pilot pools again

[ndworl]

In a couple of AARs from many years ago, the allied player says he uses obsolete aircraft to train pilots then moves the pilots into new aircraft for combat. Is this done by disbanding the units with the obsolete aircraft, with the pilots going into the trained pilot pool? (I can't tell, as I don't understand what is draining my pilot pool, so don't have a baseline. If not, how would it work?

[tocaff]

The Allies get plenty of air units and I train them up before sending them into the fight.

You might be thinking of training pilots in AE.

[ndworl]

I suppose it boils down to what happens to pilots when you disband an air unit? Do they go into the pool, or disappear or what? If they go into the pool, it would be possible to train up pilots in obsolete aircraft (far from the front) then disband the unit and use those pilots to rebuild front line air units. When the obsolete air unit reappears, it draws from the pool or gets untrained pilots. Then you can start the process again? In effect, you would be using the obsolete units as additional training schools which, given their poor combat potential and survivability, is a better option than using them as front line units.

For example, the Japanese player would train up a Nate squadron, then disband them and if the pilots go into the pool, use those pilots to flesh out a zero squadron. Then when the Nates reappear, start again with untrained pilots.

[kmitahj]

In PBEM it is not possible to disband into pool. In game against AI I belive it is still doable though (don't remember really) that possibility may be limited to only selected bases. Here is a Pilot Pool against AI ? thread discussing just that. That thread also contains more links to posts describing variants of what I used to call "state of the art" pilot training procedure in Classic WitP. These posts are mostly written from japan perspective but after some modification may be also useful for allied players.

[ndworl]

Thanks. So the game won't let you do it for PBEM. On reflection, and having read the threads you linked to, I think that's fair enough.