Future need for fighter pilots in FY 16-17?

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 04:24:26 -0400

Currently I'm at Vance awaiting UPT. We've been hearing a lot about how RPA's are coming back into our pipeline and have just had our first dose of 2 RPA drops during the last assignment night. Given that I'm a fighter hopeful I wanted to know if anyone had any insight on the climate for the need for fighters in the neighborhood of late FY 16 and early FY 17. Has anyone seen an indication of a pendulum swing of any sort coming up?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2015 11:01 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 11:01:58 -0400

2nd Lt Brown,

While I am not able to comment too much on the Military side of the house, I can definitely speak on behalf of the other side of the market being a civilian aviator. Most of your military guys (90%) are going to be unwilling to dump what they are doing until they are garunteed a live saving spot on the other side (FEDEX, UPS, Delta, Alaska, etc). Here is where it gets interesting. Everything is going on FY as you already mentioned. Unless fortune is really favoring you, they wont slot or post them until close to the beginning of the new FY. So hopefully everything will line up for you. With that being said:

RPA s are exactly that. Once you are sent that way, that is where your career in aviation as far as flying the actual fixed wing birds will go to die. I know of no institution that will apply credit for any sort of flight time in a drone, as you are simply not there. The FAA spells it out clearly in black and white-wording has not changed with the FY16 14CFRs-for the purpose of logging flight time in the application or futherance of a rating "At the controls of an actual airplane". Drones are a sticky spot. So for the chances of your civilian career, you do NOT want to be stuck in RPA s for your entire career. Stay away, and stay flying.

That all being said as well-F-16 s also place you in another sticky spot. Its a single engine fighter. Most of your aircraft out there in the transport category all want multi engine time. How are you going to get that in the F-16? I love the Viper, always have, always will, but don t limit yourself. Try and think long term.

I know this may or may not be helpful information, but I am hoping this will give you some insight as to the current climate out there.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2015 11:58 PM

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 23:58:16 -0400

Jason,

I know they need RPA's. I was hearing from one of the 133rd NCO's that they've had pilots get an involuntary call to active duty to fly RPA's instead of C-130's. I think he said the same thing happened to the 934th.

Tom

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2015 1:37 PM

2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 13:37:10 -0400

What's the culture at Vance like right now? I just commissioned through ROTC and my orders are to Vance for UPT next May. Hoping to get bumped up but from what I get the flying schools are pretty backed up right now.