Absorbing Air Force Fighter Pilots Parameters, Problems, and Policy Options

by Taylor, William; Bigelow, James H.; Moore, Craig S.; Wickman, Leslie; Thomas, Brent

• ISBN13: 9780833031822
• ISBN10: 0833031821
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-07
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

A thorough analysis of the Air Force's ability to adequately train and absorb new fighter pilots into its operational units. and effectively.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxv
Acronyms	xxvii
Introduction	1	(4)
Empirical Evidence from Operational Units	5	(10)
Pope Air Force Base Training Indicators	6	(5)
Combat Mission-Ready Status	6	(1)
Documented Training Problems	7	(1)
Survey Results	8	(1)
Manning and Experience Problems	9	(1)
A Summary of Adverse Training Indicators	10	(1)
Production Decisions and Unintended Consequences	11	(1)
Overmanning and Infeasible Objectives	12	(2)
The Effect of Absorbing Fewer Pilots or Increasing PAA	13	(1)
Afterword	14	(1)
Managing the Pilot Inventory to Match Requirements	15	(24)
Requirement Categories	16	(3)
Force Requirements	16	(1)
Training Requirements	17	(1)
Staff Requirements	18	(1)
Other (Man-Year) Requirements	18	(1)
Filling Requirements	19	(2)
Inventory Management	21	(9)
Key Constraints	22	(1)
The Initial Training Pipeline	23	(3)
Managing Inventory Size	26	(2)
Retention and the Bonus Take Rate	28	(2)
Retention and Production Trade-Offs to Meet Requirements	30	(9)
Absorption Capacity: Parameters and Relationships	39	(34)
Historical Background: The Origin of RDTM	39	(2)
Absorption, Production, and Absorption Capacity	41	(6)
Absorption	41	(1)
Production	42	(2)
Absorption Capacity	44	(1)
Preliminary Discussion	45	(2)
Parameters That Influence Absorption Capacity	47	(12)
Absorbable Billets	47	(5)
Experienced Pilot Criteria	52	(2)
Experience Level	54	(1)
Calculating Experience Levels	55	(3)
Manning Level	58	(1)
Calculating the Rate at Which Pilots Become Experienced	59	(8)
Training Capacity	60	(1)
Sorties Available to API-1 Pilots	61	(1)
Average Sortie Duration	62	(1)
Sorties and Hours per Crew per Month	62	(2)
Aging Rate	64	(1)
Time to Experience and the Number of Inexperienced Pilots	65	(1)
Experience Rate	66	(1)
Forecast and Actual Values	67	(5)
Programmed HCM Is an Optimistic Aging Rate Estimate	67	(3)
Summary of Aging Rate Issues and Related Parameters	70	(2)
Steady-State Conditions and Maximum Absorption	72	(1)
Absorption Issues and Numerical Excursions	73	(16)
Qualitative Discussion	74	(6)
BCS Parameter Values for Fighter Absorption	76	(1)
Underlying Training Capacity and Aging-Rate Assumptions	77	(2)
Why Best Case?	79	(1)
Maximum Absorption Capacity Values	80	(1)
Numerical Excursions	81	(8)
``Most Likely'' Conditions: Historical Default	82	(1)
Searching for More Acceptable Equilibrium Conditions	83	(2)
Increased Training Capacity: UTE Rate	85	(1)
Increased Training Capacity: Force Structure	85	(4)
Implications and Alternatives	89	(20)
Reducing the Flow of Incoming New Pilots	89	(6)
Retention	90	(1)
Reducing Pilot Requirements	90	(1)
Alternative Manning Options	91	(1)
Total Force Absorption	92	(3)
Increasing Absorption Capacity	95	(8)
Increased UTE Rates	96	(1)
Increased Force Structure	96	(1)
Increased Aging Rates: Sortie Redistribution	97	(3)
Increased Aging Rates: Longer Sorties	100	(1)
Increased Experience Rate: Longer Operational Tours	100	(1)
Increased Experience Rate: Lower Standards	101	(2)
Conclusions and Recommendations	103	(6)
Bibliography	109