re: #60 goddamnedfrank

The story does put Trump’s Executive Order allowing the involuntary callback of 1000 pilots in an interesting light.

Still 1000 pilots would still need a the planes, navigators / ecm officers, ground support maintenance and aerial refueling tankers & crews needed to keep them flying. This whole thing feels like when Trump told the Navy they were going retrofit to steam catapults on the new carriers just because he told them to. He’s got this weird fixation on the idea that old tech is better, it’s conservatism at its most literalistic and backwards looking.

The Air Force has a significant pilot shortage. The USAF states they plan to use the EO authority to recruit volunteers from the IRR.
You really don’t get a useful pilot if you’re forcing them to return to service. As there are a myriad of little ailments that can get your flight status restricted.