An F/A - 18 Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 131 approaches landing aboard the USS George Washington, March 3, 2008. The carrier is conducting qualfications and flight deck certification in preparation for a homeport change in Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin L. Burleson
Air Force Concerned About Possible Exodus Of Pilots To Civilian Sector -- Gordon Lubold, Foreign Policy
WASHINGTON — The Air Force is flying into gale force winds as commercial airlines start a hiring spree while military aviators struggle with low morale due to cutbacks and idle jets. And the Air Force may see a shortage as pilots vote with their feet.
Over the next year, the commercial airline industry is going to begin hiring tens of thousands of new pilots as aging flyers retire and the industry regains its economic footing. That could put dark clouds in the way of the Air Force's wild blue yonder as it tries to persuade pilots to stay in a service even as top officials worry that pilots don't have enough yoke time.
"If pilots aren't flying in the Air Force because of our readiness issue, we worry that a number of them are going to say, 'I'm flying somewhere else,'" acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning told Foreign Policy in an interview this month. "If I'm looking at my jet parked on the ramp instead of flying it and I can get a job somewhere else flying, then I'm going to do that. So we are concerned that there is a sort of perfect storm approaching us in terms of flying retention."
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My Comment: Add in long deployments overseas. Dangerous war situations. Rules of engagement that can get a pilot into serious trouble if he or she makes a mistake. An uncertain future. Who would want to serve under such situations?
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