Ahh thanks for that mommy, now that we all know where you stand on the subject I'll be able to sleep through the night!

 

It was only a few years ago that much of the focus from Legacy airline pilots on APC concerned scabs. You could tell that guys like "Kill Bill" would punch his keys as he tore into the subject.

Here it is only a few years later and who is the scab now? The legacy airlines ripped the guts out of their pilot contract yet there were no mass defections. The pilots probably wisely realized that at even half their former wage it is still better than anything they could find on the outside as a pilot.

The dream is dead yet still they come. 8000 plus per year eagerly willing to put their lives into the wood chipper that is a career as an airline pilot. There is no shortage of those who are willing to delude themselves.

To me aviation seems to draw Peter Pan types. Those who do not really want to grow up. They fantasize about having fun career that is divorced from the daily grind so that they can stay a kid forever. It seems as though the market has noticed by working to provide a play wage to go with it.

The benefits of being an airline pilot are going away yet still they come. There is no pilot shortage.

Skyhigh

 

Same old message from the man himself, Skyhigh. It's nice to see your consistent in your disgust for our profession Sky. I can only hope that one day you will realize what a blessing you have been to us all.

 

In short there is a shortage of qualified applicants. After quizzing recruiters at recent job fairs, they have had to set out on the road actively searching for qualified applicants as the electronic process is not currently meeting their criteria. This method, among others ensuring they don't spend $30K on you to wash out of sim training.

 

You may be right, but the key term is "qualified applicants". The supposed "pilot shortage" will only result in the lowering of applicant qualifications to fill seats, and a resultant lowering of QOL/pay.

 

Don't take this personal but who is actively searching for qualified applicants????? Seriously regionals don't count.

A sh!t job in the middle east/africa/asia does not constitute a shortage in my book.

 

BrianB,

I have been wondering what you have been up to lately.

Skyhigh

 

Wow.

Really?, I was qualified enough to fly at United yet no one has sought me out to fill the void that is currently due to the rumored pilot shortage.

Perhaps it's my problem that I expect to be paid a livable wage where I can support a familiy and have at a minimum a meager quality of life.

There are plenty of qualified pilots out here, just not enough reasonably compensated career positions available.

WHEN "MAINLINE" AIRLINES HAVE TO PARK PLANES AND CANCEL FLIGHTS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PROPERLY STAFF THE COCKPITS, THEN THERE WILL BE A PILOT SHORTAGE.

 

Sky is just bitter because his wife threatened to divorce him if he didn't find a job that made more money than a regional FO. He comes here to try and validate his decision as therapy. A quitter in a sea of people driven to succeed. His bitterness is painfully obvious.

And you're right sky, I did chase my childhood dream. Not only do iget paid very well to fly but I get to own my own little hotrod with wings on the side.

 

It is all a matter of perspective. My dream was to have a better life with my family. In that regard I definitely have achieved my goal outside of aviation. Others here also want more control over their days and a better return on their investment. They desire financial independence and the opportunities that a well funded life can afford.

Some however are best served by living the solitary life of an airline pilot and only need mailman wages to support themselves. Good for them. Aviation was supposed to be a rewarding career that would help me to reach my goals and not the hindrance it became.

Skyhigh