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WASHINGTON — The Air Force says it doesn’t plan on using new flexibility under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to address a pilot shortage by recalling retired pilots.
Air Force: No plans to recall retired pilots to fix shortage
Ann Stefanek, the chief of Air Force media operations, said Sunday the added power provided by Trump is appreciated but the Air Force does not “currently intend to recall retired pilots.”
Air Force could recall up to 1,000 retired pilots amid shortage, retention crisis
The Air Force could bring back as many as 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years under a major expansion of a recall program, the White House announced Friday.
Trump last Friday signed the order to address what the Pentagon says is a serious pilot shortage.
A Pentagon spokesman says the Air Force is currently short about 1,500 pilots, and had indicated that the Secretary of Defense would allow the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years.
To keep pilots from quitting, the Air Force will let some stay in assignments longer
The Air Force on Thursday began allowing some experienced fighter pilots and weapon systems officers to stay in their assignments for three more years, as part of its ongoing effort to stop an alarming pilot exodus.
Under current law, the Air Force is limited to recalling 25 pilots.
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