I have saved an article by Larry E. Nazimek titled, "'Qualified' The impending pilot shortage: Was there ever such an animal" written in 1992 for all these years. It's factual, humorous and has been proven to be true since he wrote the article.

I have scoured the internet looking for it, it was in the old "Air Transport" magazine, but I can't find it anywhere.

When I began my aviation training in 1979, there was talk of an impending pilot shortage. I think we had a little shortage around 10 years ago, but other than that, I've been holding my breath for the alleged shortage.

It's too late for me, but I truly hope that one day pilots will get paid what they deserve, Captain's authority will stop degrading, someone either comes out with a CRM class that does anything or just gives up and that Human Resources one day stops running Flight Ops.

If we get iPads, that will be the singular improvement I have seen in my 30 year aviation career (all the new avionics are nice but I wonder if we have lost a certain amount of pure flying skills and decision making with all the automation). Every aspect of aviation has been a long, slow slide towards the bottom. I hope for all of you young folks that it turns around one day.

I do support ATP minimums to fly in any seat of a jet, I'd even go as far as ATP for any seat in a turbo-prop that requires 2 pilots (not by Company policy but by the regs).

Best of luck guys.