Absorbing Air Force Fighter Pilots

A thorough analysis of the Air Force's ability to adequately train and absorb new fighter pilots into its operational units. and effectively.

Preface

iii

Figures

ix

Tables

xi

Summary

xiii

Acknowledgments

xxv

Acronyms

xxvii

Introduction

1

(4)

Empirical Evidence from Operational Units

5

(10)

Pope Air Force Base Training Indicators

6

(5)

Combat Mission-Ready Status

6

(1)

Documented Training Problems

7

(1)

Survey Results

8

(1)

Manning and Experience Problems

9

(1)

A Summary of Adverse Training Indicators

10

(1)

Production Decisions and Unintended Consequences

11

(1)

Overmanning and Infeasible Objectives

12

(2)

The Effect of Absorbing Fewer Pilots or Increasing PAA

13

(1)

Afterword

14

(1)

Managing the Pilot Inventory to Match Requirements

15

(24)

Requirement Categories

16

(3)

Force Requirements

16

(1)

Training Requirements

17

(1)

Staff Requirements

18

(1)

Other (Man-Year) Requirements

18

(1)

Filling Requirements

19

(2)

Inventory Management

21

(9)

Key Constraints

22

(1)

The Initial Training Pipeline

23

(3)

Managing Inventory Size

26

(2)

Retention and the Bonus Take Rate

28

(2)

Retention and Production Trade-Offs to Meet Requirements

30

(9)

Absorption Capacity: Parameters and Relationships

39

(34)

Historical Background: The Origin of RDTM

39

(2)

Absorption, Production, and Absorption Capacity

41

(6)

Absorption

41

(1)

Production

42

(2)

Absorption Capacity

44

(1)

Preliminary Discussion

45

(2)

Parameters That Influence Absorption Capacity

47

(12)

Absorbable Billets

47

(5)

Experienced Pilot Criteria

52

(2)

Experience Level

54

(1)

Calculating Experience Levels

55

(3)

Manning Level

58

(1)

Calculating the Rate at Which Pilots Become Experienced

59

(8)

Training Capacity

60

(1)

Sorties Available to API-1 Pilots

61

(1)

Average Sortie Duration

62

(1)

Sorties and Hours per Crew per Month

62

(2)

Aging Rate

64

(1)

Time to Experience and the Number of Inexperienced Pilots

65

(1)

Experience Rate

66

(1)

Forecast and Actual Values

67

(5)

Programmed HCM Is an Optimistic Aging Rate Estimate

67

(3)

Summary of Aging Rate Issues and Related Parameters

70

(2)

Steady-State Conditions and Maximum Absorption

72

(1)

Absorption Issues and Numerical Excursions

73

(16)

Qualitative Discussion

74

(6)

BCS Parameter Values for Fighter Absorption

76

(1)

Underlying Training Capacity and Aging-Rate Assumptions

77

(2)

Why Best Case?

79

(1)

Maximum Absorption Capacity Values

80

(1)

Numerical Excursions

81

(8)

``Most Likely'' Conditions: Historical Default

82

(1)

Searching for More Acceptable Equilibrium Conditions

83

(2)

Increased Training Capacity: UTE Rate

85

(1)

Increased Training Capacity: Force Structure

85

(4)

Implications and Alternatives

89

(20)

Reducing the Flow of Incoming New Pilots

89

(6)

Retention

90

(1)

Reducing Pilot Requirements

90

(1)

Alternative Manning Options

91

(1)

Total Force Absorption

92

(3)

Increasing Absorption Capacity

95

(8)

Increased UTE Rates

96

(1)

Increased Force Structure

96

(1)

Increased Aging Rates: Sortie Redistribution

97

(3)

Increased Aging Rates: Longer Sorties

100

(1)

Increased Experience Rate: Longer Operational Tours

100

(1)

Increased Experience Rate: Lower Standards

101

(2)

Conclusions and Recommendations

103

(6)

Bibliography

109

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Absorbing Air Force Fighter Pilots Parameters, Problems, and Policy Options

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials