Experienced pilots leave Ukrainian Armed Forces

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The Ukrainian aviation begins to lose its highest quality pilots. Particularly, last year retired 30 pilots of 1st and 2nd classes. On the whole, there are almost 70 vacant positions in the Ukrainian air forces, told Lieutenant General Vasily Nikiforov, deputy commander of the Air Force of Ukraine for aviation on March, 11, reports a REGNUM correspondent in Kiev with reference to information of press-service of Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

Nikiforov also informed that lack of possibility to purchase enough fuel for the scheduled flying trainings could push on the outflow of experienced pilots. “Although, many factors have impact on this process and touches not only experienced pilots. If pilot does not fly a year, two or three years, he will not consider himself as a pilot. The main reason of pilots’ outflow is a low social status of man in shoulder-straps, and their vulnerability”, — said the deputy of commander of Ukrainian Air Force on aviation.

Earlier Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov many times claimed country’s Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko for insufficient financing of Armed Forces.