http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns99102t.pdf
Take a look at the document, keyword =shortage
2007-09-02 16:11:32 · 7 answers · asked by Ivan K. 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Did you even read the report son??
"Currently, the services are reporting that they are able to fill all of their operational flying positions but are unable to fill all of their nonflying staff positions that are designated for qualified pilots"
This only pertains to (non flying) staff positions. This is for a few reasons, staff positions are given to the Senior pilots, and the Senior guys (with their experience) stand to make a lot more money in the civilian world. Also staff positions suck, no matter how old a pilot may be, they'd much rather be out flying than pushing paper. Also as previously stated the article is 8 years old. A shortage of Senior pilots, I'd buy that, but all in all there is no shortage.
2007-09-02 18:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shortages come and go as the various types of planes come and go.
When they were getting rid of the C141 they had a ton of pilots left over. The pilots either had to cross train to some other plane or take a desk job.
When they were bringing on the B1 bomber, they were bringing the planes on faster than the training. (Kind of hard to train with no planes and then when they got the planes, they wanted to get them into operational status as soon as possible.)
In WW TWO it was a race between aircraft production and pilot training. They could build a plane in 3 days but it took months to train a pilot.
After the fall of the USSR, the military downsized a great deal. They were giving out retirements at 15-20 years instead of making people wait for 20 years. They lost a lot of pilots then as the airlines were expanding.
Before the Gulf War there was talk of retiring all the A10s. So if a A10 pilot wanted out, he usually was able to do so. But then they found out they needed to keep the A10 around so they had to deal with letting too many pilots out. And many guys did not want to train into the A10 because it was not a "fighter plane."
At one point the USAF had so many pilots it "banked" them. Meaning it kept them around flying a desk just in case down the road they were needed. Many of those pilots did not like that and got out. So much for the bank.
Yes, there was a shortage but no more. With the F22 coming out and the F35 down the road, they got tons of young studs (and studettes) who want to be fighter pilots.
It is kind of sad as many get suckered in with promises they will someday fly a jet and it just ain't going to happen for them all.
If you are not at or near the top of your class in high school, near the top of your class in college or get into one of the academy programs and graduate, you have about ZERO chance of ever flying a jet, let alone a fighter.
2007-09-02 17:34:07 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That was certainly true when I was in the Air Force and probably still is. Transport and bomber pilots can make a lot more money without the military politics by working for an arline company and preserve their retirement by staying in the Reserves.
2007-09-02 16:45:38 · answer #3 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a report from 1999... 8 years ago.
2007-09-02 16:15:05 · answer #4 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it is true
2007-09-02 16:57:18 · answer #5 · answered by falconefever2001 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
dont you feel stupid??
2007-09-02 16:45:49 · answer #6 · answered by allen2859 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not a joke.............but u r
2007-09-02 17:26:12 · answer #7 · answered by Subconscious point of view 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋