training, students

are rank ordered based on merit
Flying, academic, and military performance scores
Compete for aircraft compatible with their
specialized tracks (i.e. fighter/bomber,
airlift/tanker...)
Numbers for each Major Weapon System (MWS) are
determined by USAF needs
Wing Commander approves assignment
Graduates progress to follow-on IFF or FTU/RTU
specific MWS training
Students also attend Land Survival, Water Survival,
and any other schools required at this time

MORE TRAINING

FOLLOW ON AIRCRAFT
SURVIVAL
LOCAL BASE
THEATER
ETC
ETC
ETC

ITS UP TO YOU