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This is probably part of the reason why the USAF is leaning so hard towards unmanned systems in the future, because it opens up a lot of doors here. Drone pilot

This is probably part of the reason why the USAF is leaning so hard towards unmanned systems in the future, because it opens up a lot of doors here. Drone pilots can be put pretty much anywhere in the world so they don't need to be forward-deployed, which will probably help attract people. The physical standards can be strongly relaxed, no need to worry about eyesight or their ability to handle 8Gs, which increases the pool of possible pilots. You can to some degree "oversubscribe" and have fewer pilots than aircraft (alternatively, fewer pilots on shift, meaning pilots don't have to work as many hours), since not all of your planes will be in the air at once. Some of the more mundane tasks can be automated or distributed (maybe have air traffic controllers control taxiing, takeoff and landing directly?) like in-air refueling. It's not a panacea, and there are missions drones will not be able to do anytime soon, but I imagine it will help with the pilot shortfall.

jillesvangurp 8y ago
All of that can be automated. For new drone systems it makes a lot of sense to strive for fully autonomous systems. Why have some human in the loop for things a computer can do faster and more efficiently? That stuff will eventually trickle down to civilian aviation as well. Just like self driving cars are likely to happen in the next years; self flying planes are just as feasible. The shortage for pilots is short term. Pilots starting today in their careers need to consider that they might be automated away some time during their career. Fortunately, a large part of the planes flying today will still be flying for years to come and they won't be flying themselves. E.g. the B52 program was just extended to 2050 I believe. Replacing that stuff will take decades even when it is feasible technically.
averros 8y ago
Drones are susceptible to electronic counter-measures (ECM). As it stands now, Russia has a lead in this field. So, (presumably) has China which is busy buying Russian military hardware in addition to developing its own. Drones are great for slaughtering camel herders armed with AK-47s and TOW missiles. They're not that great against a tech-parity adversary.
aurailious 8y ago
> Drone pilots can be put pretty much anywhere in the world so they don't need to be forward-deployed, which will probably help attract people. Unfortunately the USAF likes to put all their drone pilots at Beale which from what I have heard isn't a very big difference in experience from Minot. Also right now all drones are required to be full pilots and officers. This is a big factor in the shortages problem. No one wants to through the Academy and then sit at a desk flinging a joystick around. When I was in it was asked all the time why not have warrant officers or let enlisted fly drones? Brass always said no.
- MockObject 8y ago
  I guess that's changed since 2016? https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/28/us-air-force-allows-enlisted-ranks-to-fly-drones/ https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/28/us-air-force-allows-enli...
  - aurailious 8y ago
    Eh, the Global Hawk is more of a tell it where to go instead of flying by hand it kind of drone.
- sawjet 8y ago
  There are drone pilots jobs in more favorable locations for the Air Natl Gaurd, at least.

jillesvangurp 8y ago

All of that can be automated. For new drone systems it makes a lot of sense to strive for fully autonomous systems. Why have some human in the loop for things a computer can do faster and more efficiently? That stuff will eventually trickle down to civilian aviation as well. Just like self driving cars are likely to happen in the next years; self flying planes are just as feasible. The shortage for pilots is short term. Pilots starting today in their careers need to consider that they might be automated away some time during their career. Fortunately, a large part of the planes flying today will still be flying for years to come and they won't be flying themselves. E.g. the B52 program was just extended to 2050 I believe. Replacing that stuff will take decades even when it is feasible technically.

averros 8y ago

Drones are susceptible to electronic counter-measures (ECM). As it stands now, Russia has a lead in this field. So, (presumably) has China which is busy buying Russian military hardware in addition to developing its own. Drones are great for slaughtering camel herders armed with AK-47s and TOW missiles. They're not that great against a tech-parity adversary.

aurailious 8y ago

> Drone pilots can be put pretty much anywhere in the world so they don't need to be forward-deployed, which will probably help attract people. Unfortunately the USAF likes to put all their drone pilots at Beale which from what I have heard isn't a very big difference in experience from Minot. Also right now all drones are required to be full pilots and officers. This is a big factor in the shortages problem. No one wants to through the Academy and then sit at a desk flinging a joystick around. When I was in it was asked all the time why not have warrant officers or let enlisted fly drones? Brass always said no.

MockObject 8y ago
I guess that's changed since 2016? https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/28/us-air-force-allows-enlisted-ranks-to-fly-drones/ https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/28/us-air-force-allows-enli...
- aurailious 8y ago
  Eh, the Global Hawk is more of a tell it where to go instead of flying by hand it kind of drone.
sawjet 8y ago
There are drone pilots jobs in more favorable locations for the Air Natl Gaurd, at least.