April 5, 2012:
The UAE (United Arab Emirates) Air Force is trying to recruit an Australian Air Force fighter pilot to be a flight instructor. The oil-rich Arab Gulf States are constantly recruiting Western military pilots and maintenance specialists to keep their hundreds of Western warplanes, and their locally recruited pilots, operational and ready for combat. For some reason Australians have become popular for this work, and the UAE is looking for one good pilot willing to spend a few years working in the Gulf (for about $200,000 a year plus benefits). The Australian Air Force is not worried about losing one pilot but if the Arabs came after a large number, the situation could turn testy.