jonnyjetprop

I can't see a time when Delta, American, UPS and FedEx will be hurting to find a pilot or two.

I can easily see were Colgan and Mesa will.

__________________
America- Where we privatize gains and socialize loses

freightdawg

Nu - A very good point, and probably a better metric.

OK, everybody, yes, the 40,000 number is very high, but I'm trying to make a point. First off, drop the "when I was instructing, more were in it for fun" line. Even ten years ago, that was true, but not now. Fewer and fewer of the part 61 operations survive, and the percentages of graduates versus starts is far lower than the Part 141 mills. By paying the tuition at, say, ATP - you WILL get the rating, come h___ or high water.

Let's say 80% of the student starts drop out - high, but not unreal. That's still 8,000 people a year - about 13% of the available jobs. We're still looking at a continuous, massive oversupply.

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but let's be rational and reasonable here. I wish the best for anyone getting into this today, but we're swamped - it's gonna be tough for a long time.

freightdawg

Yes, pagey, I tend to read and digest more than spout. If you don't like those numbers, cite an alternative.

There's enough insanity in this job already.

20sx

It felt like a shortage to me in 2006-2007. Regionals had good movement, the majors were hiring. If we can get back to there, that's all the pilot shortage I need.

gipple

There has been a pilot shortage since about 1985.............................




According to Kit Darby

AtlCSIP

I have been involved in approximately 30 checkrides in the past couple of years. Two of those were private pilot candidates. Of these other students, only four were pursuing aviation as a career. Two were already employed at Part 135 operators, and the other two of them were from India. Most of the commercial pilot candidates I've trained recently, single and twin, were doing it to make them a better pilot.