The airlines are creating the Pilot Shortage
06-24-2012, 10:38 AM
#11
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And for those naive pilots that think they can impress a girl when they say "I'm an airline pilot". I had a girl tell me she heard airline pilots dont make alot, it was hard to argue with her, she obviously did her research. 
06-24-2012, 10:58 AM
#12
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And for those naive pilots that think they can impress a girl when they say "I'm an airline pilot". I had a girl tell me she heard airline pilots dont make alot, it was hard to argue with her, she obviously did her research.
06-24-2012, 11:07 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by DeltaBravo
No Shortage is on the horizon...IMHO...I think the airlines will get relief from the Aug 2013 deadline. Business is business...the gov't will not let an artificial shortage happen in one of our most important forms of transportation. Low pay has never stopped pilots from applying and accepting low ball offers. Management has long figured out that pilots love to fly and will accept just about any working conditions and abuse in order to their SJS fix.
06-24-2012, 11:11 AM
#15
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Originally Posted by DashGirl
I think some of the properties are going to have major issues once all their F/O's get their ATPs. I know at PDT a year from now they are going to have a very serious staffing problem. Once ATP'd they will leave in droves for the legacies, cargo and fractionals.
06-24-2012, 11:25 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by Tempest
It seems like everyday I get more proof that the Regional airlines are creating their own Pilot shortage. With FO pay so low nobody can justify becoming an airline pilot anymore.
Just the other day my buddy told me he has no motivation to become an airline pilot since it would require him to take a pay cut possibly for the next 6-10 years before he starts making the money he's making now $72,000+ a year. It would also take time away from his side business of fixing up old cars and selling them.
What makes this even more mind blowing to me is that it won't cost him any money for flight training since he has Post 9/11 VA benefits that pay 100% of the flight training to become a Commercial pilot.
He can become a commercial pilot for free and still won't touch it with a ten foot pole.
I have a couple of other friends and former coworkers that have quit the business altogether, but I guess the bright side to that is 3 less resumes on the hiring manger's desk that I have to compete against.
Just the other day my buddy told me he has no motivation to become an airline pilot since it would require him to take a pay cut possibly for the next 6-10 years before he starts making the money he's making now $72,000+ a year. It would also take time away from his side business of fixing up old cars and selling them.
What makes this even more mind blowing to me is that it won't cost him any money for flight training since he has Post 9/11 VA benefits that pay 100% of the flight training to become a Commercial pilot.
He can become a commercial pilot for free and still won't touch it with a ten foot pole.
I have a couple of other friends and former coworkers that have quit the business altogether, but I guess the bright side to that is 3 less resumes on the hiring manger's desk that I have to compete against.
If, at some point, the supply of available and qualified pilots becomes less than the demand, pay will have to increase, period. It's the only way to attract more pilots to the airlines.
The ATP requirement reduces the number of qualified pilots.
The economy and lack of available credit for training has decreased the number of qualified pilots.
The new rest time regs will increase the demand.
The upcoming retirements will increase demand.
An improving economy and/or increase in overall air travel will increase demand.
This is all well and good, but of course many factors could change the equation. A faltering economy, for one. Relief from new rules. Another increase in retirement age. Another terrorist incident. A wave of new TA's reducing overall airframes and therefore demand for pilots...
So who knows? The hope is that at some point, the equation reaches a tipping point where the only feasible option for the airlines will be, for the first time EVER, to ACTUALLY COMPETE for skilled labor through pay and benefits, just like every other non-governmental company on the planet. Wouldn't that be something?
06-24-2012, 12:29 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by Tempest
It seems like everyday I get more proof that the Regional airlines are creating their own Pilot shortage. With FO pay so low nobody can justify becoming an airline pilot anymore.
06-24-2012, 01:05 PM
#20
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Position: left seat regional
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Its a pretty messed up situation. In the past 135 companies had a tough time keeping people around and now I feel its reversed. After 3.5 years at my company I cleared almost 50K for the year and still get small raises every 6 months. I usually only work 5-6 hour days and I"m home every day with weekends and holidays off. I can't fathom going to a regional for a substantial paycut with a drastic change in QOL and not seeing more than what I'm making now until a captian upgrade which looks like 5-10 years at a lot of places.
The big downfall where I"m at is we don't have turbine equipment which makes taking a big step up a lot harder. For now I enjoy going to work and respect who I work for and work with. I'm ok taking 50K flying a Navaho vs. 25K for an E175 or CRJ-700. Unless I saw fast upgrades or massive pay raises I can't justify leaving home for 18-20 days a month just to commute and fly a shiny jet.
I got tired of putting my life on hold for an aviaion career so I bought a house and I"m starting a family. If better options don't present themselves when I"m lacking the turbine time I'll probably leave the industry. For now I'm happy where I"m at and even small 135 outfits have competitive job security with the airlines. Remember to make your job what you do and not who you are.
The big downfall where I"m at is we don't have turbine equipment which makes taking a big step up a lot harder. For now I enjoy going to work and respect who I work for and work with. I'm ok taking 50K flying a Navaho vs. 25K for an E175 or CRJ-700. Unless I saw fast upgrades or massive pay raises I can't justify leaving home for 18-20 days a month just to commute and fly a shiny jet.
I got tired of putting my life on hold for an aviaion career so I bought a house and I"m starting a family. If better options don't present themselves when I"m lacking the turbine time I'll probably leave the industry. For now I'm happy where I"m at and even small 135 outfits have competitive job security with the airlines. Remember to make your job what you do and not who you are.
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