Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley says the Air Force has a surplus of fighter/bomber pilots and a deficit of rated aircrew for unmanned aerial vehicle, special operations, and command and control units. And, he maintains in a newly posted Chief’s Scope, that he is “on fire about this.” The problem with the bomber/fighter cadre is that with such a fat roster, Moseley says the junior airmen get less flying time. Consequently, their “combat readiness and continued professional development” is stunted, explained the Chief.
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.