The US Air Force this summer unveiled another tool in its retention toolbag by boosting the flying training age limit from 27.5 years old to 30.
"We could never find out what the magic was about 27.5 ," says Col Russ Frasz, the USAF's director of rated management, of the 46-year-old standard.
While emphasising that there is no shortage of "qualified candidates" for pilot and weapons system officer training, Frasz says it will open opportunities for airmen who joined the service comparatively late and for prior enlisted members who are subsequently selected to become officers.
The policy takes effect with the fiscal year 2000 training boards, which meet on 26-29 October.
Frasz admits the full impact of lifting the age limit will not be known immediately and says several questions are raised by the change. "Do they wash out at a higher rate? Do they become more oriented toward a full 20-year career? What is the impact on retention? We're going to have to wait 10 years to find out."
Source: Flight International