Originally Posted by
SilverBullet
I am in the Air Force Reserves and at last weekends drill during commanders call our squadron commander announced that the Air Force was having difficulty filling pilot and navigator positions and that anyone who is under 30 years of age along with a college degree and is interested in becoming a pilot can submit a package for an active duty assignment.
He said that the recruiter that reached out to him requesting that he make the announcement to the members of our unit told him that in his 30 years of recruiting he has never known the Air Force to have such difficulty filling pilot positions and that this program was a very unique opportunity.
What that tells me is that those aspiring young aviators who for many years were enamored by the thrill of flying combat aircraft, an opportunity to serve there country and then eventually moving on to make aviation a career flying for an airline are no longer finding it appealing due to QOL issues and/or poor starting pay.
Just my opinion but this could have a ripple affect in the years to come and be a contributing factor to the increasing lack of qualified pilots. Anyway, I found this news interesting and thought I would share.
Or perhaps it has to do with most of the pilots being shuttled into "piloting" drones which is little more than hours of playing a video game. I have a few friends who have had their manned units converted and have chosen to separate rather than fly drones to finish out their 20 years. That drone time does not count for airlines, and quickly makes you unqualified because of lack of recent flying.