The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)

[ytz]

Would you rather be a fighter pilot who's also a bus driver, or work for big red who also flys fighters?

Except that real life doesn't offer that option. An airline isn't going to employ a guy who flies a quarter or less of everybody else.

There's not many countries that do the reserve fighter pilot thing. Mostly the US. And mostly because the US is so huge that there are plenty of folks who have non-flying careers outside the Air NG/Reserves. We just don't have that depth in Canada. Most countries don't. What we literally need is a guy/gal who is willing to fly 2-3x per week and then work as a real estate agent the rest of the time so they aren't running up on legal restrictions on total flight hours.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Except that real life doesn't offer that option. An airline isn't going to employ a guy who flies a quarter or less of everybody else.

There's not many countries that do the reserve fighter pilot thing. Mostly the US. And mostly because the US is so huge that there are plenty of folks who have non-flying careers outside the Air NG/Reserves. We just don't have that depth in Canada. Most countries don't. What we literally need is a guy/gal who is willing to fly 2-3x per week and then work as a real estate agent the rest of the time so they aren't running up on legal restrictions on total flight hours.

In addition to that, you'd need them to reside within 1hr drive time from which RCAF bases? Please don't say Cold Lake/Bagotville as that would be a non-starter.

EDIT: 30yrs ago I use to live 10mins from Selfridges ANGB base and would routinely which their planes doing 'touch and go' landings during the weekends.

Having facilities located by major urban centers makes total sense. Back during that same timeline I used to be able to be on base 1-2 times a year at Otis ANGB on Cape Cod. Another case of being located under an hour drive (not in the summer) from a major urban area (Boston).

 

[ytz]

Will add though. If we ever want to do that kind of building of a fighter reserve, the practical way to do is exactly with these light fighters.

 

[MilEME09]

Will add though. If we ever want to do that kind of building of a fighter reserve, the practical way to do is exactly with these light fighters.

Do we need to go that far? or could we just buy an excessive number of the next lead in fighter trainer, give that to some kind of air reserve pilot trade, that way if needed we are just converting them to X platform within 6 weeks to 3 months.

 

[dapaterson]

Do we need to go that far? or could we just buy an excessive number of the next lead in fighter trainer, give that to some kind of air reserve pilot trade, that way if needed we are just converting them to X platform within 6 weeks to 3 months.

One challenge is the tight labour market for pilots. In the event of a national emergency, would we be able to surge pilots from commercial flying (lots of cargo travels by air) to the military, or would maintain the economy be the priority, so Bob would still fly for UPS, not a CF46 light fighter?