Air-Force Pilot Shortage The U.S. Air Force is the most advanced and sophisticated branch of the military today. Washington relies heavily on the Air-Force as first responders on issues revolving national security. As of late, the number of qualified fighter pilots is rapidly decreasing at an alarming rate. Currently, the Air Force is short 200 pilots, that number is expected to rise to 500 by the year 2022. Although these statistics seem unapprehensive to the average citizen, this is a complication that we must address. On average, the USAF's primary combat fighter jets are nearing the end of their service life. The Air Force intendeds to replace the current fleet of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets with 1,763 new F-35A's. With new, top of the line, aircraft implemented in the Air Force and a steadily decline of qualified fighter pilots; Washington is in a perplex situation. If accurate guidance and leadership personnel are selected to train the next generation of Air Force aviators, many believe this will solve the dilemma of the fighter pilot shortage we are now facing. …show more content…
Air Force). The services commitment to modernize its aircraft ensures that the U.S. will remain at an elite level when it comes to aerial superiority and aerospace advancement. The USAF has also been experimenting with unmanned F-16 fighter jets (Lutte). This is now seen as a feasible approach since the recent insurgence of unmanned UAVs. Although artificial intelligence has substantially improved since the last decade, it is still no match for trained fighter pilots. Capitalize investments on new fighter aircraft; it is a necessity for Washington to retain and recruit talented aviators that will be able to take over the next generation of