Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
The first two sites in the US Air Force's Boeing F-15C distributed mission training (DMT) system have been declared fully operational.
Built and operated by Boeing, the mission training centres at Eglin AFB, Florida, and Langley AFB, Virginia, are each equipped with four F-15C simulators.
The devices are networked and the two sites can be linked together, and with the Boeing E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System simulator at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, to allow co-operative training.
DMT will allow units making up an Aerospace Expeditionary Force to train together before deploying, says Lt Col Tom Pfeiffer, commander of Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing. "Most networking is local. We are just coming on line with Langley and Tinker," he says.
"The local network is a big step forward. Our basic fighting element is four aircraft. Now we can fly as a foursome routinely, talking and sharing the radar picture, which is a huge benefit, particularly for target sorting," says Pfeiffer.
Simulator sessions are not replacing aircraft sorties, but allow pilots to maintain proficiency, says Pfeiffer. In a typical 1.5h period, crews can fit in five "vulnerability periods" - time on station - in the simulator, compared with one or two in the aircraft.
The F-15CDMT is the USAF's first "fee for service" training contract. Boeing owns and supports the equipment and the USAF pays a monthly fee. Boeing's contract includes options for 12 more sites, and a total of 46 simulators. The next to be equipped are likely to be Elmendorf AFB in Alaska and the Kingsley Field, Oregon, Air National Guard base.
Source: Flight International
