203 Squadron
The Iraqi air force's Squadron 203, a T-6A Texas II flight training squadron at Tikrit Air Base, Iraq received delivery of their first T-6 Dec. 16, 2009 and performed their first mission two weeks later. The goal is to eventually have 30 instructor pilots, two for every T-6 aircraft in the inventory. It takes nearly 18-months and more than 280 flight and simulator hours to produce an instructor pilot. the 52d Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron (the USAF’s only such squadron) included instructor pilots who trained IqAF pilots in Iraqi T-6s—the same aircraft the USAF uses for pilot training. Regardless of Squadron 203’s operational autonomy, it has virtually no maintenance capability, primarily due to underdeveloped English-language and technical-training programs for its maintainers. Thus, for the foreseeable future, the IqAF will continue to rely on US contractors to complete basic and scheduled maintenance as well as daily flight-line maintenance for the T-6. Most likely this dependence will continue until the IqAF formalizes and then makes good on a strategic vision that includes addressing goals for aircraft maintenance and sustainment—something diligently advocated by USAF advisers under the ITAM organization.
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