Italian Air Force Academy - ITAFA

Each year about 100 potential pilot trainees arrive at the Italian Air Force Academy (ITAFA), Accademia Aeronautica Militare Italiana, is located in Pozzuoli, Naples.

They are then graded or screened at 70 º Stormo Giulio Cesare Graziani (70th Basic Training Wing) in Latina. At 207 º Gruppo (ITAF 207th Squadron) which operates the SF.260EA (T-260EA). They would have clock around 20 of flying hours in the SIAI SF.260.

Of the original intake only around half (50 trainees) will make it to begin their military pilot training course at Guidonia. Here they will spend another nine months to attain their glider pilot wings by flying the Glob G.103A Twin II or Twin Astir II Gliders. About 60% (or about 30 trainees) will attain their glider pilot wings and then moved to the next phase of their training.

The AMI HQ Commander makes the decision as to which student takes which of the three options, the decision being based on the student’s proficiency. Option 1: Return to Latina for the advanced propeller aircraft training course on the SF.260 (Phase II) and then progress to Lecce Air Base to learn to fly the MB.339 jet trainer.; Option 2: Transfer to the Rappresentanza Aeronautica Militare Italiana (RAMI) at Sheppard Air Force Base for ENJJPT course; Option 3: transfer to RAMI at Kalamata Air Base in Greece to fly the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II before returning to Lecce Air Base to be trained on the MB.339 .

At Latina, trainees will attend the advanced propeller aircraft training course on the SF.260, Phase II of the Italian training syllabus. On completion of the Phase II course, they then move to the next phase of training.

61 º Stormo (61st (Jet Training) Wing) in Lecce. At 213 º Gruppo (ITAF 213rd Squadron) which operates the MB-339A for Phase III of the Italian training syllabus for nine months.

61 º Stormo (61st (Jet Training) Wing) in Lecce. At 212 º Gruppo (ITAF 212nd Squadron) which operates the MB-339CD for Phase IV of the Italian training syllabus for another five months. The MB-339CD was introduced in 2009 as a lead-in fighter trainer.

Update: By early 2014, the T-346 will replace the Aermacchi MB339CD in Phase IV of the Italian syllabus. The MB339CD will in turn replace the older MB339A in Phase III. The MB339CD has a modern glass cockpit. But the T-346 offers much better aerodynamic performance; avionics; and an embedded training system that includes simulated sensors.

Updated On: 18.10.15