Worsening Pilot Shortage
#71
There's a reason that base salaries for Airbus captains in China have risen from about $10K/month to $22.5K/month, in less than 10 years.
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
#72
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Position: Cloud surfing
Posts: 492
There's a reason that base salaries for Airbus captains in China have risen from about $10K/month to $22.5K/month, in less than 10 years.
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
#73
There's a reason that base salaries for Airbus captains in China have risen from about $10K/month to $22.5K/month, in less than 10 years.
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
There's a reason that EK has hired tonnes of RJ pilots.
There's a reason that Qatar is hiring Direct Entry Captains.
There's a reason that Russia is now allowing US licensed pilots to fly for it's airlines.
There's a reason that some American/Euro pilots are starting to leave the ME and China in large numbers, to return to flying jobs in their home areas.
There's a reason that the regionals are hurting.
There's a reason that airlines like Atlas and DAL/UAL/AA are having guys call in and turn down class dates for them.
Too many pilots is not one of them!
I'm curious who is turning down class dates at Atlas, Delta, United and AA...I'd bet those are very few and far between, and if they are turning down a class date its because they got a *gasp* better offer.
#75
Just read that Emirates had a "Roadshow" (pilot recruitment event) in Singapore, and not a single pilot turned up...they used to have a lot of pilots at almost all their roadshows....also said they had another in South Africa?...where all of the pilots EK were targeting...none of them showed up...they only got pilots that were not the type EK was looking for.
Another poster said EK needs 500+ pilots by the end of 2014, and they don't think they will make their recruiting goal.
China FIRST OFFICER Positions (plus Captain positions):
In still another post, saw that China and Taiwan-based Chinese airlines are currently looking for overseas First Officers (and Captains...Dash 8, 737-800, 747, 757, 767, A-320/-340, MD-80, C-130)....that is the first I had heard of FO hiring there.
5 weeks on/5 weeks off (sure you could live there, or have other commuting schedules)
pilots needed within 30 days.
The ONLY foreign FO hiring I EVER heard of in China was a few for 747 FOs, and that was only a few here and there.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fo...vacancies.html
Another poster said EK needs 500+ pilots by the end of 2014, and they don't think they will make their recruiting goal.
China FIRST OFFICER Positions (plus Captain positions):
In still another post, saw that China and Taiwan-based Chinese airlines are currently looking for overseas First Officers (and Captains...Dash 8, 737-800, 747, 757, 767, A-320/-340, MD-80, C-130)....that is the first I had heard of FO hiring there.
5 weeks on/5 weeks off (sure you could live there, or have other commuting schedules)
pilots needed within 30 days.
The ONLY foreign FO hiring I EVER heard of in China was a few for 747 FOs, and that was only a few here and there.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/fo...vacancies.html
#77
...Those charts are COMPLETELY misleading. You need to look at NEWLY licensed pilots...not existing.
... Many flight schools are filled to the brim with foreign cadet pilots. Do you think a chinese pilot, with no green card, and his training paid for by China Southern will be applying at DAL anytime soon???
#78
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Position: Square root of the variance and average of the variation
Posts: 1,602
The argument has been made that there's lots of inactive ATPs willing to come back if the pay and QOL was right. The problem is, a person can sit on the sidelines and wait for it (and it may never come) or at some point get back in the pool and take the hit.
At age 44, I had to jump back in the pool even though the water was cold. What's the alternative? The inactive ATPs are slowly realizing it's now or never and many I know are coming back and grunting it out. The last place I wanted to go was a regional at 26K a year. But without recency there's few choices.
At age 44, I had to jump back in the pool even though the water was cold. What's the alternative? The inactive ATPs are slowly realizing it's now or never and many I know are coming back and grunting it out. The last place I wanted to go was a regional at 26K a year. But without recency there's few choices.
#79
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,425
Not many people have the experience required to go to China and be in command of an Airbus. The amount of pilots worldwide that meet that requirement is pretty small, vs. someone requiring a CL-65 or EMB-145, 170/190 type.
The Chinese medical is insanely hard, I have had two close friends go over there and two others I've known that didn't make it past the interview.
The pay is OK but you put up with a lot. It's not the US over there. I would gladly make $100k less and be able to stay in the US.
Same with the ME airlines, from an RJ seat they look nice but do a little research. Again, those airlines are extremely selective, it's not like they are coming to US hubs and staging recruiting sessions picking up guys left and right. Then factor in living in a "compound" in the desert surrounded by...desert...and many US enemies. You can't go four wheeling, skiing, fishing, boating, etc. on your time off like in the states. You basically fly and live at "home".
Back in 2005-2008 time frame my own commuter lost just under 20% of its work force annually to attrition, and the movement was QUICK back then. NWA, UAL, DAL, US were all hiring as well as SWA and Spirit expanding like crazy. The movement is about half there as it was 8 years ago currently.
The Chinese medical is insanely hard, I have had two close friends go over there and two others I've known that didn't make it past the interview.
The pay is OK but you put up with a lot. It's not the US over there. I would gladly make $100k less and be able to stay in the US.
Same with the ME airlines, from an RJ seat they look nice but do a little research. Again, those airlines are extremely selective, it's not like they are coming to US hubs and staging recruiting sessions picking up guys left and right. Then factor in living in a "compound" in the desert surrounded by...desert...and many US enemies. You can't go four wheeling, skiing, fishing, boating, etc. on your time off like in the states. You basically fly and live at "home".
Back in 2005-2008 time frame my own commuter lost just under 20% of its work force annually to attrition, and the movement was QUICK back then. NWA, UAL, DAL, US were all hiring as well as SWA and Spirit expanding like crazy. The movement is about half there as it was 8 years ago currently.
#80
AOPAs single largest concern is flight training starts and certificate completions. It really is a base level concern. GA flying hours down, the costs of everything from regular MX to engine overhauls goes up due to volume inefficiencies. Look at the price of a gallon of AVgas. How much is a C172 rental at your local FBO? This is about the money, or lack of it. Price the 0-to commercial package at AllATP, then add 1250 more hours to complete the picture. In today's economy who has that kind of cash, because banks nor the federal government aren't loaning nor guaranteeing aviation training loans.
This industry has spent the last 60 years exploiting pilots and it finally is reaping what it has sown.
If you want to look at most regional newhire classes that will tell the story, recycled pilots from other regionals is just shuffling of the deck not adding to the count overall. Want the truth, follow the money trail. The regional industry will eat itself from the sphincter in and when that is complete, the majors will have their bite at the poo sandwich. The truth of the matter is, pilots are highly trained machine operators, with a lead time involved for the training. Airplanes are expensive and even more expensive when they aren't flying. I was around for the Kit Darby years and have been in the airline industry since, these are different times, vastly different. The cost of GA and training is the primary difference.
This industry has spent the last 60 years exploiting pilots and it finally is reaping what it has sown.
If you want to look at most regional newhire classes that will tell the story, recycled pilots from other regionals is just shuffling of the deck not adding to the count overall. Want the truth, follow the money trail. The regional industry will eat itself from the sphincter in and when that is complete, the majors will have their bite at the poo sandwich. The truth of the matter is, pilots are highly trained machine operators, with a lead time involved for the training. Airplanes are expensive and even more expensive when they aren't flying. I was around for the Kit Darby years and have been in the airline industry since, these are different times, vastly different. The cost of GA and training is the primary difference.
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