Originally Posted by
Utah
LOL.
Block hours for January are under 100k. Last January over 135K. Last March was over 144K. We've got enough flying right now for around 3500 pilots. The only thing that's keeping over 5000 employed is reduced line values, 67 hour reserve lines, and a number of pilots out on LOAs. During normal times nearly 10% of the pilot group is doing some sort of new hire, transition, or upgrade training, or on the way out the door to a new job. Obviously without that happening, and most of the instructors back to flying, we're extremely well staffed.
And that less than 100k block hours for next month is being done with aircraft flown around with less than 70% of the seats filled.
I don't disagree with the things you stated, but when all this started, things were looking VERY bleak. Since then we have flown more block hours pretty much every month than they thought we were going to, and it seems like things may be spooling back up for us faster than anticipated. Maybe I am completely wrong, won't be the first time, and won't be the last. Hoping for a little positive news going into 2021. Let's face it, 2020 sucked and covid caused major issues for so many within the industry. For me personally pay has been down (but at least I am employed, several of my friends that are also pilots are not so lucky), my dog died (not covid related), and my father in law nearly died from covid but when things were at the worst his condition started improving and he pulled through.
So here's to hoping that 2021 is better and these pilots get to come back to class sooner rather than later.