LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 434th and 85th Flying Training Squadrons conducted a T-6 Texan II “Surge Week” Sept. 25-29. Surge week consisted of a large increase in flights that tested new operational concepts while also increasing synchronization with maintenance, all to maximize T-6 training flights.
“Thanks to the extreme hard work of our instructor pilots and maintenance personnel, we were able to safely test out some new ideas during surge week, while also flying more student training flights in a single day than has been done any day in the last few years,” said Lt. Col. Imran Khan, 434th FTS director of operations.
Surge week allowed pilots to practice the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts by utilizing local airfields and placing small maintenance teams at these locations to rapidly repair aircraft and return them to the air quickly.
“It’s key to train our future pilots using the concepts that they’re going to utilize in any future fight, like ACE,” said Col. James Blech, 47th Operations Group commander.
The week involved extending the flying window and quick turning sorties, which meant student pilots and instructors were challenged to solve problems quickly, as well as find solutions to their daily needs, such as by utilizing two new food smart vending kiosks.
“Synchronization of maintenance and ops is critical to surge week success,” said Blech. “The talent, flexibility and hard work of our maintainers, students, and instructors are what makes Laughlin AFB a premier pilot training base in Air Education and Training Command.”
A 47th FTW operational imperative aims to refine Undergraduate Pilot Training by leveraging the newest technology, executing the syllabus with intentional learning outcomes and integrating advanced concepts into training.
“Surge weeks are an important reminder that we must deliver innovative solutions to our Airmen,” said Khan. “It ultimately pushes us to build combat ready Airmen, leaders and pilots.”