First Assignment Instructor Pilots visit McConnell

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tara Fadenrecht
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Nineteen First Assignment Instructor Pilots visited McConnell Air Force Base, April 2.

The FAIPs, currently stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, as T-1 Jayhawk instructor pilots, made the trip to get a closer look at the KC-135 Stratotanker and learn about the base mission before they are assigned to an aircraft.

“The pilots completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and were asked to remain at Columbus AFB as instructors instead of moving to Air Mobility Command,” said Capt. Curtis Dejaco, 350th Air Refueling Squadron executive officer. “They compete with FAIPs from across Air Education and Training Command for assignments at the end of their three-year tour. They visited two other bases this [past] weekend, but [we had] the opportunity to showcase our aircraft and mission as the best in AMC.”

The group listened to briefings from KC-135 pilots and boarded a tanker to get a better feel for the aircraft.

“The benefit is actually being able to see the aircraft we might be [assigned] to,” said 1st Lt. Ian Ellington, 48th Flight Training Squadron FAIP. “I’ve never actually been inside a KC-135, so physically getting into the [aircraft] and [seeing] how you fit in the cockpit was definitely worth the trip.”