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Additionally, pilots are required to have a certain number of flight hours per year to maintain their proficiency ratings. Here, we would initially deploy active duty pilots during the search and rescue phase (even to "rescue" a still signaling black box before its battery dies). Later, as the mission transitions to from search & rescue to search & recovery, the ongoing mission would fall to Reserve and National Guard pilots who's crews need proficiency flight time. It's better than having them flying around for no reason other than punching the clock; however, it still has to be done so associated costs wouldn't be redirected elsewhere anyway.
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