The airlines will hire about 20,000 pilots over the next 10 years, and they are targeting experienced military aviators who could be lured away by money and the promise of job security without having to deploy, a RAND Corp. study found.
Over the next two years, an increasing number of drone pilots will reach the end of their service commitments, and the private sector is offering them twice as much money to fly unmanned aircraft as contractors.
And on Air Force flightlines, the airline industry sees a plethora of experienced, hardworking maintainers who can quickly get up to speed on Boeing 737s and other passenger aircraft — and may be eager for union jobs without the possibility of deployments.
Air Force Times would like to hear from pilots, drone pilots and maintainers:
• Are you tempted to leave active duty for opportunities in the private sector?
• Do you think the airlines and companies hiring drone pilots offer you a better deal?
• Are the civilian salaries and benefits better than the military ones?
Please send an email with your comments and contact information to Markie Harwood, Air Force Times news editor, at mharwood@airforcetimes.com.
