October 25, 2007: The South Korea Air Force is
having problems with its maintenance personnel. So far this year, its F-16s
have had a readiness (for action) rate of only 60 percent. Its new F-15s had a
readiness rate of 70 percent. These rates should be 80 percent or higher. The
F-16s in particular had problems with their engines, and one aircraft was lost
for that reason last February. American suppliers of aircraft components
complain that South Korea maintenance personnel don't always apply fixes, or
pull defective or worn parts when they are supposed to. Korean airlines have
had similar problems with their aircraft maintainers. Some attribute this to
the fact that South Korea has gone from a largely agricultural society, to a
very high tech one, in just two generations. Not all South Koreans have caught
up with the new habits required to do well in a culture dependent on advanced
technology, rather than ancient agricultural methods. South Korea still has a
problem in finding enough qualified people for all the high tech jobs their
economy is creating. The military, which is 75 percent career troops, has a
particular problem in competing with civilian jobs for technically skilled
personnel. The civilian firms pay better, and don't have all the hassles and
restrictions of military life.
