Fighter Pilots Face A Dismal Future

The Strategy Page ^ | 11/02/2009 | The Strategy Page

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The U.S. Air Force has a morale problem with its combat pilots. The issue is lack of action for the pilots. That, plus the increased use of unmanned aircraft, and the very real prospect that the age of the manned combat aircraft may be coming to an end. This is made worse with hundreds of fighter pilots being assigned to operating Predator and Reaper UAVs. This was not popular duty, even though the pilots still draw flight pay. It is tedious work, although the UAV operators often saw more combat action than they did when piloting F-16s or F-15s. The air force tried to deal with the morale problem by training non-pilots to be UAV operators, and making UAV operation a career field. Some fighter pilots saw that as an opportunity, and considered switching permanently, rather than just doing three years with UAVs and then going back to manned aircraft. But most pilots would rather fly in an aircraft. A recent air force decision to transfer 100 pilots a year from flight school (where they just graduated) to UAV duty was very unpopular. The air force had asked flight school graduates to volunteer for this, but none did so.

The air force is also considering changing the term UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) to RPV (remotely piloted vehicles), to stress the fact that there was still a pilot involved. But that decision, if carried through, is in danger of being overtaken by events. UAVs are increasingly equipped with flight control software that operates all by itself. Many UAVs already use such software for takeoffs and landings.

[Vinnie]

My concern with combat UAVs is the delay between threat recognition and response.

Notice the delay in responses when an interview takes place over worldwide distances?

Most/all of our UAVs are flown from the US. The signal is sent up to a satellite, then down to the UAV. There’s a half second + delay.
Could make a difference in evasive action.

Another possible trouble spot, EMP/ nuclear cloud/natural or created atmospheric anomalies destroying communications.
Then what?

[NucSubs]

FLYNN: "I never flew the B-24 only B-17s.

GRADY: The B24 was a good airplane. At least you knew you you were flying it, not the other way around, like today's things.

FLYNN: "You still have to fly the Vindicator, Grady."

GRADY: "We're the last of the lot, Flynn. Don't kid yourself about that. The next airplanes won't need men. After us, the machines. We're halfway there already.