![]() ![]() The Army has had aviation warrant officers, in their current form, since 1949, but the Air Force phased its own out without replacement. Alone among the services, the Air Force has failed to capitalize on the opportunities provided by a warrant officer force. This grade of specialist, which the Air Force discarded decades ago, offers a possible solution not only in aviation but in other areas ( such as cyber) where specific technical expertise is desired. There is an option that the Air Force has long avoided for cultural reasons: warrant officers, and particularly warrant officer aviators. It should be possible to roll together several challenges and address them with an integrated solution. Unrepentant airpower advocates, we have recently recommended an increased use of aviation capabilities derived from civil aviation, including light airlift and utility aircraft. Furthermore, a growing emphasis on distributed operations to frustrate adversary targeting of airfields will likely increase the demand for air-delivered logistics, and thus the demand for pilots. The service’s tip of the spear relies heavily on trained aviators who take time to train and develop and cannot be produced rapidly at need. The resurgence of Russia and the emergence of China as a modern military power will prove challenging for the Department of Defense, but particularly for the Air Force. Making conditions worse is the emerging focus on great-power conflict. That is proving particularly challenging using traditional methods. ![]() The Air Force also needs a wider training pipeline to provide students in the first place, and an accessions policy that ensures it can get people who will become aviators into the service in the first place. But even increasing the supply of aircraft is not enough. ![]() Oddly enough, the pilot shortage is exacerbated by too few so-called “absorbable cockpits” because they can absorb new students and turn them into experienced aviators. The introduction of light attack aircraft (if that ever happens), offers potential to solve part of the problem by increasing the number of available cockpits. The causes of the shortage are longstanding, and have defied easy or quick solutions. The Air Force is faced with a long-standing conundrum - not enough pilots, particularly fighter pilots. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |