Drone Pilot Trainees Now the Majority

[comiso90]

WASHINGTON -- More troops will be trained as unmanned airplane operators than as fighter or bomber pilots combined, the U.S. Air Force said.



The increased number of drone operators signals a turning point for the military branch as it relies increasingly on unmanned aircraft in concert with piloted aircraft, USA Today reported Tuesday. The "Unmanned System Update" report indicated the Air Force plans to develop drones that would be fighters, bombers and tankers.

The Air Force said it will train 240 pilots to fly Predator and Reaper drones compared with 214 fighter and bomber pilots for fiscal year 2009 ending Sept. 30. Officials said there are 550 drone operators compared with 3,700 fighter and 900 bomber pilots.


"The capability provided by the unmanned aircraft is game-changing," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told USA Today. "We can have eyes 24/7 on our adversaries. The importance of that is clear in the feedback from the ground troops -- this is a capability they don't want to be without."

Lexington Institute military analyst Loren Thompson told USA Today intelligence-gathering has been the Pentagon's weak spot for years but has improved recently.

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[lingo]

I can quite see that. More and more nations are investing in UAVs to undertake risky missions as well as long duration patrolling. We will need more transport crews though if we keep taking on commitments.

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

The end of an era?

[timshatz]

The end of an era?

Definitely. See it in private aviation. It is all becoming systems with the machines better at getting there without problems than the pilots. Learned to fly with steam gauges, not much different from the pilots of the 30s. Now, it's all GPS, PFD (Primary Flight Display), MFD, Flight Director, ect. You don't fly as much as manage. Turn this knob, input that airport, input your climb rate and allign the tracking bug. You're more a computer operator than a pilot and your training is more, "What do you do when the computers tank out."

Take off and landings are still hands on, but that will probably change someday soon too. With WAAS on your GPS, you can fly the airplane down to something like 6ft of any given spot on the runway. Heard most of the problems the UAV guys have is with landings (Army lands by computer, Air Force by Pilot- AF has more crashes on landing).

Pilots are one or two steps away from being baggage.

[FLYBOYJ]

Many of the grads from the academy see a drone slot as a career ender before it begins.

[syscom3]

Many of the grads from the academy see a drone slot as a career ender before it begins.

I wonder if there was a similar attitude in the navy when subs first came around. Or Army when helo's came on the scene.

[comiso90]

"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of my desk chair; And typed on keyboards' wireless wavelength; Back to my computer I stumble, with pizza in hand, and touch the face of Google."


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not the same ring to it..........

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[comiso90]

I wonder if there was a similar attitude in the navy when subs first came around. Or Army when helo's came on the scene.

Similar attitude by many when mech replaced beasts.

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[FLYBOYJ]

I wonder if there was a similar attitude in the navy when subs first came around. Or Army when helo's came on the scene.

Don't think so - its a matter of being in the "spotlight" and being able to move up professionally. Usually if you fly fighters or bombers you're and have seen combat you'll find yourself in staff colleges alot easier so I've been told.

[FLYBOYJ]

"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of my desk chair; And typed on keyboards' wireless wavelength; Back to my computer I stumble, with pizza in hand, and touch the face of Google."


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not the same ring to it..........

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You're a goofball!

[syscom3]

Don't think so - its a matter of being in the "spotlight" and being able to move up professionally. Usually if you fly fighters or bombers you're and have seen combat you'll find yourself in staff colleges alot easier so I've been told.

But this might now be a change in things. I wouldn't doubt that sec' defense will make sure the drone operators move on up in the ranks.

[FLYBOYJ]

But this might now be a change in things. I wouldn't doubt that sec' defense will make sure the drone operators move on up in the ranks.

The sec' defense doesn't sign pilot evals.......

[syscom3]

The sec' defense doesn't sign pilot evals.......

But he has a lot of influence on who becomes general.

He's the one who recommends them to congress for making their rank official.

[FLYBOYJ]

But he has a lot of influence on who becomes general.

You have to make Major or LtCol first - that's the problem

[Amsel]

It makes sense that there would be more drones then F-22's or F-35's. A drone operator and a F-22 pilot are not even in the same league. A Predator is not an F-22, huge difference in price and capabilities.