the bombers B-52 Stratofortress of the United States Air Force (USAF) will have fewer crews. The newest class of operators on the 70-year-old jet graduated based on the new curriculum, which includes a reduction from five to four crew .
The current crew consists of five military personnel: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapons systems operator (WSO) and electronic warfare operator (EWO). With the new configuration, two crew will be able to act as navigator, EWO or WSO.
The change is part of the process of modernizing Boeing's seventy-year-old bomber, which, although it has not yet started, is, for the most part, defined.
The main improvements are in the new Rolls-Royce engines and a new suite of avionics navigation systems, electronic warfare and communications, including new radar and increased offensive capabilities, says the USAF.
“This is truly the first of a significant wave of decades-long changes that are coming to the B-52”, said Lieutenant Colonel Aaron A. Bohl, commander of the 93rd Bomb Squadron, one of the units that make up the B-52 Formal Training Unit (FTU).
The new class is the first to be trained at FTU based on future improvements to the eight-engine jet. The military will continue working in the current configuration of five crew , but they are already able to fly the B-52 with one less colleague in the future.
The workload for new students has increased significantly as they learn to transition between each compartment, Bohl said. He explains that students will work with different instructors on various missions to learn the different roles so they are ready to act in either the offensive or defensive seats when called upon.
On the other hand, Bohl says “cross training” will be necessary over the next five years. While the jet is yet to be modified, he explained that the training unit is working on the crew now, so that students are qualified to work until the jet is modified to accommodate just four servicemen.
The training of the new crew started early so that, when the structural modifications are ready, the current students will be the next generation of instructors.
Bohl said this class will be the first cadre of B-52 instructors to hold all the necessary qualifications. They will be trained to assimilate the four person setup much easier.
“There will be many challenges ahead with how we execute and continue to sustain the needs of the long-range strike combatant commander. But it’s a challenge we’re excited to take on.”, concludes the officer.
With information 307th BW – USAF
