An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Initial Flight Screening contract awarded

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) --  Air Force officials here announced May 30 that Doss Aviation, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been officially awarded the Initial Flight Screening contract after the completion of an Air Force environmental assessment.

In February, the Air Force announced its intent to award a 10 year, $178 million contract for initial flight screening to Doss Aviation, but official contract award depended on the outcome of an environmental assessment to evaluate any potential impacts the proposed flight operation might have on the environment. Based on the assessment, the Air Force has approved a Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI.

IFS evaluates candidates hoping to enter Air Force aviation training either as pilots or combat systems officers. Doss Aviation is expected to begin IFS operations in October 2006.

Under the contract with Doss Aviation, IFS operations will be conducted primarily at Pueblo Memorial Airport with auxiliary fields located at Fremont County Airport in Cañon City, Colo., and Fowler Airport in Fowler, Colo.

"IFS will prepare students for undergraduate pilot training and undergraduate combat systems officer training," said Millie Vigil, Air Education and Training Command Contracting Squadron Technical Support and Training Flight commander. "The training Doss Aviation will provide our students will include about 19 training flights and all the support services our students will need during their training."

The IFS contract is a turn-key operation providing all services, facilities and equipment to deliver flight screening to future Air Force aviators. The contractor will furnish all aircraft, aircraft maintenance, certified flight instructors, fire/crash/rescue support, flight training center, lodging, dining, student transportation, physical fitness facilities, and installation security. In addition, the contractor will provide office space for a permanent-party military contingent to oversee the students in residence at the contractor's training facility.

"Now our pilot and combat systems officer candidates will experience a flying training environment that more closely resembles undergraduate flying training," said Lt. Col. Victor L. Rick, AETC initial flight training chief. "The new program will also be more rigorous than the past program. Our intention is to improve the candidates' chances of succeeding in the very challenging Air Force pilot and combat systems officer training programs."