US Air Force Pilots Aren’t Flying Enough, Internal Report Says

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The Air Force has projected that it needs 1.3 million flight hours next year—but it will only receive 1.1 million, due in large part to pilot shortages.

One factor in Russia’s failure to achieve air superiority in its ongoing war in Ukraine, and its losses of combat aircraft, is that Russian Aerospace Forces pilots receive significantly fewer training hours—averaging only 70 to 120 hours per year—when compared to their Western counterparts. Indeed, US Air Force pilots prioritize rigorous training over quantity of pilots; even as the hours in the cockpit were the same as in a comparable air force, American pilots focus on high-stress combat maneuvers, proficiency, and safety. On the ground, pilots also spend significant time in simulators, although these are not a full substitute for actual flight.

The US Air Force is seeking to increase flight hours, but some experts........

© The National Interest