Stewart Penney / CFB Cold Lake
Flying school considers synthetic radar for Hawk
A synthetic radar training aid is being considered for the BAE Systems Hawk 115 advanced trainers operated by the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme.
The system would equip the Hawks of 419 Sqn Canadian Forces, which are used for Phase IV fighter lead-in training. Meanwhile, trainee pilots will next week begin low-level sorties in the Rocky Mountains, as part of the development of the NFTC syllabus.
Phase IV comprises 38 sorties from CFB Cold Lake in northern Alberta. As well as students who participated in earlier NFTC elements, the UK Royal Air Force also sends some trainees to Phase IV.
Maj Dave Stone, deputy commanding officer 419 Sqn, says the synthetic radar concept was discussed at the NFTC steering group committee in Calgary in April.
The Hawks carry Cubic rangeless air-combat manoeuvring instrumentation pods that would be modified to provide a synthetic radar picture. Currently ground-controlled interception is used during training.
Stone says a synthetic radar would improve training quality and allow the instructors to identify struggling students earlier.
As the synthetic radar would require investment, all participating nations would have to agree to the change. As well as Canada and the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and Singapore send students to NFTC, which is owned by Bombardier but is up for sale. As well as students, participants send instructors to NFTC. Since 419 Sqn received its first students in 2001, it has completed 17 courses and graduated 102 students.
Next week the unit plans to fly "proof of concept" training sorties to the Rockies, which will require a landing away from Cold Lake, says Flt Lt Berty Archer, an RAF instructor on 419 Sqn. Low-level flying is performed over the Cold Lake range, but the landscape is predominately flat. Stone says if the participating air forces agree, the low- level sortie will become part of the syllabus.
Meanwhile, France and Sweden are the latest nations to send instructors to NFTC. A Swedish pilot is completing Hawk conversion and an instructors' upgrade course at CFB Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan before joining 419 Sqn in September. Finland and Germany also supply instructors, but not students.
Source: Flight International
