Laughlin reinvents pilot production with rapid crew swaps
U.S. Air Force Capt. Eric Maltz, 434th Flying Training Squadron, instructor pilot, left, discusses the pre-flight checklist with U.S. Air Force Capt. Garrett Sheehan, 41st Flying Training Squadron, instructor pilot, right, during Rapid Crew Swap operations at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 29, 2026. Laughlin Air Force Base functions as the proving ground for Rapid Crew Swap procedures, allowing pilots from other undergraduate pilot training bases to gain firsthand experience with the updated training construct. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Harrison Sullivan)