Most of the Captains you fly with are still using flip phones?
Well ok if you say so.

This article reflects a recent GAO report on pilot supply. Here's a link to the actual 61-page report.

U.S. GAO - Aviation Workforce: Current and Future Availability of Airline Pilots

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Pilot shortage could put strain on airline industry: report

By Phillip Swarts-The Washington Times Friday, February 28, 2014

The nation’s airline industry could be hitting some turbulence, according to a government report that found pilots might be in short supply.

“Recent industry forecasts indicate that the global aviation industry is poised for growth,” said a report Friday from the Government Accountability Office, Congress‘ watchdog arm. “However, stakeholders have voiced concerns that imminent retirements, fewer pilots exiting the military, and new rules increasing the number of flight hours required to become a first officer for an airline could result in a shortage of qualified airline pilots.”

Airline pilots enjoy a relatively low unemployment rate, but that may mean demand for pilots is starting to outstrip supply, the GAO said. Plus, their wages have fallen since a high in 2000, while flight school is becoming more expensive.

“Such costs deter individuals from pursuing a pilot career,” investigators said. “Pilot schools that GAO interviewed reported fewer students entering their programs resulting from concerns over the high costs of education and low entry-level pay at regional airlines.”

The largest problems are at those regional airlines, the GAO said. While larger companies hire more experienced pilots, regional airlines often must hire people who recently graduated from flight school.

“Nearly all of the regional airlines that GAO interviewed reported difficulties finding sufficient numbers of qualified entry-level first officers,” the report said.

Estimates place the current number of civilian pilots in the U.S. at about 70,000. Both the airline industry and the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics expect a need of between 1,900 and 4,500 new pilots per year over the next decade.

Some studies the GAO reviewed suggested there is an adequate supply of pilots, including those currently working overseas or in the military, or who might be in a non-flight-related job.

“However, whether these pilots choose to seek employment with U.S. airlines depends on the extent to which pilot job opportunities arise, and on the wages and benefits airlines offer,” investigators said.

The airline industry has been trying to improve recruiting and offer pilots greater incentives, but the GAO said many experts suggested that the Federal Aviation Administration could take action as well, including providing more financial aid or expanding the path to become a pilot.

The GAO said some groups have suggested that FAA allow hours spent in simulators to count for flight training, or more heavily weight the time pilots spend practicing flying large commercial carriers as opposed to small single-propeller planes.

“Such competency-based training for pilots is not new and focuses on the training outcome in terms of how well students perform rather than simply meeting specified numbers of training hours,” the GAO said. “Thus, training hours are replaced by sets of defined, measurable performance criteria.”

Investigators noted that the FAA is currently reviewing the requirements to earn a pilot’s license and whether they should be changed.

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC.

Anyone that uses ProDiem care to chime in? I got about $3600 in all domestic per diem last year and didn't know if anyone in a similar situation could post their ProDiem calculated amount.

Trying to figure out if it is going to be worth it to me.

Thanks.

2950 per diem/ 5800 Pro Diem calculated

DPA vs. DALPA; North vs. South; Hat vs. No Hat; Furlough recall vs. RJ new hire; Mainline vs. DCI; Pilot vs. ACS; Red vs. Blue; Fox vs. CNN;

So many opportunities to keep the conversation lively, but none that bring us together to make this job what it used to be.

My fun meter is pegged...

DPA has had over 2 yrs to get enough cards together and call for a vote. The condescending "tough guy" attitude is why so many aren't renewing those same cards. Time to bring it to a vote..

If DPA wins, I'll support the new representation. If DPA loses.. take off your DPA bag tag and get on board with the rest of us. Make your voice heard within DALPA. Let's not turn into the next AWA-USair-AMR debacle.

After all, it's about unity..right?

I had $3790 in per diem and ProDiem calculated $6981. Well worth the $50

Thanks for posting.

If our express carriers can not find pilots, how will they continue to perform ~ 40% of our flying? How can they attract pilots to Endeavor's contract?

IMHO the second these become "Delta" jobs, then our express operation becomes the most coveted opportunity in the industry. Delta could do away with the shell game, unify the flight operations, get rid of seven redundant corporate structures (and defacto separate fleets) and maintain a near status quo cost structure. That is the way forward.

Bar, if I was going to crystal ball it, that is exactly the way I see it playing out. The beginning of the long awaited shortage is here. That is unless Congress does something to screw it up.