KLM Pilots Fly F-35s as Reservists in Dutch Defense Deal

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has reached an agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Defense that allows a group of the carrier’s pilots to serve as reservists flying Royal Netherlands Air Force fighters, including the F-35. The arrangement, disclosed on Monday, marks the first time commercial pilots will formally alternate between civilian passenger services and front-line military duties. The program will start with the equivalent of five full-time positions, distributed across several volunteers who previously flew for the Air Force before joining KLM. While on reserve duty, the pilots will keep their airline jobs, enabling them to maintain proficiency in both civil and combat aircraft. Defense officials said the initiative is aimed at easing chronic staffing shortages that have seen roughly half of Dutch military pilots move to commercial airlines in recent years. Demissionary State Secretary of Defense Christophe Tuinman called the deal “a step toward closer cooperation that strengthens the country’s resilience,” softening tensions after he earlier accused KLM of luring away military aviators with higher pay. The parties are also studying whether technicians and other ground personnel can take on similar reserve roles, expanding cooperation beyond cockpit duties to maintenance and logistics.