Around the World: Australia

Army wants civilian pilots

Australia's air force hopes to borrow pilots from civilian airlines, including flag carrier Qantas, to contain personnel shortages that have also seen much of the country's navy sent on holidays, the government said.

The military would soon accept new tanker and early warning radar aircraft based on civilian aircraft and wanted a pool of reserve pilots and crew among commercial airlines to help fly them, Defense Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon said.