Academics / Syllabus
Our curriculum is a structured, hands-on training program designed to take you from a novice to a proficient F/A-18C pilot. With one-on-one mentorship, our syllabus focuses on the core skills needed for both airfield and carrier operations.
-
#1 Airfield Operations
Learn the full lifecycle of a land-based flight. This lesson covers taxi procedures, proper takeoff techniques, and safe rollout after landing. We'll teach you to manage anti-skid systems, use nosewheel steering, and understand the difference between ground idle and flight idle to optimize your stopping distance.
-
#2 AOA and Landing
Master the critical skill of Angle of Attack (AOA) for precision landings. You will learn to use the **AOA indexer** on your HUD and the E-bracket on your Heads-Up Display to maintain the ideal on-speed condition. This ensures a consistent approach and touchdown, minimizing wear and tear on the aircraft and preparing you for the unforgiving nature of carrier landings.
-
#3 Overhead Break
Learn the proper procedure for entering the airfield landing pattern at high speed. This lesson teaches you how to perform a precise G-pull to shed speed, deploy your gear and flaps at the correct time, and roll out on a downwind leg at the optimal distance from the runway.
-
#4 Basic Navigation
We'll demystify the Hornet's navigation systems, including **TACAN** (Tactical Air Navigation) and Waypoints. You'll learn to set up your mission data, interpret the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI), and use the HUD to follow a pre-planned route.
-
#5 Advanced Navigation
This lesson goes beyond the basics, covering complex flight planning. You'll learn to create and edit waypoints, use the data link for shared information, and leverage the F-18's precise navigation system to arrive at a target at a specific time.
-
#6 IFR and Situational Awareness
This course teaches you to fly using only your instruments, a vital skill for flying in clouds or at night. We'll also focus on developing your Situational Awareness (SA), a pilot's ability to maintain a complete picture of the tactical environment. You'll learn to use the SA page to track radar and datalink contacts.
-
#7 Formation Flight
Learn to fly as part of a team. This lesson covers the techniques for maintaining a consistent position relative to a lead aircraft. You'll practice both day and night formation flying, focusing on small, smooth control inputs to avoid pilot-induced oscillations.
-
#8 Air to Air Refueling
This notoriously difficult lesson teaches the art of flying in a precise and stable formation behind a tanker aircraft. We'll cover pre-contact procedures and what visual cues to look for to successfully connect with the refueling basket and hold your position until the process is complete.
-
#9 Case 1 Departure / Recovery
Learn the official procedures for day-time, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) carrier operations. This includes the takeoff from the catapult, establishing a departure climb, and returning to the ship to enter the landing pattern, culminating in a successful trap on the flight deck.
-
#10 Case 3 Departure / Recovery
Master the complex, all-weather, and night-time carrier operations. This lesson teaches you the instrument-based procedures for departing the carrier and returning for a landing in conditions with limited or no visibility. You'll learn to follow a specific flight plan to enter the holding stack and intercept the Final Bearing at the correct altitude and distance, guided by the ship's **Instrument Carrier Landing System (ICLS)**.