Fighter Drawdown Dynamics: Effects on Aircrew InventoriesEven though the number of fighter aircraft in the Air Force inventory is decreasing, the demand for experienced fighter pilots is increasing because new nonflying staff positions are thought to require people with fighter skills. The authors use a dynamic mathematical model to show that, under current conditions and management practices, fighter units are unable to "absorb" enough new pilots--that is, provide enough flying hours to give them the experience they need--to meet the increased demand and that attempting to do so can decrease unit readiness. They also show how increasing credit for simulator training, new approaches to developing fighter pilot-like skills (such as unmanned aerial systems), and the integrated use of active, guard, and reserve fighter aircraft for pilot development can help the Air Force meet the increased demand for staff personnel with fighter pilot skills while maintaining the health of its fighter units. |
Contents
CHAPTER | 1 |
CHAPTER THREE | 2 |
Complexities of the Aircrew Training and Development System | 7 |
Copyright | |
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absorption capacity active pilots active units active-duty pilots active-duty squadrons AFRC Air Combat Command aircrew management API-1 pilots assigned authorized B-course become experienced billets Brk Brk Brk calculated combat component crew ratio CYOS develop experience level F-15C default FAIP FH2E mo fighter aircraft fighter pilots fighter units Figure first-tour pilots flight lead flown flying hours force structure FY FY FY guard and reserve HCM mo Hith Hith Hith increase inexperienced pilots issues model runs month mo nonflying number of flying number of hours number of pilots operational fighter operational squadrons operational units overmanning percent personnel pilot inventory pilot-production PMAI Pope AFB problems production goals ptype RAND reduced reserve-component squadrons rienced second operational tour second-tour pilots simulator staff steady-state Str Str Str SUPT TFI initiatives tosmax total force total pilots UAS operators unmanned aerial vehicles UPT graduates UTE rates weapon system