Scarce Hours Scuttlebutt

[luck4unme]

I've heard hours can be hard to come by after SUPT in B-1's and a few other MWS. Is the "pilot shortage" not as short as we've been told or that the Rand report indicated?

Does anyone have any info?

Thanks

 

[TgrPlt]

I think thier may be a over manning in co-pilots in the B-1. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a pilot shortage, it just means that the distribution of Co's, AC's, and IP's isn't the ideal mix.

And yes, the flying can be slow at first, but picks up after a while.

 

[AlbieF15]

I cannot speak for the airlift or bomber community, but my experience in the fighter squadrons was that wingmen usually had a tougher time getting sorties than flightleads, who had a tougher time than IPs.

You have to realize that a copilot or wingman can only fly in "one" spot on the schedule, but that AC, Flt Lead, or IP can fly as a copilot or as digit one in a formation...doubling the number of available spots to fly.

Ramifications in the ops squadron is the more you upgrade, the more you usually end up flying. As a wingman, I often repeated the common "the rich get richer..." gripe that gets a lot of use. However, once I upgraded to flight lead, I ended up getting thrown on the schedule quite a bit more. Ditto for IP...now you can upgrade or train when there is spot on the schedule, and you are doing those flight lead and IP upgrade rides for other guys moving up.

Ramifications for you young guys going to ops squadrons: First, understand it WILL get better once you upgrade. Second--be the NEXT guy to get in the upgrade so you can keep moving along. If you are only flying 2-3 times a week, then use those days off to study and BE READY for that next ride so you can impress you flight lead/IP//Flt commander and be the next guy to upgrade. Nothing is more frustrating that being a wingman when you are dying to upgrade (I'm sure heavy copilots feel the same way about becoming an AC), but keeping a good attitude and working hard to get better will pay a lot more dividends that complaining.

Another point--upgrades don't always go in order you arrived in the squadron or rank--they go many times on who the Flt Commanders think can do the best in the upgrade and get through it the quickest. I put a young captain in front of my Operations officer for 4 ship Flight Lead (my ops O was fresh off a staff job and still getting warmed back up...) for that very reason. So...work hard but be ready...I have seen more than a few wingmen who were complainers about not upgrading go "gulp...but I don't have any briefs, etc" when I said "ok...stop complaining...you are on FLUG 1 next Monday!". Don't complain too loudly until you are ready to go!