The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is increasing the flight time of military pilots, the ministry's press service has reported.
“This spring, during his visit to a tactical aviation brigade,
Defense Minister Dmytro Salamatin set the task of bringing the flight
time of every military pilot in the first half of 2012 to at least 20
hours. The defense minister’s task on minimum flight time has been
fulfilled,” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Yuriy Baidak said.
He said the average flight time of each military pilot was currently more than 20 hours.
“Those who are members of certain crews spent nearly 25 hours in the
air. Such a figure has been achieved for the first time in the last five
years,” Baidak said.
The number of flight shifts conducted in aviation brigades in the
first half of 2012 almost doubled compared to the same period last year,
he said.
“Taking into account the fact that the total flight time of Air Force
pilots more than doubled, the flight time of each pilot also doubled,”
Baidak said.
