Originally Posted by
macflyer
And if you want to believe in the "attrition" theory, well dont waste your time. If push comes to shove, they will just start a "Cadet" program and do away with attrition problems. After all its a lot cheaper for them to pay from someone's training at cost then to increase pay and QOL.
British Airways, Luftansa, and a lot of the Chinese Airlines already have the cadet programs and they are making much, much more than a US pilot. Sadly, it is the huge demand internationally that will push the US airlines to be more competitive if there is a shortage. I know a lot of pilots that fly for JAL and commute home and have a pretty decent QOL and a good income.
We have never experienced a true pilot shortage or we may have seen a cadet program. I think that they would be weary of one simply for liability reasons. If anything happens and the FO has 300 hours and is sitting right seat in a 757, not going to sit well.