Is there any reason not to turn on elite pilot training

[186product]

I usually use elite pilot training because having veteran or expert level squadrons at the start of a war is an obvious advantage, but I've never noticed a down side. It doesn't seem to increase cost, slow down experience gain, or limit replacement of losses. All the manual says is "Carrier trained air units cannot number more than 120% of the air capacity of existing carriers in peacetime or 150% in wartime. This is reduced to 110% if using elite pilot training." What exactly does it do, and is there any other reason I shouldn't use it?

[seawolf]

Besides the ~9% loss in peacetime training capacity, my understanding is that when elite training is selected, airgroups gain/recover experience slower in wartime. This models the Japanese WWII aviation doctrine, where the failure to rotate experienced pilots home(keeping your "elite" pilots in action) led to a less than efficient training scheme for new pilots. I'm not sure of how great this effect is, though.

Overall, I'd put elite pilot training on if you're confident of low losses from both air combat and AA fire. It also helps to consider whether you have most of your squadrons active currently, because if you have many squadrons in reserve(or plan to create new ones when war breaks out) they will gain experience more slowly when activated under this doctrine.

[186product]

I'm not sure I've ever taken really heavy air losses, at least heavy enough to notice a significant drop in experience level. I always seem to shoot down the ai at a much higher rate, usually 1.5 or 2 to 1. I always have my CV squadrons on active cause they don't seem to gain exp beyond fair in reserve.