I'm glad LAW students look at the white-red chessboard just like I do. In this respect, nothing changes: The Orląt School attracts people in love with aviation – with Brig-Gen. Pil. Dr. Krzysztof Cur, rector-commandant of the Military Academy, the education of subsequent generations of airmen is discussed by the editor of the "Polish Armed Forces".
Imagine a elder – a girl or a boy – who dreams of having his future tied to aviation. Why should specified a young man pay attention to the Air Military Academy? How does the Oakland School of Orlath attract young people today?
All those who dream about getting active with aviation, and even let me say more about the uniform, I encourage you to choose a military college. Of the respective military academies we have in Poland, this one, ours, is absolutely unique. After all, all military pilot who serves in the Armed Forces of Poland is simply a postgraduate of this university. The future F-16 pilots were educated in these walls. and F-35, that's where Hercules pilots, C-295M or Black Hawk, Apache and AW-149.
The university has a hundred-year tradition And it's recognizable in the world. I invitation not only those who have been curious in aviation from an early age, but besides those who have late come into love with “wings”. It is worth noting that Military Academy of Aviation educates not only pilots. The university's offer is very broad and I am convinced that everyone will find something for themselves here – 1 who wants to become an officer and service his country, and 1 who wants to finish civilian studies. In addition to strict courses related to the art of flying LAW educates navigators, logistics, operators Unmanned aircraft, radio technicians, national safety or air transport specialists. We are not only tempted by different courses of study, but besides by a modern teaching base. We have a modern fleet of aircraft and helicopters at our disposal, which totals 40 aircraft. The training of students and students is done by a well-prepared, substantive teacher and pedagogical staff. I know it's very crucial for young people today, so let me add that we besides have a modern sports base.
The Air Military Academy celebrates its 100th birthday this year. So I'm going to ask rather perversely: is LAW an old lady's Nobel Prize or a thriving modern academy?
The tradition and past of the Eagle School are of large value to us, but it is definitely my mission to make the academy a modern and open university for young people. And I hope that LAW is perceived as such, and that can be shown by the numbers. Since 2019, the number of our students has increased significantly. At that time, we received over 100 people a year, present over 300. In military fields, nearly 1,100 subjects presently survey in Dęblin, and the index of a civilian student has almost 750 people. We have no recruitment problems, due to the fact that all year 3 or 4 people apply for 1 seat at our university. This is simply a very good result, especially since Dęblin is not a metropolis, and our geographical location is not a magnet for students.
Gen. Brig. pil. Dr. Krzysztof Cur, rector-commandant of the Military Academy of Aviation.
So what is it?
What distinguishes LAW internationally is the educational strategy in force. Most of the academies preparing pilots for the needs of the armed forces of different countries are exclusively engaged in theoretical training – as an example, I will mention the Academy of the United States Air Force in Colorado Springs. Graduates of this university go to school squadrons and only there they undergo air selection and begin applicable classes. In LAW, we teach our subjects the art of flying almost from the beginning, due to the fact that after the first semester. Students and subjects will learn about the basics at the LAW Academic Air Training Center, piloting aircraft from the Diamond household and Robinson and Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters. They are yet granted a travel licence for an aeroplane or chopper pilot and are entitled to operate instrument flights.
It is besides crucial that everyone who dreams of F-35, FA-50 or modern helicopters must complete LAW.
It's true. The way to the FA-50 or the F-35 only leads through Dęblin. Of course, we do not straight train people on these types of aircraft, but we give them the basics that they then make in the course of discipline and service. The students who are to become supersonic aircraft pilots begin training on M-346 Bielik in the final year of their studies. And only after graduation do they end up at FA-50 or F-16. There's no another option.
What about those who dream of piloting modern helicopters?
We've already got our first trained AH-64 teacher and we'll be preparing as well. future Apache pilots. I will admit that this subject is inactive in the final phase of the agreement and that we are going to have any changes and preparations. According to the concept adopted in the General Staff of the HR, the AH-64 will besides be trained by enlisted officers. It predicts that a Center for chopper Aviation Training will be established in Leźnica Wielki, so there is simply a chance that the recruitment of cadets will start this summer. The training process of the enlisted officers will take about 2 years, and LAW is only meant to be support in the field of theoretical and applicable training on Robinson helicopters. Additionally, the first training of the enlisted officers is to be supported by a abroad centre. This can, of course, change in the future. First, however, we request to get a fresh platform for training. I'm reasoning of a chopper that will be able to prepare airmen to pilot AH-64.
Does this mean that the direction of a chopper pilot at five-year studies in Dęblin will cease to exist?
Nope. We proceed to train officers in this direction, due to the fact that Leźnica will prepare pilots only in the commanding corps. In addition, the number of seats in the Centre for chopper Aviation Training will be very limited. However, the fact is that we are just designing these changes, so time will show how this will work in practice. From my perspective, it is crucial for the training of chopper pilots in LAW to buy a fresh kind of chopper for the training of sub-divisions. Currently, the 4th School Aviation Wing has only Mi-2 and SW-4.
Military students who are to become pilots of supersonic aircraft begin their flight practices in the 4th School Aviation Wing in the final year of college. There are pilots of M-346 Bielik.
You mention the heavy utilized types of helicopters, and I just wanted to ask how much the Air Military Academy fits into the modernization process of the Polish Army. Does LAW keep up with the dynamic changes in our army?
We're trying to keep up. Of course, we will not race with linear units that are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. But that's not LAW's occupation either. We, above all, must focus on the quality and advanced level of training of officers. We must take care of training infrastructure, so that our students and students get cognition and skills, utilizing state-of-the-art tools, trainers and simulators. And we have nothing to be ashamed of. The fleet of LAW aircraft and helicopters is comparatively young. We work very much due to the fact that the university's yearly aircraft raid exceeds 16,000 hours.
We besides care about technological development. We employment people with advanced qualifications, we get practitioners – experienced pilots from another aircraft, although of course this is simply a immense challenge. We invitation you to LAW for cyclical lectures by specialists from technology, weapons and pilots of modern machines. I truly care about this due to the fact that I know that synergies between applicable and theoretical must be preserved.
Let me see this example. How has the training of supersonic aircraft pilots changed in the last decade?
The introduction of the M-346 "Bielik" aircraft became revolutionary in the aviation training. The university was active in the implementation of this platform and adapted theoretical and applicable training for its subjects from the outset. The aim was to guarantee that the training method in force at the school as far as possible meets the requirements of the 41th School Aviation Base. These changes in training should besides be looked for in virtual training. In my time, all students in the direction of a jet pilot trained on the TS-11 Spark and on trainers who gave small to the air reality. Today, in this regard, we see a generational and technological leap. I am, of course, reasoning about simulator training and another modern tools supporting training. Under controlled conditions, and at the most akin to actual conditions, practically all scenarios, including emergency situations, can be rehearsed. The approach to training at the Academic Air Training Center has besides changed, where future pilots receive solid ground on Diamond household aircraft. Podchorzyże learn a lot in English, learn global procedures in aviation. This makes it easier for them to control to simulation and applicable training on M-346 "Bielik". According to the adopted timetable, the future pilot of the supersonic fighter aircraft, completing five-year studies, should scope a raid of over 300 hours and have 100 hours spent in the simulator. A akin raid is issued by a future transport aircraft pilot. In turn, the chopper pilot after 5 years of survey reaches a raid of 170 hours and more than 50 hours train in the simulator.
Is a hundredth birthday a time to sum up, or is it a time to make plans for the future?
Actually, it's time for both. The celebrations of the 100th anniversary will be an chance to remember the past and heritage of our large predecessors, but besides an inspiration for us all to deepen the bonds of the academic community, an chance to stimulate affirmative emotions integrating the environment of our university. The Dęblin School of Orląt is open to the challenges of modern times, so we are not in danger of stagnation. We plan to make universities, further courses of study, get fresh teaching staff or even build additional infrastructure, including dormitories. Do you know what makes me happy? That these young people, LAW students, just like I look at a white-red chessboard. In this respect, nothing changes: Orląt School attracts people in love with aviation.
