Vanguard Magazine

A I R T R A I N I N G www.vanguardcanada.com JUNE/JULY 2025 23 Dave Lohse, CEO of International Test Pilot School (ITPS) Canada Ltd., said he is excited about the future for his company. "This is incredibly positive news for a Canadian company like ours," said Lohse. ITPS has been operating Lead-In Fighter Training programs domestically since 2019 and advanced fighter weapons school courses since 2001 through its tac- tical operating division, International Tac- tical Training Centre (ITTC). ITTC provides a range of tactical train- ing programs, including Fighter Lead-in Training (FLIT), Fighter Weapons In- structor Course (FWIC), Advanced Jet Training, and the Mission Commander Course. Among these, FLIT is the most frequently delivered course. The FLIT course is designed to efficient- ly and cost-effectively develop core fighter pilot competencies—including flying skills, situational awareness, tactical knowledge, physical and mental fitness, and officer development. The program encompasses Phases III and IV: Phase III introduces pilots to fast-jet operations with exposure to basic tactical concepts, while Phase IV builds the foundation for tactical execu- tion. Additionally, the Advanced Tactical Simulator Phase prepares students for op- erations in 4.5 and 5th generation aircraft. The Air Dominance Athletics program is a key component of ITTC's training, ensuring fighter pilot students achieve peak mental and physical performance. In-house subject matter experts use sci- entifically proven techniques to enhance cognitive function, decision-making and resilience under high stress. Peak physi- cal fitness training enhances cockpit en- durance, agility, coordination, and career longevity in critical combat and training situations. Advanced biometric tracking and data analytics support continuous per- formance optimization. ITTC uses a combination of ground school, simulation and live flying sorties to maximise the effectiveness of its train- ing programs. This integrated ecosystem addresses the limitations of legacy train- ing with agile solutions to reduce cost, in- crease pilot lethality and train pilots more efficiently and faster. Training is in Canada or the customer's country, or a combina- tion of both. Their Advanced Aircraft Simulation Centre (AASC) features F/A-18E, F- 16C and F-35 simulators. The simulators feature high-resolution graphics on semi- domes and screens. All simulators are networked, allowing Mixed Fighter Force training and real-time Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumenta- Dave Lohse, CEO of International Test Pilot School (ITPS) Canada Ltd., said he is excited about the future for his company. tion (ACMI) from the Mission Theatre where briefings and debriefings are held. The AASC features cutting-edge Com- mercial Off The Shelf (COTS) software and hardware, which allows for effective, realistic, and unrestricted training to mili- tary customers from around the world. Mixed reality (MR) is a highly effective way to train students by providing them with a high-fidelity, integrated system that accurately simulates real-world tactical sce- narios. The combination of reality and VR gen- erates unlimited training potential and the ability to change from a 100% synthetic to a real-world environment. MR allows true spherical awareness dur- ing training giving an immersive training experience that provides the bridge be- tween real-work and virtual environments. It gives students a high-fidelity integrated system which accurately simulates real- world tactical scenarios in realistic detail. ITTC also offers students real-time eye tracking which increases their situational awareness by reviewing eye tracking data to understand their habits and visual patterns. ITTC's proprietary courseware and learn- ing management system provides instruc- tion and student records with full encryp- tion and security protocols. Knowledge transfer to students is achieved through multiple instructional modalities, including in-person instruction, high-fidelity simula- tion, virtual environments, collaborative exercises, self-directed learning, and facili- tated sessions. ITTC has a fleet of L-39 Albatros jets with upgraded avionics. The size of the fleet is scheduled to double by 2026. Photo: ITPS, 5th Generation Cockpit in Hawker Hunter

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