Originally Posted by
Flying Ninja
Not sure what part of my post you disagree with. Hard to disagree with the fact that high school students come to the flight school who want to learn to fly but tells me they have no desire to be airline pilots because of the reasons I stated earlier.
I agree that there will always be people doing someone's job for less. But as far as entry level airline jobs, I think that number is declining in a big way; largely thanks to the Internet and social media.
When Captain Sullenberger made statements like these last week, I think the writing is already on the wall:
"This widespread perception, that jobs, entry level jobs at the regional carriers are not good ones, is deserved. And it's become more widely known. And I think to the extent there are people who are making other life choices for themselves and for their families, it's because of that. This is something that they have done to themselves, and it's easily reconcilable, if they simple offer starting wages and working conditions that would attract qualified candidates which are out there, but who are currently doing other things."
"Pilot passion will only carry you so far, the same as passion for any profession will. At some point, like everyone else, like all of us, we are going to want to be able to buy a car, or have a family, or eventually buy a house, and have a life. And we need to have a career path that's going to enable us to do that. That's why the regional airlines have had so much trouble, because they've been offering for so many years, a substandard set of wages and working conditions and to try to continue to make fit in the real world a broken economic model."
I just generally disagree that the situation will be fixed because H.S. students, young people, or anyone else will stop taking these jobs. I share your concern for this industry too, but feel that the underlying issue is really only fixed when we stand up as a whole and force our demands.
Captain Sullenberger says things like "it's easily reconcilable, if they simply offer starting wages and working conditions that would attract qualified candidates...". Right, but companies don't offer these things when they can hire people who don't demand them. And the fact that customers opt for cheap tickets, and management is pressured by investors and private equity doesn't help the cause.
Like I've said before, imagine if nobody showed up to work, or nobody took that job that doesn't pay enough. Maybe management would feel pressure to incentivize pilots, or bump up ticket costs and pass the resulting income burden onto consumers, like every other business must do to survive. Actions speak louder than words... and the latter is all we're doing here.