Vrrad
10-24-2017, 06:13 AM
#11
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Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,888
I won't be surprised to see this soon with other services. I just spoke to some Army pilots I know who are still active duty. The selection rate for civilians applying to flight school has run 100% of qualified applicants the last few boards. Enlisted applying to flight school it is now running 75% acceptance rate. Some of the "distinct" units have been crippled recently by retirements and are canceling classes for new pilots as they aren't getting enough assessments and combining companies due to a lack of bodies to fill airframes.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
10-24-2017, 08:19 AM
#12
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,211
Originally Posted by Blackhawk
I won't be surprised to see this soon with other services. I just spoke to some Army pilots I know who are still active duty. The selection rate for civilians applying to flight school has run 100% of qualified applicants the last few boards. Enlisted applying to flight school it is now running 75% acceptance rate. Some of the "distinct" units have been crippled recently by retirements and are canceling classes for new pilots as they aren't getting enough assessments and combining companies due to a lack of bodies to fill airframes.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
10-24-2017, 08:28 AM
#13
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Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,888
Originally Posted by rickair7777
If the military can't fill flight school slots, now I'm worried about a pilot shortage.
10-24-2017, 08:56 AM
#14
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,211
Originally Posted by Blackhawk
Just to clarify, not the flight school slots canceled but classes for advanced training for some units due to a lack of volunteers for those units. I did not want to list specific units.
........
10-24-2017, 12:02 PM
#15
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Joined APC: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,279
Originally Posted by Blackhawk
I won't be surprised to see this soon with other services. I just spoke to some Army pilots I know who are still active duty. The selection rate for civilians applying to flight school has run 100% of qualified applicants the last few boards. Enlisted applying to flight school it is now running 75% acceptance rate. Some of the "distinct" units have been crippled recently by retirements and are canceling classes for new pilots as they aren't getting enough assessments and combining companies due to a lack of bodies to fill airframes.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
For those beginning a career, it may well be a good time to do so.
Last edited by JTwift; 10-24-2017 at 12:24 PM.
10-24-2017, 01:04 PM
#16
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Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,888
Originally Posted by JTwift
The Army has the "luxury" of Warrant Officers. The Air Force is too stubborn to entertain that idea.
10-24-2017, 04:03 PM
#17
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Position: Center seat, doing loops to music
Posts: 825
Originally Posted by JTwift
The Army has the "luxury" of Warrant Officers. The Air Force is too stubborn to entertain that idea.
You would also have to line up all services to dilute the payrates for fixed wing turbine in unison, especially in tacair, otherwise you have no leverage. Not gonna happen.
10-24-2017, 04:27 PM
#18
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Posts: 1,888
Originally Posted by hindsight2020
This has been addressed before. An enlisted member with USAF fixed wing turbine experience would have an even greater incentive not to stay for a flying career than a commissioned officer in the first place (the salary opportunity cost delta is even more lopsided in favor of the enlisted punching out), so it actually exacerbates the retention issue. Throttle up the initial obligation as a response, and now you have an outright recruitment problem, officer or enlisted. Non-starter.
You would also have to line up all services to dilute the payrates for fixed wing turbine in unison, especially in tacair, otherwise you have no leverage. Not gonna happen.
You would also have to line up all services to dilute the payrates for fixed wing turbine in unison, especially in tacair, otherwise you have no leverage. Not gonna happen.
10-25-2017, 07:11 AM
#19
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Posts: 1,888
