AI and pilot management

[NiclasCage]

Does the AI optimize their pilot management in any way? I'm playing against the Japanese AI and as I don't want to gain unfair advantages against it I'm wondering if I should just leave my pilots on auto select or actively swap them.

Also, how many pilots do you guys use for your air groups in relation to the number of aircraft?

[Sardaukar]

Does the AI optimize their pilot management in any way? I'm playing against the Japanese AI and as I don't want to gain unfair advantages against it I'm wondering if I should just leave my pilots on auto select or actively swap them.

Also, how many pilots do you guys use for your air groups in relation to the number of aircraft?

AFAIK, AI does not optimize pilot management.

I usually put some extra pilots (and planes) to groups, for fatigue reasons.

[WEXF]

The number of pilots I use in a squadron differs if the squadron is used for training or combat. In training squadrons, I tend to have just about the same or slightly higher number as planes as I want training to move along quickly. In combat squadrons having more well trained pilots is a plus to keep fatigue low.
WEXF

[BBfanboy]

There is also the issue of how many pilots are available. Some nations like China and the Soviet Union do not have enough pilots to fill all the vacancies available. In this situation you have the choice of putting all of them into squadrons for training or missions, or leaving a few in the pool to draw on to replace losses.

The AI management is pretty straightforward - it categorizes the aircraft type the pilots are supposed to be best at flying, and when you or the AI draw pilots from the pool it starts by looking for the aircraft type an then gives you the best available pilot. I am not sure if the AI uses most Experience or highest relevant Skill to decide what is best.

Players can do better by micromanaging the pilot pools, flunking out guys that are too slow to gain the skills needed and forcing them into other types of aircraft that are less likely to see combat (like transports). At the other end of the spectrum some players stockpile their most experienced/most skilled fighter pilots and when good aircraft types are available the replace the starting pilots in the squadron with high talent veterans. It's mostly a question of how much time you want to spend optimizing the pilot usage. If find it tedious and rarely make changes other than leaders.

[GetAssista]

Does the AI optimize their pilot management in any way? I'm playing against the Japanese AI and as I don't want to gain unfair advantages against it

The game was never designed with fairness in mind in the first place. Start of grand campaign is unfair to the Allies, end of war is unfair to Japan.
There is no agreed on fairness standards in this game when you play AI, you play the way you get max enjoyment.

But pilot management (training skills, forming and using ace airgoups) is one of the more satisfying things in WITP AE, it would be detrimental to exclude it from your game IMO. You can compensate by imposing other self-restrictions. Like e.g. regular breaks in air missions, limited concentration of airforce, etc. Also there are certain scenarios that present you with completely overpowered AI (materially) - and there you would need all the help you can get from your airforce.

[Marauder11]

Don't worry about stacking a squadron. Every nation had their elite squadrons/groups/ wings. The British/Commonwealth had Tangmere Wing, 127 Wing RCAF, 617 Squadron and others. The U.S. had 363 Squadron Europe, 475 Fighter Group (P 38s) USAAF Pacific, USN Jolly Rogers etc. The Western Allies elite squadrons didn't have as high of a kill count because they rotated their top pilots out to be flight instructors, test pilots etc.

[Macquarrie1999]

Does the AI optimize their pilot management in any way? I'm playing against the Japanese AI and as I don't want to gain unfair advantages against it I'm wondering if I should just leave my pilots on auto select or actively swap them.

Also, how many pilots do you guys use for your air groups in relation to the number of aircraft?

I usually just have enough pilots to fill all of the planes in the squadron plus the reserve planes. Good pilots are always in demand. I max out the training squadrons. There are probably more optimal ways to do it.

[Sardaukar]

As Allies, I use TRACOM to pool really good pilots there (for Allies, you don't really need training benefits of it like Japan, you won't run out of pilots).

That way, when I see where air combat really heats up, I can always prop up squadrons in that area with couple of "experten". That really helps to offset a bit early war IJNAF/IJAAF superior experience and skills.

Every restricted and permanently restricted squadron (especially in CONUS) if not needed for operations, use for training pilots. With fighters: Pull out replacement pilots into them (rookies) and after a while check those pilots. Send guys with exp 50+, air 60+, def 60+ to general pool. Rinse and repeat.