Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) course
The aim of Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) Course is to produce F/A-18 and F-111 flying instructors who are experts in the tactical employment of fast jet aircraft.
Students receive advanced training on aircraft systems, weapons and fighter tactics comprising both academic and airborne instruction.
The Course is similar in concept to the USAF Fighter Weapons School and USN Naval Strike and Air Warfare Centre, formally known as "Top Gun".
Graduates are employed as flying instructors and tactical leaders within Air Combat Group and 41WG. Their expertise, skill and experience afford them a reputation for being among the finest exponents of air warfare in the world.
No. 29 Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) Course commenced on 09 Jan 06 and will graduate on 17 Jun 06. The FCI Course is an intensive five-month course conducted by No 78 Wing once every two years.
There are six F/A-18 pilots, two F-111 pilots and one F-111 navigator currently on the course. No 7 Fighter Combat Controller (FCC) Course is run concurrently by 41WG with three students. The course includes about 80 flying hours.
Aircrew are nominated for FCI Course following a recommendation from their Commanding Officer. They are already experienced pilots and controllers, all above average.
They are essentially high flyers who have gone through an extensive nomination and selection process through their unit's chain of Command.
On completion of this course they will go back to their squadrons and units as their tactical experts.
The course is subdivided into four Phases. The first phase is dedicated to flying instruction and lasts approximately seven weeks. The second phase represents the start of the tactical part of the course, beginning with Air to Air Phase.
The phase begins with Within Visual Range manoeuvring up to 2v2, and progresses through Beyond Visual Range Air Combat Training, culminating in Exercise Aces South.
Exercise Aces South is an Air Defence exercise conducted in the airspace to the east of Williamtown from 5-8 Apr 04. The Course then moves into the Air to Surface Phase with long range simulated strikes into Southern Queensland.
At the completion of the air to surface phase, the course deploys to RAAF Base TDL for the final phase, Exercise Aces North.
Aces North is a major combined Offensive Counter Air exercise involving up to 40 aircraft, including combat elements from the RAN and ARA.
The tactics employed during Aces North will incorporate lessons learnt from Operation Iraqi Freedom, practicing large force coalition style air operations.
The FCI Course is extremely intensive, presenting challenging scenarios that test aircrew understanding and execution of fighter tactics.
Students experience the stress and workload that could be expected in actual operations. As a result, students graduate with the skills required of the next generation of tactical leaders for Air Combat Group.
This is the fifty-second year the FCI Course has been conducted. WGCDR Dick Cresswell originally developed the course.
It was designed as a postgraduate course providing specialist training in air to air combat tactics, to address a perceived post-war decline in combat experience.
The course has grown from a 12 week course focussed on air combat, to a 23 week course covering flying instruction, air to air and air to ground combat training reflecting the multi-role capability of modern fighters.
Aces North 2006 Home
