Israeli Air Force flight academy
Encyclopedia
The Israeli Air Force Flight
Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force
aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators.
The IAF flight course is considered one of the most prestigious courses in the IDF. It lasts for three years and is held largely in Hatzerim Airbase near Beer Sheva. Graduates of the course receive the rank of lieutenant and a BA from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
. After their training, the graduates must undertake mandatory military service of nine years. On average, only one out of six students completes the course successfully.
. The first four graduates, including Mordechai Hod
and Danny Shapira, had received their training in Czechoslovakia
. In May 1949 12 more graduates completed the second IAF flight course, which also took place mostly in Czechoslovakia. The first flight course held entirely in Israel was held at Camp Sirkin, near Petah Tikva
, and began on February 14, 1950. The first base commander was Benjamin Bune (Bunisslvsky), The first chief training officer was Gideon Shohet, The first commander of the primary flight school was Pinchas Ben-Porat
and the first commander of the advanced flight school was George Lichter. Most of the flight instructors at the time were foreign and the official language of the course was English. The course ended on August 10, 1950 and had 13 pilot graduates and four navigator graduates. In order to prepare them as fighter pilots, in December 1950 a separate operational training squadron was established, flying the Supermarine Spitfire
.
Until 1955 the flight courses took place at Sirkin Airbase, before moving to Tel Nof Airbase
. In 1966 the IAF flight course was transferred once more to Hatzerim Airbase. With the increasing need for helicopter pilots, in 1965 a helicopter flight school was established within the IAF flight school. Until then all the helicopter pilots were trained in Europe
and the United States
.
In 2002 the structure of the flight course changed, it was extended from two years to three years, and included undergraduate academic studies. In addition, since 2002 the flight course graduates receive the rank of lieutenant, and not the rank of Second Lieutenant.
, widely considered the architect of the modern Israeli Air Force, and his aim of recruiting only "the best for pilots." His reasoning was that the skill and bravery of the ground forces would be for naught if they could be attacked at will from the air. As a result, only those thought to possess the innate ability to succeed as Israeli pilots are even invited to begin the training process, and only the most qualified succeed in completing what is seen by many as the world's most demanding military selection course.
Consequently, potential Israeli pilots are identified prior to reporting for national service at age 18, based on factors such as high grades in school and top scores on standardized tests, excellent physical condition and high technical aptitude. Those who meet these and other criteria are invited to participate in a six-day gibush (cohesion), a selection phase involving physical, mental, and sociometric challenges. Recruits are screened not only for their ability to perform the tasks assigned, but for their attitude in performing them —such as how they take hardships and unexpected difficulties, how well they work in groups and how they approach problem solving and disaster management situations. As many as 50% percent of those who commence the gibush will be dropped from further consideration at its conclusion.
Those who pass the gibush embark on a three-year journey to earn their wings, which includes extensive flight training, infantry training, an officer's course, and studies towards an academic degree (a B.A.
or B.Sc.). The prospective pilots are evaluated constantly, and the vast majority of those who begin flight training do not make it through the full program. Those expelled from the course will either remain in the air force in a non-flying capacity, or transfer to an army unit. (This depends to a large degree on the stage at which they leave the course.)
While in flying school, future pilots are sorted and assigned to train on different types of aircraft. Few become fighter pilots (considered by many to be the most desirable assignment), while the remainder learn to fly helicopters, transport aircraft, or train as navigators.
After a landmark 1994 High Court appeal by a Jewish immigrant from South Africa, Alice Miller, the Air Force was instructed to open its flight school to women. Miller passed her entrance exams, yet failed the medical tests and thus did not qualify. The first female fighter pilot, Roni Zuckerman
, received her wings in 2001, although a female navigator had already graduated in 1998.
While Israeli Arabs may volunteer to serve in the IDF, it is unclear whether they can seek air force training. In 2006, an Israeli Arab applied for the pilot program, but was not accepted. In 2009 the first Israeli Druze
finished the course and received his wings.
and physics
and a course which focuses on the history of IDF) (lasts about eight weeks) and training flights in a Grob G-120 plane (lasts about four weeks).
During this and most of the following phases of the course the cadets wear a Beret
with a white stripe around the edge, and a white background behind the Air Force symbol.
Immediately after the end of the five months of the basic phase the trainees undergo test flights in the Lark (Grob G-120A) which determine their distribution the various departments: combat pilots, helicopter pilots and navigators. Cadets who are deposed from the course at this phase can request to join the UAV operators course, or choose to serve as officers in the Israeli Air Force - as controllers or as intelligence officers.
The various departments, to which the cadets go to, are divided as following: combat pilots, combat navigators, Transportation pilots and helicopter pilots.
. These two phases, which are commonly referred to as a "Year of Education" (שנת ההשכלה), last for about a year. Consecutive academic studies for a BA are done on behalf of the Ben-Gurion University. The intensive academic year (not equivalent to regular university studies) consists of three semesters, of 13 weeks each. The four graduate courses include: Mathematics and Computer Science; Management of Information Systems; Economics and Management; Politics, Administration and Management. In addition, the cadets study about military topics, aviation topics and take three courses in English.
and an aircraft wings pin.
The graduation ceremony in which the pilots are awarded with the aircraft wings pin is conducted with the cadets' families and senior army personal present. In both ceremonies an impressive air show is held by all Air Force helicopters and planes.
After the course ends, the pilots undergo an operational training course that takes place in an operational squadron and lasts about six months, aimed at preparing the IAF pilots for operational missions. The operational training course is conducted in either the Skyhawk
or the F-16, followed by another six months of advanced operational training courses on the same plane. Operational training courses for helicopter pilots is conducted on the UH-60 Blackhawk, operational training courses for attack helicopter pilots on the AH-1 Cobra
, and operational training courses for transport aircraft on the King Air 200.
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators.
The IAF flight course is considered one of the most prestigious courses in the IDF. It lasts for three years and is held largely in Hatzerim Airbase near Beer Sheva. Graduates of the course receive the rank of lieutenant and a BA from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is a university in Beersheba, Israel, established in 1969. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has a current enrollment of 17,400 students, and is one of Israel's fastest growing universities....
. After their training, the graduates must undertake mandatory military service of nine years. On average, only one out of six students completes the course successfully.
History
The first IAF flight course was completed in March 1949 in Hatzor AirbaseHatzor Airbase
Hatzor Israeli Air Force Base , also titled Kanaf 4 is an Israeli Air Force military air base, located in central Israel, near kibbutz Hatzor after which it is named...
. The first four graduates, including Mordechai Hod
Mordechai Hod
Aluf Mordechai "Mottie" Hod was the Commander of the Israeli Air Force during the 1967 Six-Day War.- Biography :Hod was born in the British Mandated of Palestine in Kibbutz Degania in 1926...
and Danny Shapira, had received their training in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. In May 1949 12 more graduates completed the second IAF flight course, which also took place mostly in Czechoslovakia. The first flight course held entirely in Israel was held at Camp Sirkin, near Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, and began on February 14, 1950. The first base commander was Benjamin Bune (Bunisslvsky), The first chief training officer was Gideon Shohet, The first commander of the primary flight school was Pinchas Ben-Porat
Pinchas Ben-Porat
Pinchas Ben-Porat was one of Israel's first aviators. He was involved in the Palavir, Sherut Avir, the IAF's 101 Squadron, and EL AL.-History:...
and the first commander of the advanced flight school was George Lichter. Most of the flight instructors at the time were foreign and the official language of the course was English. The course ended on August 10, 1950 and had 13 pilot graduates and four navigator graduates. In order to prepare them as fighter pilots, in December 1950 a separate operational training squadron was established, flying the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
.
Until 1955 the flight courses took place at Sirkin Airbase, before moving to Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel.-History:...
. In 1966 the IAF flight course was transferred once more to Hatzerim Airbase. With the increasing need for helicopter pilots, in 1965 a helicopter flight school was established within the IAF flight school. Until then all the helicopter pilots were trained in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2002 the structure of the flight course changed, it was extended from two years to three years, and included undergraduate academic studies. In addition, since 2002 the flight course graduates receive the rank of lieutenant, and not the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Pilot Selection
The selection process for IAF pilots can be traced to Ezer WeizmanEzer Weizman
' was the seventh President of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air Force and Minister of Defense.-Biography:...
, widely considered the architect of the modern Israeli Air Force, and his aim of recruiting only "the best for pilots." His reasoning was that the skill and bravery of the ground forces would be for naught if they could be attacked at will from the air. As a result, only those thought to possess the innate ability to succeed as Israeli pilots are even invited to begin the training process, and only the most qualified succeed in completing what is seen by many as the world's most demanding military selection course.
Consequently, potential Israeli pilots are identified prior to reporting for national service at age 18, based on factors such as high grades in school and top scores on standardized tests, excellent physical condition and high technical aptitude. Those who meet these and other criteria are invited to participate in a six-day gibush (cohesion), a selection phase involving physical, mental, and sociometric challenges. Recruits are screened not only for their ability to perform the tasks assigned, but for their attitude in performing them —such as how they take hardships and unexpected difficulties, how well they work in groups and how they approach problem solving and disaster management situations. As many as 50% percent of those who commence the gibush will be dropped from further consideration at its conclusion.
Those who pass the gibush embark on a three-year journey to earn their wings, which includes extensive flight training, infantry training, an officer's course, and studies towards an academic degree (a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
or B.Sc.). The prospective pilots are evaluated constantly, and the vast majority of those who begin flight training do not make it through the full program. Those expelled from the course will either remain in the air force in a non-flying capacity, or transfer to an army unit. (This depends to a large degree on the stage at which they leave the course.)
While in flying school, future pilots are sorted and assigned to train on different types of aircraft. Few become fighter pilots (considered by many to be the most desirable assignment), while the remainder learn to fly helicopters, transport aircraft, or train as navigators.
After a landmark 1994 High Court appeal by a Jewish immigrant from South Africa, Alice Miller, the Air Force was instructed to open its flight school to women. Miller passed her entrance exams, yet failed the medical tests and thus did not qualify. The first female fighter pilot, Roni Zuckerman
Roni Zuckerman
The first female jet fighter pilot for the Israeli Air Force, Roni Zuckerman, received her wings in 2001. Zuckerman is the granddaughter of Zivia Lubetkin and Icchak Cukierman whose nom de guerre was "Antek". Her grandparents were among the leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during World War II...
, received her wings in 2001, although a female navigator had already graduated in 1998.
While Israeli Arabs may volunteer to serve in the IDF, it is unclear whether they can seek air force training. In 2006, an Israeli Arab applied for the pilot program, but was not accepted. In 2009 the first Israeli Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
finished the course and received his wings.
Preparation phase
The first phase of the flight course lasts about six months. It includes an infantry basic training course at the Infantry School of the Air Force (lasting about seven weeks), an academic course (mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and a course which focuses on the history of IDF) (lasts about eight weeks) and training flights in a Grob G-120 plane (lasts about four weeks).
During this and most of the following phases of the course the cadets wear a Beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
with a white stripe around the edge, and a white background behind the Air Force symbol.
Basics phase
This phase lasts about five months. It includes a complex infantry series (including navigation, survival, etc.), Parachuting course, escaping workshop, Officers Ordination and Academic Studies (lasts about five weeks). At the end of this phase the cadets receive an air crew pin, which is equivalent to the platoon commander pin which is granted to graduates of officers school.Immediately after the end of the five months of the basic phase the trainees undergo test flights in the Lark (Grob G-120A) which determine their distribution the various departments: combat pilots, helicopter pilots and navigators. Cadets who are deposed from the course at this phase can request to join the UAV operators course, or choose to serve as officers in the Israeli Air Force - as controllers or as intelligence officers.
Primary phase
At this phase, which lasts about six months, the cadets are divided into departments and acquire basic skills needed to fly aircraft.The various departments, to which the cadets go to, are divided as following: combat pilots, combat navigators, Transportation pilots and helicopter pilots.
Introductions phase and graduate courses phase
These are two phases in which the cadets study the majority of the content needed to get the BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. These two phases, which are commonly referred to as a "Year of Education" (שנת ההשכלה), last for about a year. Consecutive academic studies for a BA are done on behalf of the Ben-Gurion University. The intensive academic year (not equivalent to regular university studies) consists of three semesters, of 13 weeks each. The four graduate courses include: Mathematics and Computer Science; Management of Information Systems; Economics and Management; Politics, Administration and Management. In addition, the cadets study about military topics, aviation topics and take three courses in English.
Advanced phase
The last phase of the course. includes acquisition of advanced aircraft skills and finishing the academic studies. Graduates receive at the end of this phase a lieutenant rank, a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and an aircraft wings pin.
Course completion
After three years since the beginning of the course, and two weeks before its completion, a special committee examines all the cadets, and determines which cadets will be completing the course. After the special committee completes its deliberations, the cadets begin preparing for their graduation ceremony. Two flight courses graduate every year, and there are therefore two ceremonies a year.The graduation ceremony in which the pilots are awarded with the aircraft wings pin is conducted with the cadets' families and senior army personal present. In both ceremonies an impressive air show is held by all Air Force helicopters and planes.
After the course ends, the pilots undergo an operational training course that takes place in an operational squadron and lasts about six months, aimed at preparing the IAF pilots for operational missions. The operational training course is conducted in either the Skyhawk
Skyhawk
Skyhawk may refer to:* Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a single-engine, four-seat light airplane* Buick Skyhawk, a compact car built from 1975 to 1989* Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a ground-attack jet aircraft...
or the F-16, followed by another six months of advanced operational training courses on the same plane. Operational training courses for helicopter pilots is conducted on the UH-60 Blackhawk, operational training courses for attack helicopter pilots on the AH-1 Cobra
AH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
, and operational training courses for transport aircraft on the King Air 200.
Notable alumni
|
Avihu Ben-Nun -Bibliography:*... Avraham Lanir Avraham "Avi" Lanir was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Air Force. He was the highest ranking Israeli fighter pilot to fall into enemy hands. He was tortured to death by his Syrian captors.-Biography:... Amos Lapidot Amos Lapidot was the tenth Commander of the Israeli Air Force, a position he held from 1982–1987.-Biography:Born in Kfar Saba in 1934, Lapidot initially enlisted in the IDF Artillery Corps, before eventually joining the nascent Israeli Air Force... David Ivry David Ivry was the Israeli Ambassador to the United States from 2000 to 2002, and the ninth commander of the Israeli Air Force . In 1999, he was appointed first director of the Israeli National Security Council.-Biography:... Amos Yadlin Aluf Amos Yadlin is a former general in the Israeli Air Force and was the head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, known as Aman. Before being promoted to head of Aman, Yadlin was the Israel Defense Forces military attaché to Washington, D.C.. Previously in his career he headed... Eliezer Cohen Eliezer Cohen is a former Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu and the National Union between 1999 and 2006.-Biography:... Amir Nachumi Amir Nachumi is a retired Israeli Air Force Brigadier General who in the course of his career shot down 14 enemy aircraft, making him one of Israel's top flying aces... Giora Romm Giora Romm is a former deputy commander of the Israeli Air Force , Israel's former military attaché in the United States and the current director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel. Romm was the Israeli Air Force's very first jet ace, scoring five kills during the 1967 Six Day War... |