US Air Force Seeks Drone Pilots Need Not Be Officers

THE US military’s increasing demand for drones has forced changes in the Air Force’s “flyboy” culture over the years, plucking pilots out of the cockpit and sending some to hi-tech desert trailers to operate remotely piloted aircraft, leaving their proverbial white scarves at home.

As the need keeps rising for drones and their valuable ISR — intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — due to the rise of Islamic State and other threats, the Air Force is embarking on yet another cultural shift.

For the first time, it is allowing enlisted personnel, not just officers, to pilot some drones. The Air Force historically has required drone pilots to be officers. But this month, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced a series of moves to alleviate some of the stress on the drone crews that operate craft such as the MQ-1 Predator and its advanced cousin, the MQ-9 Reaper (shown above). The Air Force has about 970 pilots operating MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones and about 200 RQ-4 pilots. Read Full Article >>