MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Author, Maj. Aaron Ewing, examines the Air Force’s pilot shortage in Widening the Training Pipeline: Are Warrant Officer Instructor Pilots the Best Solution to Increase Pilot Production?
The Air Force is struggling to cope with a worldwide pilot shortage that has left the service over 2,000 pilots short of what is required to fully man its squadrons. To recover from the current shortage, the service has determined it needs to increase annual production from 1,200 to 1,600 pilots.
A 33 percent student pilot increase requires more undergraduate pilot training instructors. Where the Air Force intends to find additional instructors given the current pilot shortage is unclear. This research paper explores a possible solution to this problem in assessing whether warrant officers may help to fill the instructional gap for pilot production.
This Air Command and Staff College student research paper is part of its Wright Flyer series. View it on the Air University Press website, https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AUPress/.