MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian long-range aviation pilots' average flight time was 50-70 hours in 2002, commander of the 37th strategic air force army Major General Igor Khvorov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Commencing pilots' flight time is about seven hours, which is not much. But recently, it was only two to three hours," Khvorov said.
"There are not enough flight hours, but fuel and funds for aircraft restoration are provided regularly. This means that we can plan, and the pilot is sure that he will fly for as long as he should. In accordance with fuel limits set for 2003, there will be much more flight hours than we had this year," he said.
"Training of young pilots is a priority sphere in the new training period. The young ones will perform aerial refueling, which is the most complicated element of flight training," the commander noted.
According to him, requirements have always been tough on the training of long-range aviation pilots.
"A senior lieutenant was never appointed plane commander even in our best times when young pilots were trained very quickly. A person becomes a true long-range pilot in 10-15 years. This must be a mentally stable person with substantial life experience. We accomplish missions of state importance, and the price of using or not using our weapons is very high," Khvorov said.
Speaking about combat training prospects for next year, he noted that regiment-level flight tactical exercises are planned.
"This year's exercises were a success, now we will go further to training both pilots and our warfare organization headquarters. The flight itself accomplishes only three percent of missions, and combat work organization on the ground accounts for the remaining 37 percent," Khvorov said.
Flight personnel will take part in tests of high-precision weapons, the commander went on.
"In addition, we will perform practical launches of all classes of missiles that we are armed with. They will take place in the west and in the east, including during exercises with Navy forces," Khvorov noted.
Russian long-range aviation is equipped with TU-160 Blackjack and TU-95MS Bear strategic missile carriers, TU-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers and IL-78 Midas tanker planes.