Interesting, “day in the life” article on drone pilots who are based in Nevada yet waging war in Afghanistan. Some years ago the WSJ reported on these pilots when drones were pretty much just starting. Not surprisingly, fighter pilots absolutely hated being taken from their cockpits and forced into unglamorous duty in a dark room away from combat. But drones seem so effective, I wonder whether the fighter jocks have much of a future?
LA Times on predator drones
Filed under Uncategorized
For What It's Worth 
Do you remember when ex-fighter, test pilot Bill Bridgeman was replaced by those boys learning to sit in their big, fat space ships, the action being transferred from the pilots to the control center on the ground? He was not happy.
Creative destruction and automation
Any pilots who are truly skilled will do fine as G550 pilots for NetJets or corporate fleets or wealthy individuals
Like the 45-50yo $350K+/yr (incl $150K/yr pension/disability; and IIRC disability income is tax-free) ex-NYPD cops working as drivers/bodyguards for NYC financiers
If Anonymous thinks a truly skilled military jet pilot wants to fly some a private jet for some IB/Hedgie/CEO a-shat then I’d say he’s never met a fighter pilot.
I don’t think it is likely that fighter pilots are going to be replaced by video game jockeys. The predator drones are basically used once air superiority has been achieved (meaning all the enemies are gone and we completely control the airspace).
On the other hand, what about unmanned realtor drones as showing assistants? That would be a big improvement.