AFStepchild

The "supposed logic" behind this change is nothing more than supply/demand game. The AF has aggressive plans to expand the overseas basing of this airframe and needs lots of warm bodies to keep up with those plans. Since the typical Ft Rucker class only has 4-6 students in it...and they usually only graduate four classes per fiscal year...that is not enough supply to keep up with the demand. UPT, on the other hand, can cast a bigger net and at the very least get people into the seats so the weekly staff slides can look good. As was said earlier, tilt rotors are tilt rotors....it doesn't behave like anything else and the books are still being written. There is no magic formula of rotary + fixed wing time = good tilt rotor guy. A crappy pilot elswhere, will also still be a crappy tilt rotor pilot. The real burden is placed on the operational unit anyway, they are the ones who will have to mold people into effective and proficient tilt rotor pilots after they leave the schoolhouse. Time spent in the schoolhouse is just the first step in training anyone...