NATO countries joined forces to help create one of the world’s leading fighter pilot training programs — Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
THE HIGH COST of national fast jet training programs led to a number of NATO countries examining options for a joint solution. The fIrst evaluation of potential methods and the budgetary implications associated with consolidating undergraduate flying training began in 1973. It was triggered not only by the ever-increasing resources needed to support such activities and the inability to justify purely local training, but also by a need to improve interoperability between NATO air forces. Relatively restricted airspace and the unpredictable north European weather were other major driving factors. In 1974, Canada, Italy, Turkey, the UK and the US launched a plan to host a joint undergraduate pilot training program. A thorough review followed and led to Sheppard AFB in Texas, and its resident 80th Flying Training Wing, being judged to offer the best option. This was thanks to a combination of good flying weather adequate training airspace, sufficient existing facilities and growth potential to accommodate proposed annual requirements…
