Originally Posted by
snippercr
-There never has been a pilot shortage and there never will be a pilot shortage.
-The flight schools have been touting this pilot shortage since 1903 and there never has been one.
-The only shortage will be of qualified pilots willing to work at or below minimum wage.
There! I think that just about sums up the usual APC replies to the taboo "Pilot Shortage." Otherwise nothing really new in that article: Mandatory retirement at age 65 in December (2012!), fewer pilots in training due to lack of financing, fewer military pilots going commercial, etc. Also as I understood it, all eagle pilots have been recalled and they have been hiring non-stop for almost a year now. Maybe aged information?
I'm a big cynic as well...but you can't argue the numbers...it is coming, and raising Age 65 again won't change it as guys will simply start "kicking the bucket." Old predictions of a "shortage" were based on massive growth. This time, guys will really start retiring in droves and/or croak.
The cynic in me is more concerned about the FAA's response...Multi-crew license, foreign work visa's etc...