Training Air Wing, Finnish Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Training Air Wing is the Finnish Air Force
pilot jet aircraft training school. It is located at Kauhava Airport
in Kauhava
, in Southern Ostrobothnia
. The unit trains pilots for the Finnish Defence Forces, as well as for the Finnish Border Guard
.
at Santahamina
, where there was a sandy airfield, called "Sahara". Until the end of the 1920s, the school mostly used aircraft equipped with floaters. In the 1930s, the pilot training was moved to Kauhava. At the same time, the Finnish Air Force also started to train pilots for the reserve.
In 2005, it was decided that primary training would be branched off and a new unit was created in Tikkakoski. Its was named into Air Force Academy
. Because the name of Kauhava unit had been the same, it was renamed into Training Air Wing - the same name unit had already in 1941-1952.
in Tikkakoski
, now a part of Jyväskylä
, where initial training is given with the Vinka aircraft. Training is handled by Patria Aviation. Upon completing initial training, some pilots are transferred to the Training Air Wing at Kauhava, where they begin jet training with Hawk
aircraft.
In September 2008 the Finnish defence conglomerate Patria
and the Finnish Air Force signed a contract, establishing an international flight training center. The facility, called the Nordic Pilot Training Centre, or NPTC, will offer military flight training to foreign customers utilizing Hawk aircraft located at the Kauhava Air Force Base.
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
pilot jet aircraft training school. It is located at Kauhava Airport
Kauhava Airport
Kauhava Airport is a military airport located in Kauhava, Finland, north of Kauhava town centre. Training Air Wing of the Finnish Air Force is based at the airport.- External links :*...
in Kauhava
Kauhava
Kauhava is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region, northwest of Helsinki and by the main railway from Helsinki to Oulu. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, in Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the 20 regions of Finland.Seinäjoki is the regional centre and by far the largest city in the area.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :...
. The unit trains pilots for the Finnish Defence Forces, as well as for the Finnish Border Guard
Finnish Border Guard
The Finnish Border guard is the national security agency responsible for enforcing the security of Finland's borders...
.
History
In the beginning, pilots were trained in HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
at Santahamina
Santahamina
Santahamina is an island and neighbourhood of Eastern Helsinki, Finland. At present it is a military base housing the Guard Jaeger Regiment, making access restricted...
, where there was a sandy airfield, called "Sahara". Until the end of the 1920s, the school mostly used aircraft equipped with floaters. In the 1930s, the pilot training was moved to Kauhava. At the same time, the Finnish Air Force also started to train pilots for the reserve.
In 2005, it was decided that primary training would be branched off and a new unit was created in Tikkakoski. Its was named into Air Force Academy
Air Force Academy, Finnish Air Force
The Air Force Academy is located at Tikkakoski in Jyväskylä, Finland. It is a Finnish Air Force pilot training school, which gives initial pilot training for conscripts of the Finnish Air Force. The pilots fly Vinka aircraft and training is provided by the Patria Aviation company...
. Because the name of Kauhava unit had been the same, it was renamed into Training Air Wing - the same name unit had already in 1941-1952.
Current status
The pilot training starts with a conscript course at the Air Force AcademyAir Force Academy, Finnish Air Force
The Air Force Academy is located at Tikkakoski in Jyväskylä, Finland. It is a Finnish Air Force pilot training school, which gives initial pilot training for conscripts of the Finnish Air Force. The pilots fly Vinka aircraft and training is provided by the Patria Aviation company...
in Tikkakoski
Tikkakoski
Tikkakoski is a neighbourhood of Jyväskylä, Finland, about north of the city centre. It has a population of 6,000.The Jyväskylä Airport, Aviation Museum of Central Finland, and a Finnish Air Force base, with the FAF Headquarters, and the Finnish Air Force Academy are all located in...
, now a part of Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, where initial training is given with the Vinka aircraft. Training is handled by Patria Aviation. Upon completing initial training, some pilots are transferred to the Training Air Wing at Kauhava, where they begin jet training with Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
aircraft.
In September 2008 the Finnish defence conglomerate Patria
Patria (company)
Patria is a Finnish company which produces a wide range of defence, aviation and aerospace technology. It carries on the firearms tradition of Valtion Kivääritehdas and the aerospace tradition of Valtion lentokonetehdas.-Patria Aviation:* NH90* Mini-UAVs...
and the Finnish Air Force signed a contract, establishing an international flight training center. The facility, called the Nordic Pilot Training Centre, or NPTC, will offer military flight training to foreign customers utilizing Hawk aircraft located at the Kauhava Air Force Base.