Today's
"Dogfights" are very different from the past. If once it consisted of
short distance missile shooting and small distances between aircraft,
with the help of advanced weapon systems, now, aircrew members don't see
their opposition and air-to-air missiles can be launched dozens of
kilometers away from their targets.
Photography: ArchiveModern
"Dogfights" training is called advanced air-to-air training in
professional terms due to their use of weapon systems, missiles and
advanced means. This past week, the "First Fighter" Squadron and the
"Bat" squadron, who operate the F-16C/D, and the "Hammers" Squadron,
which operates the F-15I, conducted such an exercise to prepare for the
modern threats.
With that, the combat squadrons are still
training for the older "Dogfights" in a training exercise called
"Basics", because even though there is a low possibility that such a
fight would occur through their service, they are required to develop
and maintain the skills that are considered complex and important for
their squadron's abilities.
Photography: ArchiveFlying safeDue
to the fact that they are extremely complicated, advanced air-to-air
training exercises have great safety risks such as aircraft passing one
another in close distances at high speeds and short distances. Thus,
there are clear safety regulations defined in the rules and regulations
of the IAF. "In comparison to the past, in which the regulations were
less clear which caused far more accidents and safety events throughout
trainings, today the regulations are very clear", stated Lt. Col. Ilan,
Head of Flight Safety Branch in the headquarters.
Other than the
written rules and regulations, the IAF is taking another step towards
safety, the cultural side of flight. Within a new program called "flight
control" which is being led by the "Knights of the North" Squadron,
aircrew members are learning how to stay aware of everything happening
around them. "Just like driving a car, when you see a car parked on the
side of the road, there is no law that states you must move to the next
lane, however, if you are cautious you would do so yourself", explained
Lt. Col. Ilan.
Using the advanced systems in modern aircraft which
help the combat WSOs and pilots with the in terms of safety, it is
possible to distinguish that in past few decades there has been a
reduction in safety events in "Dogfights" trainings. "We've identified a
reduction of 10% of safety events every year in the past 30 years. At
the end of the day, maintaining our safety improves the level of
trainings and advances the squadron in the operational sense", concluded
Lt. Col. Ilan.
Photography: Archive
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