Two Ukrainian air force officers are in NATO-standard air combat training at a London, Ont., flight school so the country can better compete for air superiority in the war with Russia. The school's chief operating officer hopes to expand the program to more Ukrainian trainees.A pair of L-39 training jets piloted by Ukrainian cadets and flight instructors take part in a training flight in London, Ont.
David Clementi, chief operating officer of ITPS, said the training fills a void in Ukraine as much of the country's main air bases were badly damaged in the early months of the war, which began after the"It's our hope that it will help turn the balance of power back to Ukraine to retake lost territory," said Clementi.The training was requested by the Ukrainian Air Force. The intense program includes language instruction, and physical and mental health preparedness work.
On days they can't fly due to weather, the pilots are trained on the company's advanced flight stimulators, including ones specific to the L-39 and the F-16 fighter jets.
ITPS chief operating officer David Clementi hopes that with the right funding, the training program can be expanded to 30 more trainees.