The US Air Force (USAF) is considering changing the formula for how it compares pilot training candidates as the current system rewards those who can afford to accumulate flight hours prior to their candidacy.
Major General Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, told reporters on 23 March that he is concerned that the USAF is leaving exceptional pilot training candidates behind, though the service statistically does a good job choosing pilot candidates as its attrition is relatively low. The USAF uses the Pilot Candidate Selection Method (PCSM), a weighted composite of various test scores, to predict completion of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT).
The process, Maj Gen Wills said, begins with finding officer candidates and then narrowing the search to find the best qualified pilot candidates. However, he said, while the USAF will not lower its standard for pilot training candidates, he wants to ensure that the service is not purposely excluding candidates over arbitrary measures such as education grade point average or previous flying hours.
19th Air Force Pilot Training Transformation initiatives, as viewed on 25 March 2021. (US Air Force)
Maj Gen Wills said as the current PCSM system rewards people for having a lot of flying hours, it puts those who cannot afford private pilot training prior to pilot candidacy at a disadvantage.
“We want the best candidate, we have no intention of getting anything but the best candidate,” Maj Gen Wills said. “But we have to be sure we are using the right measures.”
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