It was in the past

Pulkovnik pilot Artur Kalko

Jerzy Gruszczynski and Maciej Szopa talk to Colonel Artur Kalko, commander of the 41st Aviation Training Base, about the unit's ongoing infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of a new fighter pilot training system.

What is the current level of implementation of infrastructure investments related to M-346 in the 41st BLSZ? What's left to do?

Numerous infrastructure investments have been made in recent months and years, and many more are in various stages of construction. If I said there were no problems, I would be lying. They are always there, because now everything is new. We are dealing with a jump from the 60s and 70s. right into the 41st century. This is a huge change for the people who are going to use it. Investments in the XNUMXth BLSz were so great that decisions about them were made not in our unit, but at a higher level by specialized institutions. Of course, we were asked what we needed, and our opinion was taken into account. In some parts of the investment we have even more than we would like, in others, perhaps something else will be useful or some modifications will be required. It's normal with this magnitude of change. However, the matter is very complicated, because all new purchases are under warranty. Possible modifications are difficult because they must be carried out by the companies that were the contractors for the investment. This, in turn, is associated with additional costs, so we approach this with caution.

From new investments, we built: a pilot's house, a warehouse for aviation materials - modern, with air conditioning with controlled atmosphere, humidity and automated racks. The operator enters a part number and a special boom moves under it. These are wonderful things: I myself wear a flight suit and I like the warehouse ... We also have a new tower - an airport and a new cabin for technicians only for M-346 personnel. Eight light hangars for the M-346 were also built.

How is the training of flight and ground personnel carried out?

Investments were made in equipment, but not in the training program. This is our role. We had to prepare it ourselves and now we are at the stage of smooth polishing. We are also in the learning phase, because we could not learn everything during the course in Italy, despite the fact that we sent flight instructors and technicians there. For example, the instructors on the M-346 flew there after 70 hours, so it was not possible to train everything. That is why their skills are still improving during flights this year. We have guarantees for everything, as well as support in the form of advice. The Italian staff helps us fly the planes, that is, our people, but if there is a problem, the Italian coordinators help us.

How was the training of instructor pilots in Italy and what standards for the level of personnel need to be achieved now in order to start training cadets?

This is a difficult question. People of different backgrounds went to Italy. There was an F-16 pilot, a MiG-a-29 pilot, and pilots of the TS-11 Iskra. It's good that it was such a mix, but for different people it was a jump of different sizes. On the other hand, 70 flight hours are not enough for them to say that they can use the M-346 to its fullest. In fact, they just recognized him there. Now they are being improved with the support of two Italian instructors who will stay with us for two years.

Going back to the Polish aviation training program… do you have to test it now and the cadets will be able to train after it is approved?

The documents have already been approved. We have developed them, and now we need to check how it works.

How many flight hours do you expect on the M-346 for one aviation adept?

I would prefer not to answer, but so far this number ranges from a few dozen to 110 hours. We mean how it is done in other countries, but first of all we need to know not how many hours the cadets have to fly, but what we want to achieve. What skills should a graduate pilot have? It depends on what the 2nd Tactical Aviation Regiment expects from us. After all, we bought the M-346 in order to become independent in terms of training. This aircraft makes it possible to train even with the use of complex weapons - bombs and the most modern guided missiles purchased for the Hawks. The simulation of this gun cannon has already been tested. But how it will work, we will see in the process of operation.