Originally Posted by
Hacker15e
Here were the mileposts for me:
Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT): 206.5
Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF): 20.9
F-15E Formal Training Unit (FTU): 79.2
Mission Qualification Training (MQT): 20.2
Total: 326.8
So, by comparison, we're talking about 206.5 to get what equates to a Comm/Multi/Instrument. The IFF and FTU basically equate to your company's initial training and a type rating there at 100.1 additional hours. The MQT is essentially the equivalent to IOE at an airline for an additional 20 hours.
So, there you have it...qualified to fly as a wingman (e.g first officer) at about 325 hours. It's at least another 300 hours to qualify for your upgrade to flight lead.
This doesn't compare hour-for-hour to civilian training...a large part of the civilian training is spent converting avgas to noise straight-and-level on a victor airway. Most of that military training is pretty intense, with an opportunity to wash out for good on almost every hop.
The 300 hour military guy has to be a far better pilot then a wet-commercial civilian because of all the extra hoops he has had jump through...simply more training. The civilian will catch up with experience, and a few years after the military guy leaves military flying for good, both pilots are probably the same in an airline cockpit (on average).