Oldest pilot in the Air Force mentors next generation

  • Published
  • By Stefan T. Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base --  Lt. Col. Jim Routt, 550th Special Operations Squadron chief pilot, at age 63 is the oldest active-duty pilot.

He first came into the Air Force in 1970, and after completing Officer Training School, was commissioned in March, 1971. Colonel Routt was sent to Craig Air Force Base, Ala., for pilot training.

"Ever since I was old enough to know what an airplane was, I just wanted to be an Air Force pilot," said Colonel Routt. "As a kid, you have things you want to do. So I went and took the test, and they said, 'Yes you're qualified.'"

After completing pilot training, Colonel Routt's first assignment was the 92nd Bomb Wing, 325th Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash. The squadron had just deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, in support of the Vietnam War. Colonel Routt was sent to Castle AFB, Calif. for training as a B-52 pilot and then on to Ellsworth AFB, S.D., for advanced training.

Later, Colonel Routt was sent to Guam and was part of the support staff during Operation Linebacker II. During that time, he was also part of the taxi crews, whose duties were to taxi aircraft to their assigned spots due to the large number of aircraft at Andersen AFB.

After the war, there were too many pilots in the Air Force, so Colonel Routt took a furlough from active-duty and joined the Air Force Reserves.

"I took the 18-month furlough and went to graduate school and got my masters," said Colonel Routt.

Colonel Routt returned to active-duty in 1976 and was assigned to the 437th Military Airlift wing at Charleston AFB, S.C., as a maintenance officer. He retired from active-duty in May 1996.

During his time in the Air Force, Colonel Routt has flown more than 6,900 hours and has flown numerous aircraft types, including the B-52E, F and G models, the C-130, WC-130, HC-130 and MC-130P, the UH-1 helicopter, the HH-60 Pave Hawk and the HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant. He has been a squadron commander, director of operations and a deputy commander.

After retirement, Colonel Routt worked as a defense contractor with Scientific Research Corporation and Lockheed Martin. During that time, he saw an advertisement for retired aviators to come back on active-duty. Colonel Routt applied and was accepted into the program.

T he programs goal was to bring in former pilots to fill staff positions, freeing pilots from those staff positions to go back to flying.

During his conversations with the Air Force Personnel Center, Colonel Routt found that he could also get a position as a pilot. All he would have to do is pass the physical and get someone to hire him as a pilot.

"I went to the 550th SOS commander at the time, who said 'Yes I'll take you back into flying status'," said Colonel Routt. "I had to wait for a year for a training slot at Little Rock AFB, Ark."

He completed his mission training in the spring of 2003 and was qualified back up to mission instructor. Colonel Routt is now an evaluator pilot and the chief pilot for the 550th SOS.

Colonel Routt returned to active-duty in August, 2002. The program that recalled him to active-duty was one of the largest since the end of the Korean War. About 220 navigators, pilots and air battle managers were recalled under the Retired Aviator Recall Program.

"The reason I came back on active-duty was when I left in 1996, I felt like I hadn't finished what I wanted to do," said Colonel Routt. "I love flying the Combat Shadow and Combat Rescue C-130's, and the training mission at the 58th Special Operations Squadron, so it was a good fit for me."

In addition to being the chief pilot for the 550th SOS, he also works with scheduling to build a program to schedule all flight training for students. The program is set to meet the production requirements of special operations and rescue operational units, who are on a high operations tempo, before students report. He
also mentors the young 550th SOS instructors.

"At my age, obviously, I'm 30 years older and sometimes more, than our young instructors," said Colonel Routt. "So they've also asked me to be a mentor to help the young guys come along."

The current Air Force recall program, which is now on hold, had an age limit of 62 for Airmen to come back on active-duty. Colonel Routt is currently on an age waiver extension until September, 2012. That will put him at six weeks before his 65th birthday when he retires for the final time.
"For me, the Air Force has always been the place to be," said Colonel Routt. "It's been my dream and I've been very fortunate that I've been able to do it so long."