The U.S. Department of the Army has just issued an RFI (Request for Information) on "Afghanistan National Army Air Corps English and Pilot Training" (see RFI here).

"The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (PEO STRI) is conducting market research by seeking sources with innovative business solutions to (1) train and certify up to 67 Afghani student pilots to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) English level 4 in the English language; and (2) provide basic rotary wing or fixed wing Commercial Pilot Training to the European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) standards."

Oookay, except here's the thing: "It is desired that the English language and basic pilot training take place within South West Asia. PEO STRI requests information on sources available to perform training in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, U.A.E, Uzbekistan, Yemen or other locations in Southwest Asia with the capability to provide requested training." [emphasis added]

So our government wants to train 67 Afghani student pilots in places like Hezbollah-Land (Lebanon); terrorist-sponsoring Syria; coup-challenged Kyrgyzstan; terrorist-infested Yemen; or Wahhabi Central (Saudi Arabia), home of those "brave" 15 pilots who visited us on 9/11?

H-E-L-L-O, is anyone awake down there in Washington DC?!

[Posted by R.S.]