Air Force admits pilot shortage
The Associated Press reports that the Air Force is struggling with a shortage of pilots. Yeah, we’re mired in an endless air war and the Air Force cut back flying time, bonuses and air frames – who knew that pilots who couldn’t fly would leave the service? The Air Force blames the commercial airlines for luring away the talent, because it certainly couldn’t be Air force policies that’s chasing them away;
The Air Force has grappled with pilot retention for some time, particularly as airlines look to hire them, promising higher salaries and benefits. James said the pilot shortage could grow to 1,000 in a couple years.
“The airlines are forecast to be hiring a lot more,” she said, adding that the Air Force also needs to increase its training of new pilots.
Meanwhile, they planning on increasing bonuses for drone crews;
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James also told Pentagon reporters Wednesday that she is planning to pay drone pilots a $35,000 a year retention bonus to encourage them to stay in the service.
The 35,000 a year retention bonus would be an increase over $25,000 bonus the service has been allowed to provide. And all drone pilots would be eligible once their service contract is up. She added that Air Force needs the authority to increase bonuses for all pilots in order to address the shortage.
More opportunities for pilots to stay on the ground – that should bring them in herds.
Who knew that focusing on social warfare instead of the actual national security warfare would impact readiness?
Category: Air Force
hopefully this is not a repost as first comment got hung up. Sure, there’s some merit to this lament, but the Air Force is culpable too…this looks like typical AF public relations BS…as I recall from my time at the pentagon, when it came to programs and budgets, the services corresponded to the three “D’s” ..AIr Force was devious, Navy was defiant and the Army was dumb.
Daniel Bernath your country needs you.
The rest of use don’t.
Bernath needs to do this.
Except maybe a rocket into the Sun would be appropriate. You know, For Science.
There’s a shortage of pilots!?!?!? When did this happen? Oh, that’s right, its been going on for years now.
Amazing how many service members are losing their jobs these days because of cuts, but the stupid people seem to stick around with no problem.
Want to survive reductions in the force? Act stupid, you’ll have job security.
Sounds like it’s time for Heavy Chevy to dust off that C-130H Compass Call pilot qualification and step up to the plate.
That way wife number 10 or 11 (or maybe 12) is only a co-pilots arm length away.
Shortage of pilots?
No sweat, give the A-10 to the Army. Problem solved.
I’m sure there’s beaucoup flight warrants that would love to slip into the drivers seat of one of those babies.
Word.
We might actually be able to find Warrant Officers once we have the A-10 too.
Of all the things that the Air Force does great personnel management isn’t one of those things
Their personnel management practices are as archaic and unsophisticated as the Marine Corps
They’ll break their neck kicking people out only to turn around and be critically short those same people the next year
Sounds like the Army.
Adding to the problem, I predict that since the SJW’s have made it such a high priority to make military service unappealing to today’s younger crowd, the air force will find it challenging to get qualified folks to fill those seats.
While that is going on, pilot attrition will continue and seats at pilot training schools will remain unfilled.
The saga continues to continue.
Too bad we can’t have a shortage of democrats.
Did the Army Air Corps of old ever have this problem?
No, they threw ALL of ’em out in the late ’40s.
Interesting analysis here:
https://www.facebook.com/cbyrneiv/posts/10154386072807436?pnref=story
Maybe there’s a line of trannies wanting to become pilots.
Which raises the question, how many pilots lost to private companies over the last few years were pushed over the edge by this gay/transgender crap?
An anonymous survey would be wonderful. “How would characterize the influence of your decision to separate from military service on the welcoming of gays and transgenders by the military?”
1) No influence
2) Some influence
3) Great influence
Let’s see now. . . . .
A pilot in the Chair Farce: middlin’ pay; slow promotions; forced out due to lack of promotion, max TIG (see above); confusing, contradictory, and time wasting SJW rule, regulations and briefings; too easy to be forced out due to SJW rules and regulations (see above); flying too often (if you can get an operating plane); likely to be shot at.
A civilian pilot flying for a major (or even minor) airline: mostly common sense rules and regulations, otherwise left alone; good to great pay; regular schedules and routes; planes available and usually well maintained.
No contest. No wonder many Air Force pilot brethren are leaving in droves.
Bet there are a few Master Sergeant’s that would not mind operating drones.
And I said operate not fly for drones.
A big piece of the blame lies on the Air Force. If they didn’t insist on actual pilots “flying” the drones, and allowed NCOs the chance, we likely wouldn’t be facing this problem. Pilots want to fly. In real planes.
Something else the Air Force is responsible for is requiring all pilots to be officers, something the Navy felt compelled to play catch-up with. I repeat: pilots want to fly. Let those pilots who wish to lead squadrons apply for promotion. Leave the rest alone.
…and let qualified techs run the drones…