For the first time ever Air Force ROTC cadets are receiving real-time instruction from a fully qualified Air Force instructor pilot, remotely.
In this groundbreaking event held Jan. 24, Clarkson University Air Force ROTC cadets located at Potsdam, New York received instruction from an Air Force instructor pilot, who sat at an airport in Louisiana.
This proof of concept event is part of an ongoing effort in the Air Force’s “Pilot Training Next” program, which is based at Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, Texas. PTN is an initiative to “reimagine” the pilot training pipeline. The program explores and potentially prototype a training environment that integrates various technologies to produce pilots in an accelerated and learning-focused manner.
Cadets Michael Maynard ‘20, and Marc D’Amore ‘21, flew pilot training missions in a flight simulator provided by the Clarkson Aeronautical Engineering Department, which recently installed a software program that allows real-time and realistic flight instruction to cadets.
While in the Air Force ROTC (Detachment 536) program at Clarkson, cadets are now able to practice their flying skills while closely following Air Force training standards. This will give them a “wing” up on their counterparts at other AFROTC Detachments.
Additionally, Detachment 536 has acquired Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets that allow both ground training and flight training in a fully VR environment.
Clarkson Students, Faculty, and Staff are welcome to attend another demonstration of this training event on Friday, Feb 7, at 12:30 pm in CAMP 172. For additional information contact the Detachment 536 cadre at det536af@clarkson.edu
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