Nearly 900 Air Force pilots left for civilian airlines over past decade: data

“Almost 900 Air Force pilots have left the armed forces for better-paying jobs with civilian airlines over the past decade, data showed Sunday. According to a report submitted by the Air Force to People Power Party Rep. Kang Dae-sik, a member of the parliamentary subcommittee on national defense, 896 "skilled" Air Force pilots opted for voluntary discharge from 2017 to March 2026. The Air Force defines skilled pilots as those with between eight and 17 years of experience and with an ability to conduct operations on their own and to train younger and lower-ranked pilots. The report said 730 fighter pilots left, followed by 148 cargo pilots and 18 rotary-wing pilots. Of the pilots, 622 joined Korean Air, Korea's flag carrier, while 146 went to work for Asiana Airlines, the country's second-largest carrier, which has merged with Korean Air. Another 103 pilots joined budget carriers. About 100 pilots used to leave the Air Force for the civilian sector annually in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in 2021, only seven Air Force pilots opted for civilian careers as global air tr

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Korea Times Southkorea. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.koreatimes.co.kr.