Are enlisted airmen next to pilot UAVs?

[unhappycamper]

Air apparent
Demand for pilots and sensor operators is growing


Are enlisted airmen next to pilot UAVs?
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 21, 2008 13:18:36 EST

The Air Force is desperate for UAV pilots, yet it stands alone among the services in its policy that only officers are allowed to fly large unmanned aerial vehicles.

But next month, in a reversal of policy, 10 nonrated officers — those without aviation training — will begin instruction on flying Predator and Reaper UAVs. could enlisted airmen be next?

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz left open the possibility immediately after he approved allowing nonrated officers to fly UAVs.

“No options are off the table, ... I don’t dismiss that as a possibility,” he said as he walked down from the stage at the Air Force Association convention in Washington, D.C., in September.

Three months later, in early December, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley said the option for enlisted pilots remains in play and he had “confidence enlisted airmen have the capabilities if tasked.”


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/12/airforce_enlisted_uas3_122108/%2e

[Catch22Dem]

1. This will not be the first time enlisted men have been pilots in the AF

And I'm confident they'll do an EXCELLENT job.

Here's an article about the Flying Sergeants: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=31103853

[Angleae]

2. The other branches use enlisted as UAV pilots.

The Air Force is behind the times.