But since many aspiring aerial rambos are discovering that 6 months requalification sorties are required at their own expense (and on their days off), the program has lost a lot of steam. Carriers are neither arranging nor reimbursing participants' transportation, lodging and meal expenses for such "recurrent training," nor for the initial one week course.
Add to that the overall weapon's usage restrictions and the very cumbersome requirements of carriage and control to the cockpit, in the cockpit and from the cockpit, (in addition to flying duties) and it makes the entire program impractical reality for most but a few die hard gun fanatics.
