Air Force weighs using contractors for drone flights

Secretary Deborah Lee James said the service is nearing a final decision on implementing some new programs to recruit and retain pilots of remotely piloted aircraft, or RPAs, a specialty that has been understaffed and dealing with heavy demands overseas.

“Stay tuned on this,” James said at a National Press Club luncheon. “We’re within a week or so of finalizing and ultimately announcing a series of new initiatives to up the ante on this and relieve more stress from RPA enterprise and improve quality of life.”

For example, the Air Force is looking at expanding the bases where troops in the drone force can serve, since right now there are relatively few places they can be stationed. James also said the service is looking at some ways to address the “grueling schedule” of drone pilots to allow for more time off, as well as a chance for more professional development.

The service is also looking at increasing the use of National Guard and reserve service members, using more contractors for surveillance missions, what the role of officer and enlisted airmen should be in flying drones and increasing incentive pay for drone pilots.

Congress recently ordered the Air Force to increase incentive pay from $25,000 to $35,000 in the National Defense Authorization Act, which the president signed last week, according to a report from Air Force Times.

The service also has 60 days from the day the bill was signed to submit a report to Congress on how to fix any undermanning problems in the drone community.

The report should address how many drone airmen the Air Force has, how many it needs, what the service is doing to recruit and retain troops in this community, as well as the training the drone force receives, Air Force Times reported.

The number of daily drone combat air patrols was already reduced from 65 to 60 this year to try to reduce the strain on the drone pilots.