Investigation of B-2 Pilot Force Reserve Component Augmentation.

摘要

The B-2 'Spirit' stealth bomber pilot community is experiencing a number of factors that influence their ability to produce combat sorties, Because of career concerns, pilots often move to a career-broadening assignment, intermediate service school or other assignment after a relatively short period of three to four years flying the B-2, A number of pilots also choose to separate from active duty to enter the major airline industry Due to the resulting limited number of B-2 instructor pilots the Air Force contracted for civilian B-2 academic instructors who are not as qualified to instruct as the B- 2 instructor pilots they replaced These factors have negatively influenced the level of pilot experience with the B-2, This paper explores the concept of utilizing Air Force Reserve pilots to provide a source of continuity within the B-2 community It assumes the reserve component B-2 pilot will enter the Air Force Reserve as a fully qualified B-2 pilot, It does not address using reservists for any specialties other than the pilot specialty, It also does not investigate using the Air National Guard because of the relatively small number of B-2 aircraft (21 aircraft) and the assumption that every Air National Guard squadron is unit-equipped and owns their own aircraft.