Mention pilot shortage these days and most people assume some segment of the airline industry is facing dwindling numbers. But the U.S. Air Force said recently it too is having trouble finding enough good people to fly its aircraft. Unlike the regional airline segment, however, the USAF already knows they’re going to be about 700 pilots short, mainly for fighter aircraft, by the end of this year. The Air Force sees that shortage growing to more than 1,000 aviators if the retention environment remains stagnant.
Pilot Shortage Isn’t Only an Airline Problem
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Air Force is facing a significant and growing pilot shortage, projected to be 700 by year-end for fighter aircraft, potentially increasing to over 1,000.
- Pilots are leaving the service due to attractive airline opportunities offering better compensation and no hostile assignments, compounded by frequent lengthy deployments, fatigue, and limited flight time from budget cuts.
- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James attributes part of the retention issue to Congress's failure to increase the pilot retention bonus, which has been stagnant at $25,000 for 17 years.
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