Pilot-Desperate Air Force Sees Nine Aviators Rejoin Amid COVID-19

Pilot-Desperate Air Force Sees Nine Aviators Rejoin Amid COVID-19
Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds fly past the Peace Tower during the Canada Day noon show on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 1, 2019. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
The Canadian Press
Updated:

OTTAWA—The Royal Canadian Air Force’s attempts to capitalize on the layoffs that have ravaged Canada’s commercial airline industry during the COVID−19 pandemic have had some early—albeit extremely limited—success.

The military has for years been struggling with a shortage of experienced pilots that has led to something of an existential crisis for the Air Force, leaving severely strained commanders without enough veteran aviators to both train new recruits and lead missions in the air.