The continued grounding (see above) of the F-15 A-D fleet is a nightmare come true. Air Force officials now believe that years of patches made to the aircraft, coupled with flying high-stress missions far longer than anticipated, has caused the current problem. And, even if the Eagles fly again by mid-January, it will take the Air Force more than six months to get its F-15 pilots re-qualified. Read more in “It Just Got Worse.”
The Air Force is renaming its traditional aviation bonus program in 2024 and continuing a new, experimental second program, ordered by Congress, aimed at getting aviators to extend their commitment sooner and for longer. While the programs can’t be doubled-up, aviators may be able to move from one to the…