Mock Proposal- Fighter/Heavy Crossflow

[Ragansundowner]

I'm sorry I guess I was a little unclear with the way I worded the question. When I say crossflow, I'm talking about about the transition between heavies and fighters and visa versa. I realize that any program the airforce implemented would be very expensive. I think I'm being misunderstood a little bit because I'm talking from a purely hypothetical standpoint.


Let me rephrase my question:
If the Airforce was to reinstate a annual crossflow between fighters and heavies and visa versa (purely hypothetical), what would be the best way to go about doing it? (not saying if they should or shouldn't) But from a logistical, cost, and man power standpoint, what would have to occur for the crossflow program to be set up?

Sorry if I seem to be asking the same questions over and over again. I'm still going through all the questions in my head that I need to ask to get the correct information. Thanks again.

-R.S.

 

[Spur]

In order to look at a realistic crossflow program you need to look at the career effects and the skill requirements as well. Career-wise, you would need to select a candidate who attended UPT very early after being commissioned, and didnt take to long getting to their first assignment. You would have applicants that are 1 yr 1LT to 1 yr Capts (3-5yrs TAFMS). The negative career effects on these pilots would be similar to a C-21 driver going to a heavy, or a Faip going to a fighter. The effects would even be less significant than that widely experienced by banked and deferred pilots in the recent past. Personally I think there would be a positive "career broading" effect, although that is certainly debatable, and would probably be very situationally dependent.

The skill requirement would be more difficult to address. Fighter to heavy shouldnt be much of a problem. The last heavy to fighter crossflow I am aware of required a candidate to have flown the T-38 in UPT. With a candidate who never flew the T-38, you would be looking a significant washout rates (adding significantly to cost) unless you could find some method to determine compatability ahead of time. I think that would be difficult to determine. Also, you would have to look at the strain the program would place on the T-38 fleet and IPs. The reason we went to the T-1 was to extend the life of the T-38. Adding another training program would just burn them out faster, and require more manning in an already short IP force.

As far a crossflow being used to make a pilot "universally assignable", I agree with previous posts in that it is not feasable. Crossflow would most likely be a permanent deal--a one time manpower adjustment. You would waste to much time and money bouncing back and forth.

 

[Spur]

Okay, I reread your question and will take a hack at the manpower requirements for a fighter to heavy transition. Some one else can talk about the tricky, costly, time consuming heavy to fighter transition.

1st. The fighter dude would probably go straight to the MWS (major weapon system) FTU (flying training unit). Lets say 4 months in FTU, each IP having 3 studs. and lets say 3 classes/yr. My math says one more FTU IP for each 9 extra studs per year. Also must increase aircraft utilization, so increase fuel/mx cost, and mx manpower.

2nd. Once at his new heavy unit, the newly minted heavy driver will consume IP resources while in local indoc (1 month) and will probably fly as a copilot for 100-400 hours (depending on airframe) until upgrading to AC, again requiring additional IP resources from his unit. How many more IPs per newbie? I would guess more than required for FTU, probably one more IP for every 2-3 newbies. plus additionaly a/c utilization blah blah blah...

Hope this helps...

 

[JimNtexas]

It would seem to me that for each pilot choosen for crossflown, then the Air Force should reduce one FAIP slot, replacing that UPT IP with a reservist or civilian contractor.

I just can't see any gain for the Air Force in dumping more high rank/low experience pilots (or Navs) into the operational squadrons.

And it indeed does defeat the purpose of the T-1 if you take a T-1 guy and then run him through a T-38 transition. He wouldn't need the full second half of UPT, but still its an expense.

I think a really good thing the Air Force could do is replace most of the T-37/T-6 instructors with old retired guys. They'd love it, they'd work cheap, and they'd do a great job introducing new pilots to Air Force flying.

 

[talondriver]

I think a really good thing the Air Force could do is replace most of the T-37/T-6 instructors with old retired guys. They'd love it, they'd work cheap, and they'd do a great job introducing new pilots to Air Force flying.

Yeah...an old retired guy in a tweet in the middle of summer...and on his third sortie of a trip-turn day. They couldn't pay me enough!