The LA Times reports the USAF is currently down by some 200 fighter pilots, resulting in new pay offers from the Pentagon, and, “if something isn’t done, the Air Force, which has about 3,000 fighter pilots, fears it may face a shortfall of 700 by 2021.”
Rumors about pilot concerns with salary and other job factors have been discussed in forums for several years, even back to 1998 fallout from Tailhook. Aggressive reports on how drones are replacing pilots (like this one) haven’t helped matters.
Furthermore, the LA Times points out:
There have been fighter pilot shortages in the past, but the competition promises to be fierce in the years to come as airlines hunt for young talent because of a surge in retirements.
Last year, passenger jet maker Boeing Co. released a report that estimated a global need for 460,000 new commercial pilots over the next two decades. There are currently more than 71,000 active airline pilots in the United States.
