This has resulted in a significant increase in the cannibalization rate, and has increased the amount of time needed to repair an aircraft by 50 percent. And it has largely been done on the backs of an enlisted force trying to compensate for a deficiency in resources. Another important factor adding to the workload of our people is the increasing age of Air Force weapon systems. These aging aircraft are requiring more maintenance time, effort, and a lot more money to keep them mission capable due to parts obsolescence, unforeseen component failures, and corrosion. By next year, the average age of Air Force aircraft will be over 20 years old.
Retention is also a problem area.
This means that the Air Force is losing the experience and leadership needed in the backbone of its force, the enlisted corps. The problem is even more acute in warfighting career fields such as avionics specialists, security police, and aircraft maintenance. Among the pilot force, active duty separations have increased to the point that the Air Force was more than 700 pilots short at the end of this fiscal year. The pilot deficit is projected to continue to increase and will be near 2000 by Fiscal Year 2002. The Guard and Reserves have a similar problem, although the full impact will probably be delayed by two or three years.