Is the Air Force really short of pilots?
05-04-2016 | 06:59 AM
#12
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From: Curator at Static Display
IPs talk up their previous life, which is airlift. Students see IPs as role models; top guys in classes aren't asking for T-38s.
05-04-2016 | 09:23 AM
#13
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From: Petting Zoo
At that age you could tell them every awful horrible bad thing about flying and nothing good and they'll still sign up. I would have.
That said, a few kids that decided against flying would talk about the 10 year commitment. In my small sample size that was the only real negative that seemed to affect anyone.
05-04-2016 | 10:18 AM
#14
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This was a problem when I went through Navy primary. They brought in one lone Marine Maj F-18 guy. Great dude, he really over turned the apple cart and put to rest all the P-3 propaganda that was being sold to the students. Suddenly everyone wanted jets again.
05-04-2016 | 01:00 PM
#15
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When I went threw if you had fighter grades you were going fighters period. Not enough students making the jet grade minimums.
05-04-2016 | 02:28 PM
#16
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From: FAA 'Flight Check'
What were this Maj's initials (or callsign) and what squadron and timeframe are you talking about?
05-04-2016 | 03:22 PM
#17
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There are a lot of non-vol'd pilots sitting in GCSs who could fill some of these slots. Unfortunately, by the time they get their heads out and replace us with 18Xers, most of us will be gone already.
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05-06-2016 | 08:26 AM
#19
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From: Pilot
One of the probs AF wise is Flight screening in Pueblo. They are washing out about 25% on candidates--when they are flying an airplane that costs $50 an hour to operate. Since this is the initial flying experience for many--I think that program needs to open up a bit. I'm not saying lower standards, but maybe provide more opportunity than the 88/89 ride and out. That is well and good when we have plenty of pilots, but maybe not when we are entering this type of shortage.
05-06-2016 | 08:57 AM
#20
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From: 767 Captain
One of the probs AF wise is Flight screening in Pueblo. They are washing out about 25% on candidates--when they are flying an airplane that costs $50 an hour to operate. Since this is the initial flying experience for many--I think that program needs to open up a bit. I'm not saying lower standards, but maybe provide more opportunity than the 88/89 ride and out. That is well and good when we have plenty of pilots, but maybe not when we are entering this type of shortage.
If they can't figure out a basic VFR single engine recip in the time allotted, they're probably not going to do any better once they get into more demanding training scenarios in UPT.
Unless they've changed the program significantly, all we're talking about is basics. T/O and landing, simple air work and solo.
The solution to a USAF pilot shortage doesn't lie in making the holes in the filter larger during training. It's about the leadership, culture and ops tempo that's driving away the quality pilots that made it through the program.
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