Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Yes. The shortage at the entry level is more due to faster movement, plus some generational issues, ie some millenials not interested in a job with dues up front, no dope allowed, rough schedules, dress codes, etc.
There is probably a slim segment of potential entry level pilots who would go for it if they could skip the whole CFI drill and go right to an RJ, but I think that's a small sliver of the demographic, ie re-instating 250 hour airline pilots would not make any significant difference.
The biggest barriers are cost of entry, ie training and also opportunity cost for career-changers. The fastest "fix" would be airlines funding flight training, and I think that's probably coming before too long. If they fund it (maybe all, but probably partial) they can call the tune, ie CFI at their academy and the fly for their regional.
Spot on. I'd also add that the military recruits are filling the gap and keeping our classes full. Apparently army,navy and air force are all in damage control mode over rampant attrition and many of those aviators are coming here for recency and to check the 121 box. CRJ FOs are getting base of choice within 3 months so it's a no brainer why someone would come here over the alternatives. All we hear is republic and skywest and endeavor classes are full but howabout everywhere else. Without industry wide data it's impossible to gauge whether or not their is a supply issue; as it certainly seems there is none at skywest.