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# F-16 training bolsters U.S., Pakistan relations

By Air Force Maj. Gabe JohnsonArizona National Guard

TUCSON, Ariz., - As a vital partner for U.S.  forces in SouthwestAsia, Pakistan's air force will soon upgrade its  30-year-old fleet of F-16Fighting Falcons, and the pilots charged with flying more  capable fightersare ready to handle the new technology after almost a  year of training withthe Arizona Air National Guard.

Eight Pakistan Air Force pilots, each experienced in the  F-16A/B, recentlylearned to fly the newer C/D model aircraft at the 162nd  Fighter Wing, theinternational F-16 training unit here at Tucson  International Airport. Theywere honored at a graduation ceremony here May 4. 

They are the first from their country to train in the  United States since1983, when the last class of Pakistani pilots trained at  Luke Air ForceBase, Ariz.

"This graduation is historic for U.S.-Pakistan  relations," said Pakistan AirForce Wing Commander Ghazanfar Latif, a 12-year F-16A  pilot. "For Pakistan,our air force is gaining capabilities that it has needed  for the lastdecade; capabilities that are critical to ongoing  operations in Pakistan'swar on terror."

The new planes purchased by the Pakistani government,  block 52 versions ofthe multi-role fighter, are far more advanced than the  older A-modelversions and will allow pilots to conduct operations at  night and greatlyenhance their use of precision munitions. 

The first four of the 18 total purchased are scheduled  for delivery June 26to Shahbaz air base in south-central Pakistan. The rest  will be delivered ona staggered schedule throughout this year. In addition,  their existing fleetwill undergo a mid-life update in 2011 designed to  upgrade cockpits andavionics to match the F-16C/D.

In preparation for the June delivery, the eight pilots  and their familieswill have spent 10 months in the United States navigating  the upgradetraining pipeline.

They spent two and half months reviewing military  aviation terminology atthe Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force  Base, Texas, and sevenmonths in flight training at Tucson International  Airport. Since theC/D-models used for training in Tucson are block 25  F-16s, they will nextundergo two weeks of additional block 52 instruction before  returning toPakistan. 

"Even though they're flying block 25s here, they  will still be able tooperate their block 52s back home. When they leave here  they will gettraining from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on  the differences,"said Lt. Col. Kelly Parkinson, 195th Fighter Squadron  commander. "The twoblocks fly the same; it's essentially the employment of  weapons that makesthe difference." 

The bulk of their flight training in Tucson included a  transition coursefrom the F-16A/B to the F-16C/D, flight lead upgrade  training and instructorpilot certification.

"We're training these eight pilots so they can  return home and beinstructors themselves and teach others to fly the new  F-16s," saidParkinson, a 22-year fighter pilot.

"I think the training here is very well organized  and tailored to our needs,also the standards here are very high," said Latif.  "This is going to make abig difference because we do not have the capability to  make precisionengagements at night with A-models. Everybody understands  that collateraldamage is a big factor and the sensors on the C-model  will help us carry outprecision engagement and close air support."

With so much to learn, the students flew a rigorous  schedule of five flightsper week. The average student tempo is closer to three  per week.

"The radar, datalink and other avionics help create  the big picture of whatis going on around you.   There's lots of information to process in theC-model, so you have to prioritize all of the input you are  getting," saidSquadron Leader Yasir Malik. "But these instructors  know what they are doingand they are good teachers."

Maj. Windy Hendrick, a flight commander and 13-year F-16  pilot, hasinstructed students from all over the world. She said she  and her fellowinstructors learned a great deal about their Pakistani  counterparts. 

"They are all experienced pilots with 500 to 1,800  fighter hours in theF-16, and the majority of that time is combat hours in  the fight againstextremists," she said. "They are very humble  and don't talk about theirexperience, but the more we learn about them and all  they've done it makesus proud to be their instructors."

"They are very dedicated, hard working and they have  great attitudes. Theirpresence in the squadron has been a real pleasure."

When flying over the military ranges of Southern Arizona,  Pakistan's pilotshad experienced instructors like Hendrick to guide them;  but back on theground they relied on the unit's international military  student office(IMSO) for help with housing, transportation,  documentation and adapting toAmerican culture.

"We could not ask for more help from the IMSO  office. They came to SanAntonio to meet us before we came to Tucson to help us  start our move," saidSquadron Leader Malik. "They went to see apartments  in Tucson to help usfind living arrangements, and they set up many trips all  over the state. Wesaw so many places that we would never have found on our  own."

"We would have been more confused with trying to  find a place to live andget adjusted if it weren't for IMSO."

It's unclear if more student pilots from Pakistan will  train in Tucson;however, according to Colonel Parkinson, the 162nd stands  ready.

"Training capable fighter pilots for our  partner-nation air forces andfostering relationships in the world-wide F-16 community  is what we do. Wewill continue to help train Pakistan's pilots whenever  we're needed," hesaid.

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