• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

VT-6 Sees End of 15-Year Pilot Program

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100203-21
Release Date: 2/3/2010 9:21:00 PM

By Ens. Joanna Clark, Naval Air Station Whiting Field Public Affairs

WHITING FIELD, Fla. (NNS) -- Training Squadron 6 saw the end of a 15-year program with Argentina Jan. 29 with a simple send off ceremony for an exchange pilot. Argentina has been sending their pilots to the squadron to serve as an instructors since 1994.

Training Squadron 6 bid fair winds to Lt. Luis Arbini during a Hail and Farewell ceremony. They presented him with a several mementos of his time with the squadron and congratulated him on a job well done.

"He is an outstanding pilot who brought a wealth of experience, and I will hate to see him go," commented Lt. Col. Javier Ball, VT-6 commanding officer.

Throughout the program, VT-6 has hosted seven exchange instructor pilots, including Fabin Magnaca, Pablo Remotti, Diego Suarez Del Solar, Falcone Carlos, Juan Bilesio and Adrian De Pauli. The squadron is one of three primary flight training units stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.

The exchange pilots began their tours at the Defense Language Institute to study English at Lackland Air Force Base. They would then spend four months in the Fixed Wing Instructor Training Unit prior to checking into VT-6.

Arbini flew 750 hours and took on 10 on-wings while attached to VT-6. He came here with his family and says his eight-year-old daughter is now bilingual. He describes his experience as challenging at times but very rewarding.

"My experience was so positive. In Argentina we do the same thing, but in Spanish," he said. "I have the obligation to share this experience with my colleagues when I return."

Arbini will become the executive officer of his new squadron when he returns to Argentina.

"The Argentine Navy has been gracious enough to send some of their best pilots to teach students at Naval Air Station Whiting field," said Cmdr. Sean Maybee, VT-6 executive officer. "We have benefited tremendously by the cultural and professional exchange."

As this exchange program ends, a new exchange program will begin between the instructors from the P-3 Orion Fleet Readiness Squadron at NAS Jacksonville and Argentine instructors.

For more news from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, visit www.navy.mil/local/naswf/.