ATW Photo Gallery - Swiss Aviation Training July 2014

Soon after take off in Zurich, two Swiss F-18 fighter jets escorted the Airbus A330 HB-JHH. By Kurt Hofmann
Julia Callies, one of 12 Airbus A320 first officers that attended final A330 training awaits flying the widebody. Photo: By Kurt Hofmann
Formation flight over the Swiss Alps. By Kurt Hofmann
F-18 Hornets view from the cockpit. By Kurt Hofmann
The two fighter jets joined the flight for about 45 minutes. By Kurt Hofmann
The two fighter jets joined the flight for about 45 minutes. By Kurt Hofmann
The Swiss Air Force joins the position flight to Chaterauoux. By Kurt Hofmann
Visitors in the sky. By Kurt Hofmann
Chaterauoux Airport: Swiss pilots get ready for flight training. By Kurt Hofmann
The first of about 50 touch-and-go missions is airborne. By Kurt Hofmann
After about 100 landings, a wheel of an Airbus A330 has to be changed. By Kurt Hofmann
Every first officer must do about four touch-and-goes. Here is HB-JHH on another mission. By Kurt Hofmann
Touching down on runway 21. By Kurt Hofmann
Shortly on the ground, the pilot tries to reach takeoff speed. By Kurt Hofmann
HB-JHH goes airborne again. By Kurt Hofmann
HB-JHH goes airborne again. By Kurt Hofmann
HB-JHH goes airborne. By Kurt Hofmann
Another final approach to runway 21 at Chateauroux. Pilots had to work with strong thermal uplift. By Kurt Hofmann
HB-JHH. By Kurt Hofmann
By Kurt Hofmann
By Kurt Hofmann
Every one of the 12 A320 first officers successfully became an A330 first officer. Six months later, they will train for the Airbus A340. By Kurt Hofmann
Swiss International Air Lines chief examiner told ATW that about 200 Airbus A320 first officers are trained to become A330 first officers every year. By Kurt Hofmann
After 50 touch and go missions, HB-JHH lifts off for its flight home back to Zurich, completing a long training day. By Kurt Hofmann

Swiss Aviation Training and Swiss International Air Lines invited ATW correspondent Kurt Hofmann to join its first officers for a touch-and-go-training in the French City Chaterauoux.

Zurich-based Swiss Aviation Training operates two Airbus A320 simulators, as well two A330/340s, one Avro Regionaljet and one Embraer E-145 simulator. It also operates one Embraer E-190 simulator in Munich and Frankfurt. For 15 or 18 days every year, Swiss will send Airbus A330 or A340 first officers for trainings like this here in Chateauroux.

The cost for every single day of flight training day varies between 60,000 and 100,000 Swiss francs ($67,000 and $111,000). This is more efficient than sending the first officers on scheduled flights with flight instructors. -By Kurt Hofmann