Originally Posted by
Gunga Din
Looks like the pilot shortage is over before it began.
So much for using that as a tool to force wages higher.
"Despite forcefully held opinions by industry groups on both sides, FAA data suggests an ample supply of pilots is in the pipeline. FAA statistics on the number of Airline Transport Pilots (ATPs) over the age of 55 predicts future retirements of roughly 4,200 pilots per year over the next decade. Since 2011, the FAA reports an average of 7,200 new ATP certificates have been issued annually."
I believe that the vast majority of those ATPs were issued to already first officers at the airlines as part of the new ATP-rule that came into effect on August 2013 which required all Part 121 first officers to hold ATP by that date.
Pilot shortage still exists and will get worse. The day it stops will be the day I stop receiving e-mails every other day from regional airlines to call and schedule an interview (even if I never applied there) not to mention the high signing bonuses....