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Air Force Looks At Sharing Pilots With Airlines
The Air Force is considering allowing its dwindling pilot population to moonlight as airline pilots as a way of keeping them available for active duty. Senior brass are reportedly giving pilots more latitude in shaping their own careers with active duty flying as part of the mix. (www.avweb.com) More...
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Not a bad idea. Keep current and enjoy what a pilot likes to do, fly and fly more. But what would the Pilot Union think of that? May be Air Force should let us to fly their planes too? I take the F-22
I thought we were already doing this with the ANG and Reserve.
I guess you didn't notice the words "active duty" hidden deep down in the first sentence.
Yep, I had to give it a second look and reconsider the "active duty" definition. ANG and reserve pilots are not on active duty unless called up and activated, hence, weekend warriors. They are allowed to pilot commercially and given time off to fulfill their training. If called up and deployed, their airline must hold open the position and seniority until returning. I know this for a fact because I gave training to returning pilots. Active duty AF pilots like I used to be, were never allowed to pilot commercially while on active duty, which was all the time. Who's manning the AF fighters, bombers and transports while those pilots are gone to fly commercially? This is opening a Pandora's Box in my opinion.
Honestly I would be more than happy to join the Airforce. My issue is that with the mandatory 4 year college degree I really can't afford to go to college while currently paying for my flight training on top of work.
Try ANG. Used to be commission and 2 years AA degree = flight school
Not anymore. Demand is so high that no Guard unit will hire somebody without a degree. The Army is the only service that will send anyone to fly without a BA, but you'll be flying helicopters which isn't so bad anymore because you can backdoor the RATP at 750 hours which will get you to the airlines so much sooner.
Uh... does not compute. The article is about a pilot shortage.
btweston. You're saying that allowing this would keep AF pilots from permanently jumping ship? Maybe it's worth a try. However, I think there will be many variables to consider. Flight time limitations, crew rest, training, currency to name a few. Since I retired, crew rest regs have been completely revamped and even given their own part in the CFR's. Also, major airlines all have seniority issues. Just how would these AF pilots fit in. Hypothetically, let's say your airline has you scheduled for a 4 day trip and your AF unit has exercises at the same time. This would be a scheduling nightmare for the airline as well as your AF unit.
I could see this concept as easing the pilot shortage for the airlines but really pissing off the young students who are spending $$$$$$ to get the magical number of hours to get hired by a regional airline. The knee jerk reaction of Congress to make just the number of hours to get hired has thrown a wrench into the whole hiring situation. I could imagine many student pilots simply giving up and becoming farmers (joking). TRAINING is the answer as I have stated here on Flightaware in another thread. Just my opinion and that's what this board is all about. I'd like to toss around this concept in the future.
I could see this concept as easing the pilot shortage for the airlines but really pissing off the young students who are spending $$$$$$ to get the magical number of hours to get hired by a regional airline. The knee jerk reaction of Congress to make just the number of hours to get hired has thrown a wrench into the whole hiring situation. I could imagine many student pilots simply giving up and becoming farmers (joking). TRAINING is the answer as I have stated here on Flightaware in another thread. Just my opinion and that's what this board is all about. I'd like to toss around this concept in the future.
Seriously? If you don't understand what is being said I hope you don't fly!
