2007-05-13 14:29:14 · 4 answers · asked by D.Lu 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
In recent years they have been officers but during WW-1, WW-2 and Korea there were pilots that were sergeants. The reason is that the pilot is in command of the aircraft, and therefore should be an officer, the same as a commander of a ship is an officer.
2007-05-13 14:49:52 · answer #1 · answered by Walter B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even in WWI most of the pilots were officers, though not all. It does go back to, as a previous poster said, the fact that the pilot is usually also the mission commander. But the Army employs Warrant Officers to pilot many of their helicopters.
Some of it also a class issue. When military pilot started grabbing the headlines in WWI I suspect that the military PR folks thought it'd be best to have officers who, especially then, were better educated and carried themselves better on the front pages and in the newsreels.
That's just speculation though.
2007-05-14 11:55:30 · answer #2 · answered by Biggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are Officers because the Aircraft we use in the modern era are so sophisticated we want the best trained personnel in Uniform to operate them.
Many officers wash out of the Pilot program because the competition is intense.
2007-05-13 23:17:11 · answer #3 · answered by Stephen H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they have 4 year degrees and they are commissioned.
2007-05-13 21:38:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋