This article about the shortage of USAF pilots makes no sense at all

[roundhouse]

Flight warrant is the only one that doesn't require any civilian education. At least it was that way 2 years ago when i looked into it.

Recruiter told is helicopter pilot warrant officer didn't need a degree

Lots of other hoops to jump thru

Also army flight warrant is he only pilot in any branch that you get to choose the plane you want to fly

The other branches assign you to whatever they want and you don't get any input


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[CQB27]

Recruiter told is helicopter pilot warrant officer didn't need a degree

Lots of other hoops to jump thru

Also army flight warrant is he only pilot in any branch that you get to choose the plane you want to fly

The other branches assign you to whatever they want and you don't get any input


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I have 10 years active duty Army Aviation Pilot in Command time under my belt and I can tell you for a fact that Army pilots, commissioned or warrant, DO NOT get to choose the airframe they want to fly. They request what airframe they want to transition into, but the slots are filled based on what the ARMY needs at the moment. Hand picking your aircraft is a pipe dream.

 

[keith089]

4700 flying hours AF, we did not get to pick either .enlisted of Officer

 

[JamesG]

Recruiter told...

Which means everything that follows is false.

 

[Jackie Graham]

I think you are putting too much thought into it. You gotta remember, this is the guberment you are talking about. They don't know how to keep their facts straight and you are not supposed to be smart enough to figure it out.

 

[keith089]

I think you are putting too much thought into it. You gotta remember, this is the guberment you are talking about. They don't know how to keep their facts straight and you are not supposed to be smart enough to figure it out.

boom

 

[Wheeler]

My son wants to be a helicopter pilot
And had talked to the army recruiters who were Impressed with his asvab scores but he got offered a good college lacrosse scholarship
So he's doing that first

The army doesn't require a college degree for pilots


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The army doesn't have fixed wing aircraft either. Two totally different animals.

 

[Bushwick100]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/national-security/article94922927.html

It mentions that the pilots are worn out from flying. Then mentions that they are leaving because the don't get enough flight time

Then mentions that they are short 700 pilots so they are going to build 2 new flight training facilities

If you have less pilots why would you need two new facilities to train the pilots you don't have ?

If no one is signing up to be a pilot I'd think the existing training facilities are less than Capacity?


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When, I was in the Air Force, we would project shortfalls as much as 5-6yrs out. It seems that the US will start building up its short Fall's in Pilots in the next year or two. Plus, since we are putting out a New 21st Century Fighter the F-35, we need New facilities to accommodate these new trainees and flying simulators. Plus, don't forget all these Planes that we have recently sold to our allies like Sudia Arabia, we ars responsible for there countries pilot training, so when we fight in combat together we are all on the same page. As, far as not much flying time goes units are being cheap with Fuel money because on the units not getting there usual allotment of fuel money, but come Sept everyone will be flying as much as they want the new fiscal year starts 1 Oct, so that color of money MUST BE SPENT!!!

 

[Bushwick100]

The army doesn't have fixed wing aircraft either. Two totally different animals.

Outstanding, college first no matter what!! As a Enlisted Retiree if I had to do it all over again I would do college then my 20+yrs.

 

[above_all]

Actual combat today is pretty much just flying around for hours at a time waiting for someone to need something blown up on the ground, punching in a grid coord and then pressing a button to release a smart bomb.

Not really. This was during the Gulf War. F-16, weapon system and training hasn't changed that much. Had incentive rides in an F-4, F-16 and F-15 during my career in aircraft maintenance. Fighters are extremely intense and physically grueling. Sounds easy til someone starts shooting at you.