How the Air Force's Flight Training CoE is Shaping the Future of Pilots

In October 2024, the U.S. Air Force established the Flying Training Center of Excellence (FT CoE) within the 19th Air Force. Directed by the Secretary of the Air Force, the FT CoE was created to bring institutional development functions under a single command, with the aim of modernising and enhancing the effectiveness of Air Force pilot training.

Since its establishment, the Center’s mission has focused on “acquiring, establishing, securing, sustaining, and seamlessly integrating” the best available tools and techniques into a training system designed to evolve alongside operational demands.

At Military Flight Training USA 2025, Brian Kirk, Deputy for Technology Integration within the FT CoE, shared insight into the Center’s work developing an adaptive learning ecosystem, commonly referred to as “the portal”, designed to support both the FT CoE and future generations of Air Force pilots. 

Ahead of the summit, Kirk spoke with IDGA about the development of the new training portal, how it has been tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, and the role artificial intelligence is expected to play in the future of military flight training.