Aviation Medicine Course: 1 Week

Pilot Basic: 26 Weeks

Combat Survival Course: 2 to 3 Weeks

Advanced Training: 37 Weeks

At an appropriate window between completion of the Officers Training School and your conversion to an operational aircraft after flying training, you will travel to RAAF Base Townsville where the Combat Survival (COMSURV) Training School is located. ADFA students will attend COMSURV during their third year at the Academy. COMSURV training is carried out over a two to three week period for all ADF aircrew. You are taught survival techniques in marine, desert and jungle environments as well as escape and evasion techniques, requirements and responsibilities. Practical exercises help reinforce the theory taught regarding many of these areas and will thoroughly test your initiative and determination. The course has a number of prerequisites including fitness, first aid and swimming proficiencies.

As an Air Force trainee pilot you will complete an Aviation Medicine (AVMED) course covering the physiological aspects of military aviation. You will receive your initial AVMED training at Tamworth before commencing flying. At the completion of ADF-Basic Flying Training School (ADFBFTS), and before starting the Advanced Flying Training phase at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Base Pearce (near Perth) in WA, you will undergo further AVMED training, including hypoxia training in a hyperbaric chamber, at the Institute of Aviation Medicine at RAAF Base Edinburgh (in Adelaide) SA.

On completion of the initial part of the AVMED course candidates will commence with Basic Training at ADFBFTS. The course duration is 25 weeks and consists of two phases (Basic and Advanced) totalling 62.8 hours of flying. All flying is done on the CT4B aircraft. The syllabus will include training in General Flying (GF), Instrument Flying (IF), Night Flying (NF), and Navigation (NAV).

Phase 1- Instruction in GF includes manoeuvres such as basic aerobatics, spinning and emergency handling. IF instruction covers instrument interpretation skills with an emphasis on Non Directional Beacon (NDB) orientation and approaches. During IF, NF is conducted. The NAV component of the course introduces medium level cross-country navigation and the student is progressed to a safe solo standard.

Phase 2 - This phase involves consolidation of basic GF, instruction in advanced aerobatics and further development of emergency handling skills.

Ground training will also be conducted in Aerodynamics, Aircraft Systems, Airmanship, Air Power, Air Traffic Control, Aviation Medicine, Cockpit Systems, Meteorology, Morse Code, and Navigation.

Upon completion of the Pilot Basic course, candidates proceed to 2FTS for Advanced Training. Flying at 2FTS is done on the PC9/A. The course is approximately 37 weeks duration with 119 hours of flying. The curriculum is similar to that of BFTS with an emphasis on transferring basic flying skills, as obtained at ADFBFTS, onto a higher performance aircraft. 2FTS also introduces more advanced military flying skills including low-level navigation to a time-on-target and formation flying. Ultimately, these are combined into mission-oriented profiles that demand a high degree of flexibility and adaptability in both flying skills and mental processes.