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WSO to pilot
https://www.military.com/daily-news/...er-pilots.html
https://i.ibb.co/TY8T7p2/82-F25-F3-D...8-C154-FB8.jpg 20 Oct 2020 Military.com | By Oriana PawlykAs the U.S. Air Force prepares to bring the next-generation stealth bomber into its inventory over the next two decades, it plans to slash the number of weapons system officers by as much as half to make room for more pilots, according to a top general. Though the service has not announced exactly how many B-21 Raiders it expects to purchase, it will no longer need as many WSOs -- commonly referred to as "wizzos" -- the aircrew who manage the delivery of bombs as well as intelligence-gathering sensors. It plans to retrain them to become pilots in the years ahead, according to Maj. Gen. Mark E. Weatherington, 8th Air Force commander. |
"Plan to retrain WSOs to pilots"?
Does that mean they all get a vision waiver and a pilot training slot? Or just that they can apply for one of a dozen annual redesignation slots like anybody else? |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 3148348)
"Plan to retrain WSOs to pilots"?
Does that mean they all get a vision waiver and a pilot training slot? Or just that they can apply for one of a dozen annual redesignation slots like anybody else? As for vision, have you seen the F-35 helmet visor? It’s all sensor driven anyway. One contact lens, more or less, wouldn’t make much difference. Besides, a lot of the zoomies wear glasses. https://youtu.be/Ay6g66FbkmQ https://youtu.be/XuT9uhbXZKg |
I thought the B21 was leaning towards being an unmanned platform?
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Originally Posted by ugleeual
(Post 3148384)
I thought the B21 was leaning towards being an unmanned platform?
Most especially for a nuclear platform :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 3148351)
Besides, a lot of the zoomies wear glasses.
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Originally Posted by ugleeual
(Post 3148384)
I thought the B21 was leaning towards being an unmanned platform?
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/201...-day-1/128714/ on the other hand, it’s a bomber. Shoving another thousand pounds or so in it for a couple of crew and their ejection seats is hardly going to affect the performance all that much. |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 3148456)
Yeah I guess the Navy is more draconian on that.
Pilot Vision RequirementsAll candidates admitted to the Air Force Academy must meet the vision requirements for basic commissioning in the United States Air Force. However, vision requirements for candidates for pilot, other aviation-related specialties and special operational duty career fields are stricter and will not be fully assessed until a complete Air Force vision exam is accomplished during your second (sophomore) year as a cadet.Most cadets with visual acuity outside the medical standards may become medically qualified for aviation if vision is successfully corrected by corneal refractive surgery (i.e., PRK or LASIK), which will be available to you as a cadet if you meet preoperative qualification criteria. Applicants should NOT pursue refractive surgery PRIOR to entry to USAFA as this is disqualifying if accomplished within 180 days of the DoDMERB examination and strict preoperative requirements must be met that are often not adhered to by civilian ophthalmologists. |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 3148456)
Yeah I guess the Navy is more draconian on that.
had NFO transitions every step of the way during my career. |
Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
(Post 3148676)
don’t know about that once you are inside the club.
had NFO transitions every step of the way during my career. But some NFO's had good vision, they just didn't get a slot out of ROTC or whatever. |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 3148473)
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When I started C130 initial qual in the mid-80s, my IP told me to always look back at the navigator, to make sure he was wearing glasses. “Because he needs them?” I asked. “No.” he said. “If he’s not wearing glasses, you don’t know WHAT is wrong with him.”
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Originally Posted by ipdanno
(Post 3149640)
When I started C130 initial qual in the mid-80s, my IP told me to always look back at the navigator, to make sure he was wearing glasses. “Because he needs them?” I asked. “No.” he said. “If he’s not wearing glasses, you don’t know WHAT is wrong with him.”
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When PACER CRAG eliminated the KC-135 navs, many of them were offered pilot slots. Timing is everything.
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Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 3148348)
"Plan to retrain WSOs to pilots"?
Does that mean they all get a vision waiver and a pilot training slot? Or just that they can apply for one of a dozen annual redesignation slots like anybody else? |
^This. They'll get re-classed to 18X or whatever the RPA-only AFSC is nowadays and the rated guys will head back to their manned airframes...or a staff gig.
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Originally Posted by Beech Dude
(Post 3152445)
^This. They'll get re-classed to 18X or whatever the RPA-only AFSC is nowadays and the rated guys will head back to their manned airframes...or a staff gig.
It's anticipated the service will poach WSOs from the B-1 community, and a few from the B-52 pool, to punch up its B-21 pilot end strength, Weatherington said. Together with Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Air Force Global Strike Command is studying how it will take "some of these highly trained, capable, combat-experienced weapon systems officers ... that have skill sets that will be readily transferable to the B-21 in terms of employing that weapon system in a combat scenario," he said. "How do we give them the skills they would need for takeoff, landing, air refueling, some maneuvering types of skills, and piloting skills to help close that gap?" Retraining WSOs will also help with the Air Force's overall pilot shortage, he added. |
Originally Posted by Excargodog
(Post 3152466)
While you may end up being right, that is NOT what the 8th AF commander said in the article.
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