The Air Force has reportedly signed an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to explore the possibility of harnessing the power of waves off of Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central California coast to generate large amounts of electricity. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Dec. 12 that the company aims to launch a three-year study of the proposed wave-power project, which, if approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, could one day generate up to 100 megawatts of electricity. The coastal area around Vandenberg is considered attractive for power generation since the waters swell from different directions, according to the Chronicle. Wave-power systems normally consist of buoys on the water’s surface that generate electricity as they bob up and down.
Fixing the Air Force’s chronic combat pilot shortage will require more aircraft in the fleet, more flying hours to squadron operations, and retaining more pilots within Reserve components, according to a new paper from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.