Aircraft
Training Underlines Afghan Air Force Rebirth
Training is just getting under way of the first military fixed-wing pilots to be taught to fly in Afghanistan since the early 1990s.
The first three Cessna 208B Caravans for the Afghan Air Force’s training center arrived in Afghanistan on October 22. As well as six for training, the AAF is acquiring 20 Caravans for transport duties.
The first three Cessna 208B Caravans for the Afghan Air Force’s training center arrived in Afghanistan on October 22. As well as six for training, the AAF is acquiring 20 Caravans for transport duties.

Training is just getting under way of the first military fixed-wing pilots to be taught to fly in Afghanistan since the early 1990s. The initiation of the first course follows the delivery of three Cessna 182T basic trainers in September, and three Cessna 208B Caravans for advanced instruction on October 22.

An undergraduate pilot training (UPT) facility is being established at Shindand, with construction due to be completed next spring. Pilot training courses are being overseen by the U.S. Air Force’s 444th Air Expeditionary Adviser Squadron, part of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing entrusted with rebuilding Afghanistan’s airpower. Instructors come from the U.S., Hungary, Italy and Afghanistan.