First Moroccan F-16 Pilots to Complete Training in Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz. --- In July, the Kingdom of Morocco, a strategic partner for U.S. forces in North Africa, will become the 25th country to own and operate F-16s.
The pilots tapped to fly them are scheduled to finish training here in time to bring them home, July 30.
Four Royal Moroccan Air Force officers, former F-5 pilots, will conclude 15 months of instruction at the 162nd Fighter Wing, the international F-16 training unit at Tucson International Airport.
They are the first from their country to accomplish consecutive courses in basic qualification, flight lead upgrade and instructor pilot certification in the multi-role fighter.
A handful of Air National Guard pilots will accompany them as they deliver the first four of Morocco's 24-aircraft purchase. The new planes, block-52 versions of the fighter, will be fresh off the assembly line and are a considerable step up in technology from the third generation fighters Morocco currently flies.
"We are modernizing our fleet and we've chosen the F-16, not only because it is a high-quality airplane, but also because of the close relationship we have with the United States," said Deputy Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Air Force, Brig. Gen. Abdelali Houari.
"We are really happy to send our pilots here to be trained," he said. "After a year and a half in the United States, our pilots are happy. Of course they want to return home, but they have gained a lot of experience here with the Arizona Air National Guard."
Lt. Col. Steve Haase, the Morocco program manager for the 162nd FW, has worked with the Royal Moroccon Air Force for three years. He's trained fighter pilots from all over the world and fully understands the scope of the students' historic accomplishment.
"It's all them," he said. "It's a big commitment to be the first F-16 pilots for Morocco. It's a testament to their positive attitude and work ethic. They are excited about the F-16 and its capabilities; yet they understand how much work there will be to build up an F-16 base."
As students, the pilots averaged three sorties per week and accumulated more than 150 F-16 hours each. Once home, they will be responsible not only for training others, but will also be instrumental in implementing F-16 operations at Ben Guerir Air Base.
Ben Guerir is a former U.S. air base located about 36 miles north of Marrakech and once served as a transatlantic abort landing site for the space shuttle. It's currently undergoing upgrades that, according to Moroccan officials, are modeled after U.S. Air Force bases.
"These are the best F-5 instructor pilots from their air force," Colonel Haase said. "They think the way we think. They have really shown that they want to learn how we (the U.S.) operate with the F-16 so they can do it the same way -- not just flying, but everything from maintenance to logistics."
Six additional Moroccan pilots are in the basic F-16 course in Tucson with graduation planned for September. They too will return home to help manage Morocco's growing F-16 fleet.
It's unclear if more student pilots from Morocco will train in Tucson; however, according to Colonel Haase, the 162nd FW stands ready.
"Every country is very different; that's what's so fascinating for instructor pilots here," the colonel said. "We get to know these guys on a personal level and establish trust with them. Training capable fighter pilots and fostering relationships along the way is what this is all about."
Since 1989, the 162nd FW has trained with virtually every nation that flies the F-16. In addition to Morocco, the wing trains with pilots from Singapore, Norway, Belgium, Chile, the South Korea, and the Netherlands
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/126817/first-moroccan-f_16-pilots-to-complete-training.html
سينتهى تدريب أول دفعه من الطيارين المغاربه المعدين للعمل على الأف16 الجديده فى 30 يوليو القادم
والدفعه عباره عن 4 ظباط من سلاح الجو المغربى ومجموعه صغيره من أبرز طيارى المقاتله f5 ويتدربون فى Tucson International Airport
وفترة تدريبهم 15 شهر كامل
ويستعدون أيضآ لإستلام أول دفعه من الأف16 بلوك52 وهى عباره عن 4 مقاتلات
ستقفز بسلاح الجو المغربى إلى تكنولوجيا أعلى
Iraq – Follow-On Support and Maintenance of Multiple Aircraft Systems
Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Iraq for follow-on support and maintenance of multiple aircraft systems and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $675 million.
The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of follow-on support and maintenance of multiple aircraft systems that include TC-208s, Cessna 172s, AC-208s, T-6As, and King Air 350s. Included are ground stations, repair and return, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The estimated cost is $675 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraq government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the U.S.
The proposed sale will help the Iraqi government to maintain indigenous Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, training, and counter insurgency/counter-terrorism capabilities. As the drawdown of coalition forces continues, the Iraqi Air Force continues to develop a force capable of assuming the lead in providing for the security of the Iraqi people. The follow-on support will ensure the operational capability of the Iraqi Air Force and will allow it to sustain itself in its efforts to establish stability in Iraq.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors will be Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas; Flight Safety International in Flushing, New York; Alliant Techsystems in Magna, Utah; L-3 Communications in New York, New York; and Integration Innovation, Inc. in Huntsville, Alabama. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded
العراق سيحصل على صفقه ب675مليون دولار عبار عن معدات دعم لوجيست وصيانه وقطع غيار ولإصلاح
للطائرات التاليه
TC-208s, Cessna 172s, AC-208s, T-6As, and King Air 350s
TUCSON, Ariz. --- In July, the Kingdom of Morocco, a strategic partner for U.S. forces in North Africa, will become the 25th country to own and operate F-16s.
The pilots tapped to fly them are scheduled to finish training here in time to bring them home, July 30.
Four Royal Moroccan Air Force officers, former F-5 pilots, will conclude 15 months of instruction at the 162nd Fighter Wing, the international F-16 training unit at Tucson International Airport.
They are the first from their country to accomplish consecutive courses in basic qualification, flight lead upgrade and instructor pilot certification in the multi-role fighter.
A handful of Air National Guard pilots will accompany them as they deliver the first four of Morocco's 24-aircraft purchase. The new planes, block-52 versions of the fighter, will be fresh off the assembly line and are a considerable step up in technology from the third generation fighters Morocco currently flies.
"We are modernizing our fleet and we've chosen the F-16, not only because it is a high-quality airplane, but also because of the close relationship we have with the United States," said Deputy Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Air Force, Brig. Gen. Abdelali Houari.
"We are really happy to send our pilots here to be trained," he said. "After a year and a half in the United States, our pilots are happy. Of course they want to return home, but they have gained a lot of experience here with the Arizona Air National Guard."
Lt. Col. Steve Haase, the Morocco program manager for the 162nd FW, has worked with the Royal Moroccon Air Force for three years. He's trained fighter pilots from all over the world and fully understands the scope of the students' historic accomplishment.
"It's all them," he said. "It's a big commitment to be the first F-16 pilots for Morocco. It's a testament to their positive attitude and work ethic. They are excited about the F-16 and its capabilities; yet they understand how much work there will be to build up an F-16 base."
As students, the pilots averaged three sorties per week and accumulated more than 150 F-16 hours each. Once home, they will be responsible not only for training others, but will also be instrumental in implementing F-16 operations at Ben Guerir Air Base.
Ben Guerir is a former U.S. air base located about 36 miles north of Marrakech and once served as a transatlantic abort landing site for the space shuttle. It's currently undergoing upgrades that, according to Moroccan officials, are modeled after U.S. Air Force bases.
"These are the best F-5 instructor pilots from their air force," Colonel Haase said. "They think the way we think. They have really shown that they want to learn how we (the U.S.) operate with the F-16 so they can do it the same way -- not just flying, but everything from maintenance to logistics."
Six additional Moroccan pilots are in the basic F-16 course in Tucson with graduation planned for September. They too will return home to help manage Morocco's growing F-16 fleet.
It's unclear if more student pilots from Morocco will train in Tucson; however, according to Colonel Haase, the 162nd FW stands ready.
"Every country is very different; that's what's so fascinating for instructor pilots here," the colonel said. "We get to know these guys on a personal level and establish trust with them. Training capable fighter pilots and fostering relationships along the way is what this is all about."
Since 1989, the 162nd FW has trained with virtually every nation that flies the F-16. In addition to Morocco, the wing trains with pilots from Singapore, Norway, Belgium, Chile, the South Korea, and the Netherlands
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/126817/first-moroccan-f_16-pilots-to-complete-training.html
سينتهى تدريب أول دفعه من الطيارين المغاربه المعدين للعمل على الأف16 الجديده فى 30 يوليو القادم
والدفعه عباره عن 4 ظباط من سلاح الجو المغربى ومجموعه صغيره من أبرز طيارى المقاتله f5 ويتدربون فى Tucson International Airport
وفترة تدريبهم 15 شهر كامل
ويستعدون أيضآ لإستلام أول دفعه من الأف16 بلوك52 وهى عباره عن 4 مقاتلات
ستقفز بسلاح الجو المغربى إلى تكنولوجيا أعلى
Iraq – Follow-On Support and Maintenance of Multiple Aircraft Systems
Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Iraq for follow-on support and maintenance of multiple aircraft systems and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $675 million.
The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of follow-on support and maintenance of multiple aircraft systems that include TC-208s, Cessna 172s, AC-208s, T-6As, and King Air 350s. Included are ground stations, repair and return, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The estimated cost is $675 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraq government and serves the interests of the Iraqi people and the U.S.
The proposed sale will help the Iraqi government to maintain indigenous Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, training, and counter insurgency/counter-terrorism capabilities. As the drawdown of coalition forces continues, the Iraqi Air Force continues to develop a force capable of assuming the lead in providing for the security of the Iraqi people. The follow-on support will ensure the operational capability of the Iraqi Air Force and will allow it to sustain itself in its efforts to establish stability in Iraq.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors will be Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas; Flight Safety International in Flushing, New York; Alliant Techsystems in Magna, Utah; L-3 Communications in New York, New York; and Integration Innovation, Inc. in Huntsville, Alabama. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded
العراق سيحصل على صفقه ب675مليون دولار عبار عن معدات دعم لوجيست وصيانه وقطع غيار ولإصلاح
للطائرات التاليه
TC-208s, Cessna 172s, AC-208s, T-6As, and King Air 350s
