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U.S. Air Force laments that it’s short of pilots
The U.S. Air Force faces a shortfall of 700 fighter pilots by the end of the year and as many as 1,000 pilots within a few years, Air Force officials said Wednesday. Good article touches on deployment, pay and maintenance. (www.mcclatchydc.com) Más...
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Yes, great article. Looks like over 1,000 pilots short and over 4,000 maintenance staff short as well.
There was a TV special that interviewed maintenance chiefs who revealed they were cannibalizing aircraft to keep the squadron flying. They talked about how maintenance budgets had been depleted and how less than half of their aircraft were available to fly.
It all stsrts from the ground up...why would pilots stick around getting half their proficiency hours in aircraft of shaky condition.
What the author didn't touch upon was the huge salaries being paid by the Asia airlines that are prepared to pay for talent.and give them new, well maintained aircraft, housing, transportation and family benefits. Certainly a young pilot will consider his alternatives of a right seat on a domestic airline with a right seat on a 777 or 787 on an Asia airline with the prospect of moving up very good. Who can blame them...once they are civilians it is family first.
It all stsrts from the ground up...why would pilots stick around getting half their proficiency hours in aircraft of shaky condition.
What the author didn't touch upon was the huge salaries being paid by the Asia airlines that are prepared to pay for talent.and give them new, well maintained aircraft, housing, transportation and family benefits. Certainly a young pilot will consider his alternatives of a right seat on a domestic airline with a right seat on a 777 or 787 on an Asia airline with the prospect of moving up very good. Who can blame them...once they are civilians it is family first.
Maybe nobody's keen to get hung out to dry over the combat zone in a F-35 POS
