Topic outline

  • General Information

    Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot TrainingThis course covers all the theoretical basics you need to know in order to complete the practical basic courses for the various flight profiles and aircraft simulators at the OFS.  All topics specific to a particular game or flight profile will be covered in other courses.  

    The number of topics dealt with here was kept low deliberately and many are only superficially covered in order to introduce newcomers to the theory of flight step by step.  In further theory courses, e.g. the Advanced Courses, the topics discussed here will be covered again more deeply and the theory will be extended in further areas.  


    Note for Beginners:     Much of the theory of Flight is taken for granted during practice sessions, so for anyone who has never studied the basic theory before, it is advised to at least skim the relevant chapters.  

  • Basics

    1910 Glenn CurtissA little more than a hundred years ago, even until the 1960s, it was completely unthinkable that aircraft weighing 400 tons could fly halfway around the globe and transport 500 people and freight over ten thousand kilometres and more.  Why do airplanes fly, large and small, light and heavy?  To answer this question, we need to briefly look at aerodynamics and aircraft design.  

    The word aerodynamics comes from the ancient Greek aer (air) and dynamis (force).  Aerodynamics is the study of flowing gases and bodies around which gases flow.  In the section “Fundamentals of Aerodynamics” we want to explain the most important terms and modes of action, which are of elementary importance when flying.  The understanding of these facts is esssential for the pilot.  

    Modern aircraft consist of an incredible number of different parts.  Early constructions were simple, usually made of wood and covered with fabric.  Later, aluminium was increasingly used.  And today, much is made of plastics such as carbon and glass fiber to save weight, although aluminum still plays a major role.  These materials are light, stable and dimensionally stable, and these properties are very important in aircraft construction.  In the section "Parts of an Aircraft" we would like provide a first overview of the main components.  

  • Navigation and Communication

    The Crew of a HC-130 Hercules

    After the previous chapter we now know why an airplane flies and how to steer it. Once airborne, it would also be nice if we could safely descend again, ideally at our destination airfield.

    We need navigation whenever we do not have our destination in sight immediately after take-off. As this is essential, we should familiarize ourselves with the most important basics of navigation.

    As a minimum, every pilot should be able to call for help in an emergency. They must be able to communicate with other participants using the airspace for flight safety. In order to be able to carry this out efficiently, various procedures have been established. These are dealt with in the section "Fundamentals of Radio and Communication".

    In the early stages your full concentration us taken up with handling the airplane. You quickly forget to send the required radio messages. The same happens with enemy contact or even during air combat. So, it is very important that the messages become second nature and are carried out in the appropriate situation completely naturally and automatically.

  • Conduct, Rules and Procedures

    Deck Operation on an Aircraft CarrierTraffic Procedures.  Nothing is worse than total confusion in the airspace.  If 20 pilots are gossiping at once or all want to land at the same time, there is chaos.  Ground crew less than impressed if the aircraft’s ignition is still on, the cockpit is open or even an engine is left running.  However, the pilot can't see everything from everywhere at once.  Therefore, just like road traffic, there are rules and procedures which every pilot has to follow.  

    Checklists.  In many situations a pilot has to perform complex actions in a short time and must not make any mistakes.  He cannot pull over to the side and read through the flight manual in peace.  He must know what to do, when to do it and in what order.  To ensure that nothing is forgotten, all important procedures, for the safe operation of an aircraft, are carried out using checklists.  These checklists contain a lot of experience in the most consistent space.  

    Knowing the traffic rules for the airspace as well as at the airport, adhering to them and working through the checklists for the correct use of the respective aircraft point-by-point, gives a basic safety level for all and can be relied on in dangerous situations.  

    We have therefore summarised the most important information on this topic into a short format and in two chapters.  

    • Firstly, from the point of view of "The airfield and other traffic" with the emphasis on the procedures on the ground from a traffic point of view.  
    • Secondly, from the point of view of "me and my aircraft" with the emphasis on checklists and cockpit internal procedures for operational safety.  

    Both topics are interlinked and processes mix, but always function on the basis of a step-by-step correct implementation according to the request / approval / confirmation principle.