Title: Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage - Los Angeles Times
Headings: Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage
Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage
PHOTOS: Fighter jets
F-22 program produces few planes, soaring costs
W.J. Hennigan
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Content: Kurt Konopatzke, who oversees the program. “ Senior leadership is aware of the problem and is very concerned.” Advertisement
The Air Force wants to get as many of the 200 to 250 eligible fighter pilots to take the deal. Some already have signed on. Today, just 65% of pilots are deciding to extend their service past their 11th year, when they choose whether to stay for an additional five years. That’s compared with 80% in 1993. Advertisement
Air Force pilots typically earn about $90,000 by the time they complete their 11th year. The median annual wage of airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $103,210, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest numbers. There have been fighter pilot shortages in the past, but the competition promises to be fierce in the years to come as airlines hunt for young talent because of a surge in retirements. Advertisement
Last year, passenger jet maker Boeing Co. released a report that estimated a global need for 460,000 new commercial pilots over the next two decades.