ACO COURSE
QLD_Blue: The ACO course has changed significantly in recent years.
Star 47: Note, I am not an ACO but have been involved in the wider training processes. If interested in ACO training, you should research it further. However, since the curriculum is still changing, the basics are:
-The ACO course is held at the School of Air Warfare, RAAF East Sale, takes 48 weeks and has undergone significant changes over recent years.
-At the moment ACO Course is conducted on the B350 Kingair. There is a very strong likelihood that in 2012 some training will be also be done on PC9.
-ACO Course is streamed..that is, there is a common starting phase of around 25-30 hours flying, then specialty phases depending upon Service and eventual employment.
-Students are streamed according to ability and preferences. Air Battle Managers (previously fighter controllers) break from flying early and do a lot of training in simulated Air Warfare Simulation at SAW. Others going to Maritime concentrate on applying rear station and sensor equipment (the back end training system has recently been upgraded), and the Transport/Fast Jet streams incorporate more front seat/copilot style of operations, but not manipulating the controls...rather running the actual missions. There is heavy emphasis on managing the missions.
-Courses are now trialling the new software and syllabus. The plan is for all to combine in to a final mission-based program prior to grad.
-Fast jet stream graduates go off to Hawks then F18F. Maritime to P3 (future Poseidon), Transport to Herc, ABM to further ground-based ops and likely then onto Wedgetail, Naval Observers (similar stream to FJ) to helos.
That is a basic outline and I hope ACOs involved in the training can answer further. The program is much changed from the old pure NAV days. Cheers
RM