The potential loss of unmanned aircraft pilots is raising alarms in the service's highest echelons. Air Force Secretary Deborah James, speaking to reporters on Jan. 15, laid out the stresses that the pilots endure, including six-day work weeks and 13- or 14-hour days.
While a typical pilot flies 200 to 300 hours a year, a UAV pilot averages around 1,000 annual hours, she said, as reported by the Washington Post.
On top of that, many of the Air Force's experienced pilots are nearing the end of their contracts. If they should choose to move on, it could lead to a serious shortage of pilots and affect missions in Iraq, Syria and other locations, the Post reported.
Related: Air Force expects net loss of UAV pilots
Earlier, Air Combat Command spokesman Benjamin Newell said the Air Force expects to lose more remotely piloted aircraft pilots to attrition than it trains this fiscal year.
James outlined three options that the Air Force is already implementing to address the worry:
- Using the National Guard and Air Force Reserve to augment the regular-duty pilots.
- Recruiting volunteers from the pilots currently flying manned aircraft who have some experience with drones.
- Keeping volunteer pilots on UAV duty longer than originally planned, a move likely to be unpopular.
