Air Force Eyeing Major Personnel Cuts: USAF officials are considering slashing the service’s workforce by some 30,000 to 40,000 personnel between 2007 and 2011. Naturally word leaked out. According to Air Force spokeswoman Jean Schaefer, the subject is serious enough to warrant a top-level briefing for reporters next week at the Pentagon. “It’s a pretty fluid situation right now,” Schaefer told us Thursday afternoon, saying that she could not comment on speculation that the personnel would be cut to save funds for weapon systems. She said there would be more clarification at the briefing. Watch this space.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.