USAF Short of Fighter pilots? WTH?

[Puma44]

I'll admit I know nothing about this so this is purely hypothetical (AKA BS) but..

could it be due to the fact that historically many military pilots transitioned to commercial/airline jobs after they were done with their service, but now that commercial pilot pay is low, there are just better career tracks that are more practical? Especially now that the possibility of their military careers will be cut short by drones in the long run?

Ah, no!  "commercial  pilot pay is so low". Where did you come up with the?  Obviously not from any sort of factual source.

The drones don't have anything to do with cutting anyone's military service short.  The overall size of the force is being reduced by geniuses on the east coast who don't have a grip on reality and the world around them.  If a particular individual has been in for some length of time and the "geniuses" start cutting back force size, there is incentive to "cut their military career short" either voluntarily or involuntarily.  The Predator drones have nothing to do with it.  The "drones" on the east coast do.  

Bottom line here is, if you have not spent a considerable time in voluntary service a sacrifice to you country, you don't appreciate the true facts..  If you are basing your "facts" on what you see on TV, read in the papers, or, the oh so accurate Internet blogs, you have been duped with the information "they" want you to think you know as facts.  

[Nashorn]

last time I checked, and experienced captain on a commercial airliner could pull a six figure income if they have been in the business long enough

[Flench]

I bricked a home for a guy a few year's ago and he was a Fed X Pilot . He told me he had been there 10 year's and was making  $250.000.00 a year . 

[danny76]

$250 a year? Thats awful. If only he were making $250'000.00

[Zoney]

$250 a year? Thats awful. If only he were making $250'000.00

When you are ribbing a guy for spelling, punctuation or grammer, it helps if you get it right.

$250,000.00

[Flench]

Thanks Zoney , I was in a hurry

[Puma44]

I bricked a home for a guy a few year's ago and he was a Fed X Pilot . He told me he had been there 10 year's and was making  $250.000.00 a year .  

last time I checked, and experienced captain on a commercial airliner could pull a six figure income if they have been in the business long enough

Ahhhh, finally someone who has the facts before posting.  You and Flench are spot on.  Thank you gents!  I'm acquainted with a guy who started in the airline industry flying Beech 1900s for $11.00 an hour to get his foot in the door.  He is now a captain with a major airline making that six figure salary.  He tells me a day's flying nets him $1,000 or more without trying too hard.

[Puma44]

  When we get to the point where our Techno fighters and drones are being disabled with EMP weapons the WW2 fighters will rise again! 

                     
                  
                     

That's what I'm talking about!  

[Flench]

If we had our pick , lol .

[RotBaron]

With all the defense cuts you hear about, and how I've heard from guys like Russian and other members of other BBS's about becoming pilots in the USAF and how it is SO focused on drones etc, it amazes me that they find themselves so short of fighter pilots that they have to offer a 1/4 million in bonus up front in order to secure some.  Here in Canada that trades is almost ALWAYS closed out, I guess it'd be a good time to head south for younger Canucks if they are looking for a fighters assignment (yes Canadians can and do easily join the US armed forces, even today still).


http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/07/23/air-force-fighter-pilots-signing-bonus/?test=latestnews&ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058

Sorry, but your first mistake was reading an article written by HufPo, I mean AOL.

Other than that, I'm not aware of many situations where non US citizens are being offered commissions in our military. I'm not saying it doesn't happen ever, but usually the cases where the citizenship might be waived for a commissioned officer would be a very very highly desired position and one that is extremely hard to come by. For example, someone who speaks/writes multiple Chinese dialects, has extensive studies in intelligence/cyberwarfare and coupled with a fact like his parents aren't from a country the US has intelligence/information concerns with, i.e. in this case, not born in China or to anyone Chinese...

Also, I'd imagine the above holds true for your Canadian military too.

[Ardy123]

Ah, no!  "commercial  pilot pay is so low". Where did you come up with the?  Obviously not from any sort of factual source.

The news, maybe? why the hostility for someone who openly admitted ignorance?  

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/16/20090516airlinepilots-ON.html

Roger Cohen, president of the Regional Airline Association, said lower salaries are an industrywide problem. He predicted airlines generally will suffer a shortage of pilots once the economy improves.

while it does claim that 'senior' pilots make 6 figures, how long does it take to get there? what pay grade would incoming military pilots get? (all things I know nothing about).

[Puma44]

 

The news, maybe? why the hostility for someone who openly admitted ignorance? 

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/16/20090516airlinepilots-ON.html

while it does claim that 'senior' pilots make 6 figures, how long does it take to get there? what pay grade would incoming military pilots get? (all things I know nothing about).

No hostility intended, just a passion for the truth.  You make my point exactly with the news link.  No only did the writer mislead everyone reading the article who isn't a part of the industry, you repeated it here.  Cohen speaks only to the commuter/regional part of the industry.  That is a typical entry point for the airline industry, but not exclusively.  Pay rates are low because there are a thousand others in line for the same job.

Pay rates are much better for the majors, much bigger jets, etc.  Military pilots get no special deals coming into the airline industry because its a completely different flying environment and they need to build experience in the environment just like everyone else.  Upgrade time?  Depends on many factors, the economy being a major one.  Basically, pay your money and take your chances. 

[Vulcan]

Ah, no!  "commercial  pilot pay is so low". Where did you come up with the?  Obviously not from any sort of factual source.

I work in IT, comparing commercial pilot pay grades with what I earn/have earned I'd say it's low. I work in networking and security and earn similar to what a very top end experienced commercial pilot earns. I would call their income low, but taking into account the traiining/medical/responsibilities... the lower tiers definitely look meh (about the same income as entry level->mid range network engineers).

[Puma44]

I work in IT, comparing commercial pilot pay grades with what I earn/have earned I'd say it's low. I work in networking and security and earn similar to what a very top end experienced commercial pilot earns. I would call their income low, but taking into account the traiining/medical/responsibilities... the lower tiers definitely look meh (about the same income as entry level->mid range network engineers).

What's your hourly pay rate?

[Nashorn]

I think a lot of people may be missing something, how many people become pilots based on financial needs? im sure many would still stay as captains even if they didn't make 6 figs a year, I know I would