Originally Posted by
sulkair
Eventually, if the most dire pilot shortage forecasts are truly realized, won't companies and regulators be forced to create pilot farms? Won't they change the laws?
If China/Asia gets serious about their pilot shortage, we might be in for H1B visa candidates coming this way, as opposed to today where the flow of pilots goes the other way. Think of all the foreign doctors and IT workers we have in America. I know pilot training overseas is expensive right now, but that can change. China is an expert in doing all things cheaply and profiting.
Originally Posted by
sulkair
And finally, just so I'm getting all this right... Are we pilots accepting the pilot shortage myth now as truth? Or are we still rejecting it? I'm just so confused
I think we are. And I say that based on a curious statement from ALPA the other day. I'm paraphrasing here but something along the lines of "while there is no current pilot shortage today, if something isn't done to attract pilots there will be a pilot shortage in the future". For all intents and purposes I believe even ALPA can no longer deny there is a pilot shortage. Today its a shortage of pilots who are not willing to work for what the regional airlines want to pay, but tomorrow it will be a real pilot shortage because what's happening today does nothing to put people in the pipeline for tomorrow. The store is empty, but its hard to see that because your cupboard still has cans in it.