Pilot class qualification explained

Pilot class qualification — a professional grade level of piloting skills, commonly used for qualifying military pilots of state aviation in Ukraine and some other countries. As qualifiers used number of flight hours pilot has been reached during career in a total or on some specific type of aircraft, weather conditions pilot has been able to supersede to successfully complete missions, etc.^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

Pilot classes by country

Ukraine

Since 1993 and till 1998, Ukrainian heraldist, supported by Ukrainian historian, designed heraldry of the Ukrainian Air Force, including badges and name tags for pilot class qualification identification.^[6] Since 2015,^[7] ^[8] ^[9] in Ukraine there are next qualification classes in ascending order:

for fighter pilots and navigators (bombardiers): 3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Sniper;
for instructor pilots and navigators (bombardiers): 3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class;
for test pilots: 3rd Class, 2nd Class, 1st Class.

Fighter pilots' qualification classes defined as next:

3rd Class pilot — a pilot with more than 150 flight hours, able to complete missions at day time simple weather.
2nd Class pilot — a pilot with more than 200 flight hours, able to complete missions at day time extreme weather, and at night time simple weather.
1st Class pilot — a pilot with more than 400 flight hours, able to complete missions at day and night time all-weather.
Pilot-sniper — a pilot with more than 550 flight hours, able to complete missions at day and night time all-weather, and having no serious or any aviation accidents in the last 12 months.

3rd Class qualification receives pilots and navigators (bombardiers) with the rank of Lieutenant upon completion of study at the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University.^[10]

Pilot with less than 150 hours commonly recognized as trainee pilots. Other aviation personnel, beside pilots, has similar scheme of class qualification.

Publications

Roman Nevzorov. Pedagogical Measurement of Physical Condition as a Component of Professional Readiness of Tactical Aviation Pilots // Res Militaris, Vol. 12, No. 6 (2022). – pp.1329-1337. URI: https://resmilitaris.net/menu-script/index.php/resmilitaris/article/view/2644

References

Web site: Про затвердження Інструкції про порядок присвоєння класної кваліфікації льотно-випробувальному складу Збройних Сил України . On adapting the Instruction on the procedure for assignment of class qualification of the flight and testing personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine . 2023-09-05 . . uk . Order by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Web site: 20 December 2018 . Не підтвердивши нинішню льотну кваліфікацію, наступну не отримати . Without confirming the current flight qualification, the next one is not obtained . 5 September 2023 . lexinform.com.ua . uk.
Web site: 9 January 2021 . ДНДІ проводить власну підготовку пілотів-випробувачів: що це дасть Збройним Силам України . State Scientific Research Institute of Armament and Military Equipment Testing and Certification conducts its own training of test pilots: what it will give the Armed Forces of Ukraine . 5 September 2023 . defence-ua.com . uk.
News: Пагулич . Роман . 20 July 2021 . Хто захистить українське небо? Військові льотчики звільняються з Повітряних сил ЗСУ . uk . Who will protect the Ukrainian sky? Military pilots are released from the Air Force of the Armed Forces . Радіо Свобода . 5 September 2023.
Web site: Кузьмін . Андрій . 30 March 2023 . Як стати пілотом F-16. Фаховий розбір . How to become a pilot F-16. Professional analysis . 5 September 2023 . glavcom.ua . uk.
Web site: Історія створення нагрудних знаків і знаків класності ВПС. 2019-10-28. 2023-09-06. Ляхов. Валерій. Ukrmilitary. uk. The history of creating Ukrainian Air Force's badges and class qualification badges.
Web site: Про затвердження Інструкції про класифікацію авіаційного персоналу державної авіації України . On adapting the Instruction on classification of aviation personnel of state aviation of Ukraine . 5 September 2023 . . uk . Order by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Web site: Про затвердження Інструкції з присвоєння класної кваліфікації льотно-випробувальному складу державної авіації України . On adapting the Instruction on the assignment of class qualification of the flight and testing composition of the State Aviation of Ukraine . 5 September 2023 . . uk . Order by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Web site: Льотчиків-випробувачів в Україні готують за стандартами НАТО . Test pilots in Ukraine are prepared by NATO standards . 5 September 2023 . armyinform.com.ua . uk.
Web site: У Харкові перші офіцерські погони отримали 86 випускників військового вишу. kharkivoda.gov.ua. 7 September 2023. uk. 25 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191028190640/https://kharkivoda.gov.ua/news/100757. 28 October 2019. In Kharkiv, the first officer shoulder straps received 86 graduates of the military university.