The Air Force Education and Training Command has approved of Eglin Air Force Base as a center for pilot training and sustainment systems for the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The Eglin-based 33rd Fighter Wing will begin doing so in January, the Air Force reported Dec. 17. Roughly 36 pilots will take part in the initial training phases next year. Eglin passed muster after an independent evaluation, which assessed how pilots and crews were able to make the jump to the new plane from the existing inventories of F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.