Germany elects to send pilots to Italian flight training school

Luftwaffe pilots have joined other international students in training with Leonardo and the Italian Air Force on the T-346A aircraft. (Leonardo)

Germany is sending its military pilots to train at the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana: AMI) International Flight Training School (IFTS).

Leonardo announced on 29 September that the first Luftwaffe pilots had recently arrived at the school at 61 ^st Wing's Lecca Galatina Airbase in southern Italy, where they began their final Phase IV training on the M-346 Master aircraft (designated T-346A in AMI service).

“Two pilots from the German Air Force have recently begun their advanced flight training phase, known as Phase IV or Lead-In to Fighter Training, at […] Lecce Galatina. This is in accordance with an agreement signed by the Air Squad General Alberto Rosso, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, and Major General [Peter] Klement, Commander of the Flying Units of the German Air Force”, Leonardo said.

While this agreement between the two air forces had not previously been disclosed, Leonardo said that the Luftwaffe and AMI are now looking at expanding their IFTS collaboration to include the earlier-level Phase III training also. This takes the student pilot through to military qualification.