Air Force One Faces Pilot Crunch, Trump Wants Retired Captains

Washington: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that will allow the Air Force to address what the Pentagon says is a serious pilot shortage. The order amending a post-9-11 emergency declaration will allow the Air Force to recall pilots from retirement.

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Gary Ross, says the Air Force is currently short approximately 1,500 pilots. Under current law, the Air Force is limited to recalling 25 pilots. The order removes that cap for the Air Force, as well as other branches of the military.

Ross says the Secretary of Defence is expected to allow the Secretary of the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years.

PTI