Chapter One Contact Training

CHAPTER ONE

CONTACT TRAINING

100.

INTRODUCTION

This Flight Training Instruction (FTI) contains procedures and information needed to complete

the contact stage of training. This instruction is comprehensive; however, it is imperative you

reference the T-6A Naval Air Training And Operating Procedures Standards (NATOPS) manual

when preparing for every flight (most notably for the study of emergency procedures). Before

you begin your preparation you should understand the general goals of the contact stage. Student

Naval Flight Officers (SNFO)/Student Weapon System Operators (SWSO) receive "stick time"

in a pilot-like syllabus in order to create and build the following skills:

1. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) situational awareness: the ability to recognize any aircraft

situation relative to the four dimensions of time, airspeed, heading, and position over the earth.

2. VFR scan: the ability to recognize deviations from the base airspeed, altitude and heading

with reference to flight instruments and the horizon.

3. Flight procedures and their execution: throughout your career, you will be responsible for

flight procedures (NATOPS or mission-oriented). The T-6A contact stage will provide your

initial training to help build the skill of recalling specific procedures while operating in more

stressful environments.

You will accomplish a series of maneuvers from this manual including taxi, takeoffs, transitions,

stalls, spins, landing pattern work, and finally, precision aerobatics. These maneuvers will be

graded with reference to the above goals and the course training standards. If you are well

prepared for each flight, knowing the procedures and discussion items, you will enjoy your initial

military flight experience and get the most of out it.

101.

BACKGROUND

Naval Aviation training has come a long way since 1910 when Lieutenant T. G. Ellyson was

ordered to flight instruction to become the first Naval Aviator. Soon thereafter the U.S. Navy

purchased its first aircraft, the Curtis Triad, at a cost of $5,500. Since then, naval aviation

technology has progressed at a rapid rate. The fleet aircraft of today's Navy are tremendously

complex and demanding machines capable of astonishing performance. Advancements in

aviation technology are only part of a much bigger picture. Even the most modern aircraft will

most certainly fail to accomplish its mission if its crew is poorly trained or incompetent.

Therefore, a thorough and comprehensive training program is essential to mission

accomplishment.

Early aviation pioneers suffered through many accidents, which became unwanted yet

commonplace occurrences. A good landing was one from which you could walk away! Today,

the safety record of Naval Aviation is the best it has ever been. Accidents or mishaps are rare yet

do occur. Our universal goal is a zero mishap rate, especially in the training environment.

CONTACT TRAINING 1-1