{{Cleanup reorganize|date=March 2020}} [[File:DOSSIFS.JPG|thumb|right|DOSS Aviation Building]] [[Image:IFS1.jpg|thumb|right|IFT Aircraft at a Diamond Aircraft Facility]] '''Initial Flight Training''' (IFT) is a preliminary [[flight training]] course for [[U.S. Air Force]] officers, to include active-duty Regular Air Force, [[Air Force Reserve]], and [[Air National Guard]], who have been selected for [[U.S. Air Force aeronautical rating|Pilot]] training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/usaf_ift.html|title=Air Force Initial Flight Training (IFT) Program, Pueblo CO |website=baseops.mil.net}}</ref> Attendance consists of both newly commissioned USAF officers (i.e., [[second lieutenant]]s) and prior-commissioned USAF officers (e.g., [[first lieutenant]]s, [[Captain (United States)|captains]] and in very rare instances [[Major (United States)|majors]]) with no previous rated flight experience.
IFT consolidated three separate programs: {| class="wikitable" ! Program !! Students !! Description |- | '''Pilot Indoctrination Program''' (PIP)/<br>'''Initial Flight Training''' (IFT)/<br>'''Academy Flight Training''' (AFT) || [[USAF Academy]] cadets || Conducted by military and civilian instructors at the USAF Academy Airfield;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KAFF|title=AirNav: KAFF - USAF Academy Airfield|website=www.airnav.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/destinations/airports/KAFF/details|title=AOPA Airports|website=www.aopa.org}}</ref> |- | '''Flight Instruction Program''' (FIP) || College/university [[Air Force ROTC]] cadets || Conducted by contracted civilian flight instructors at nearby civilian airports adjacent to those academic institutions,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.aetc.af.mil/Portals/88/Documents/history/AFD-061109-020.pdf?ver=2016-01-12-160013-593 | title=Air Force Flight Screening: Evolutionary Changes, 1917-2003 | website=www.aetc.af.mil}}</ref> |- | '''Flight Screening Program Officer Training''' (FSPOT) || USAF [[Officer Training School]] graduates || Conducted at [[South Texas Regional Airport at Hondo|Hondo Municipal Airport]], Texas |}
These three programs were originally for pilot candidates who did not have at least an [[FAA]] [[Private Pilot Certificate]] (e.g. current pilots and navigators/combat system operators), and were consolidated into the current single civilian contractor-operated program under direct USAF auspices and oversight of the [[12th Flying Training Wing]] (12 FTW) of the [[Air Education and Training Command]] (AETC) at [[Randolph AFB]], Texas, and its subordinate [[306th Flying Training Group]] (306 FTG) at the [[USAF Academy]], Colorado. IFT is conducted at [[Pueblo Memorial Airport]], Colorado and is most similar to the former FSPOT for OTS graduates since it is conducted at a single site and all students are commissioned USAF officers.
IFT students must be [[undergraduate pilot training]] (UPT) candidates and be medically qualified with a Federal Aviation Administration Class III airman medical certificate and a USAF Flying Class 1 or 1A flight physical, as appropriate. The IFT curriculum is highly structured and fast-paced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/story/id/123026057/ |title=Introductory flight training undergoing changes |access-date=2013-02-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607211424/http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123026057 |archive-date=2008-06-07 }}</ref>
The IFT program began operations on 1 October 2006. Doss Aviation was the original contract, but now CAE holds the contract. IFT conducts flight screening for 1,300 to 1,700 USAF officers annually. As the gateway to USAF aviation, IFT provides initial flying training allowing students to successfully transition to the [[Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program]] (ENJJPT), [[Air Education and Training Command|Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training]] (SUPT), [[Air Education and Training Command|Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training]] (UHT), and [[Air Education and Training Command|Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training]] (UCSOT) at their associated air force bases, naval air stations, or army air field throughout the United States. The {{convert|45|acre|m2|adj=on}} IFT campus is located immediately adjacent to the [[Pueblo Memorial Airport]], Pueblo, Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/story/storyID/123028911/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121224137/http://www.aetc.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123028911|url-status=live|title=Air Education & Training Command Article on IFS|archive-date=November 21, 2007}}</ref>
A single-building facility provides for students’ general needs: *Hotel-style doubles rooms with desks and dressers for personal belongings *Gym with workout rooms, volleyball and basketball courts, weightlifting equipment and treadmills, cafeteria *Small communal room (the Tiger Den) *Large auditorium (used during the first week of training to teach students the basics of aviation) *Classrooms where students study and meet with their instructor pilots before performing their graded flights.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080705182915/http://wantscheck.com/UPTPrep/InitialFlightScreeningIFS/tabid/69/Default.aspx IFS Information and Study Aids] *[http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/usaf_ift.html IFS Information] *[http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/ Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training]
[[Category:Flight training]] [[Category:American military aviation]] [[Category:United States Air Force military education and training]]