Research for Aircrews

The Naval Strike and Warfare Center asked the Center for Naval Analyses to help evaluate and analyze carrier and air wing sortie-generation capacity. Specifically, we set out to determine the firepower capacity of an embarked air wing, the factors that constrain the sortie-generation capacity, and ways to enhance the fire power capacity. In this paper, we create a base case focusing on the three major requirements of the creation of sea-based air power: the aircraft must be mission capable, the aircrew must be able to fly the aircraft, and the flight deck crews must ready aircraft for flight, launch aircraft, and recover aircraft after the completion of their missions. Our estimates of the capacity of the airframes, the aircrew, and the carrier and air wing's ability to launch, recover, and ready aircraft for launch rely on the characteristics of the base case.

Because of persistent shortages of personnel to fill instructor billets in the aviator community, the Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) for naval aviation officers was increased on 1 July 1987. Newly commissioned officers in the aviation community are now required to make a six-year commitment to the Navy after receiving their wings. This change has prompted policymakers to ask about the optimal minimum service requirement. This research memorandum analyzes the ADSO for Navy pilots. The analysis included the development of a model that captures the effect of changes in the ADSO on the total compensation and training costs of pilots through the first 15 years of service.