HAVING COMPLETED their studies at the Academy in Sintra Air Base (AB1) and performed flights in the Chipmunk MK20, student fighter pilots of the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) are sent to Beja Air Base (AB 11) to face their final challenges prior to becoming official PoAF pilots.The pilots learn to fly both basic flight disciplines and tactically in the airforce's Epsilon TB-30 training aircraft.They will work on these skills at Esquadra101 'Roncos' for roughly ten months.Since the loss of Portugal's fleet of Alpha Jets, advanced instruction, such as undergraduate pilot training (UPT) and instruction to fighter fundamentals (IFF), has taken place in the United States via the USAF and its T-38 Talon II.On return from the US, the fresh fighter pilots of Portugal will move to Monte Real Air Base (AB5) to fly the F-16AM (MLU) Fighting Falcon, either at Esquadra201 'Falcoes' or 301 'Jaguares'. Both squadrons share the same mission: quick reaction alert (QRA), keeping NATO airspace secure and executing counter air and attack operations where necessary.
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