The U.S. Air Force has officially acknowledged that it will not achieve its target of recruiting 1,500 new pilots in the current year. The service is expected to fall approximately 120 pilots short of its annual recruitment goal. This shortfall is attributed to a combination of maintenance challenges, staffing shortages, and unforeseen setbacks.
USAF spokesperson Benjamin Faske explained that the Air Force had set a goal of adding around 1,500 new aviators annually starting in fiscal year 2020 but has struggled to meet this target. The Air Force plans to continue striving for the same recruitment objective in fiscal year 2024.
Major General Clark Quinn, the two-star general responsible for pilot training, emphasized the Air Force's commitment to maintaining its flying operations, stating, "We're going to try to make sure we are still flying because that's what we do as an Air Force."
Specific maintenance issues that have contributed to the recruitment challenge include delays in repairing the engines powering T-38 trainer jets, resulting in reduced dispatch reliability for over a year. The T-38 serves as the Air Force's primary intermediate training aircraft for future fighter and bomber pilots.
Regarding the T-38 engine problems, Quinn noted, "It has not gotten worse, but it has also not gotten better. The government is looking at perhaps doing some in-house parts production to try and help facilitate getting them back healthy."
