The Army was so strapped for experienced pilots that up through 2023 it was sending its most junior pilots fresh out of flight school to fly these specialized missions, according to an aviator. The post Exclusive: Army Was Sending Junior Pilots Straight from Flight School to Fly Top DC Missions Until 2023 appeared first on Breitbart.
The Army was sending junior pilots directly from flight school to fly high-risk missions over Washington, D.C., until 2023, due to a shortage of experienced pilots. These missions, which include evacuating leaders during emergencies, require expertise in complex and restricted airspace. Up to 40% of pilots assigned to these missions were on their first assignment, posing significant risks. In 2023, the Army halted this practice after recognizing the dangers. The experience gap among pilots was attributed to reduced flight time post-Iraq and Afghanistan wars, sequestration cuts, airline recruitment of military pilots, and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on training. Several helicopter crashes in 2023 highlighted the risks, leading to an aviation standdown and reforms.
