There IS a massive pilot shortage outside of the USA. My company can't find enough "qualified" applicants and has been lowering requirements continually over the last two years. Pay on offer at foreign airlines that hire expats has been increasing over the last two years. My company has raised rates over 30% in that time to try to lure more applicants.

Recalls at U.S. majors will be completed late this year or early next and then the retirement wave starts kicking in (could be delayed a few years with age 65). Then there will be good movement from regionals to majors in the USA.

Boeing Commercial Aircraft Group is somewhat concerned about the number of qualified instructors to do the necessary training for their upcoming 787 deliveries. Alteon can't find enough 777 qualified instructors to meet my company's needs now.

So Sky, go to Alteon and get a job as a 757/767 instructor or something. Starting pay for a full time position there is around $6500/month. Not the low level of a U.S. regional. That will get you current and in the arena where you can network with companies that need pilots.

Same problem I had with Alaska. Some prick from the Navy didn't like my brother for busting him on a Navy checkride so he kept me from getting an interview. Of course the fact that I almost slugged him at the World Airline Ski Championships in 1992 didn't help either


Typhoonpilot

 

I greatly appreciate your kind comments however who honestly would snap me up? Mesa perhaps? I suppose I could drag my family to another counrty but what really would that buy me besides maybe some savings?

In order to be competitive at one of the better companies I would have to get in line at a regional and hope for a RJ captain slot before I needed a cane. Even then it would only buy me the right to fill out an application at a major. Most of my peers at Horizon Air are still there clawing at the walls to get out. As far as I know most have never even gotten an interview at a better major.

If I were to apply I am sure that Skywest, Mesa and perhaps even Allegaint would give me a second look but none of those companies pay enough to support a family and would not be worth even the cost of the move let alone the hardship it would cause.

I am at a stage in my life where I need a job to pay a real wage. My family and I need more than thin promises and hope. Sure I could get another flying job but there are no companies that I am eligible for that can provide for even a few of my needs.


SKyHigh

 

Thank you for the tip. I have considered Alteon and might give them a resume. The long periods of time away would most likely be a factor that would put me out of he running though.

I am sure that there will be more flying jobs in the future however it seems that they will be coming with a huge price tag like low wages or life overseas. As a father and husband the happiness and security of my family is paramount. In order to preserve my flying career I need a job in the Northwest US that has at least the promise of paying a good wage one day.

Alaska Airlines would have satisfied those needs nicely.

SkyHigh

 

Being single with as much of a fancy as I have for flying, no hard limits on salary, location or anything else, I am still very unlikely to embark on a flying career given the things I read on here. Let the working conditions and salary come up first, is my reaction.

It appears that a lot of able-bodied persons who like to fly drives up the supply of pilots. There was a time when no regionals existed and the majors were staffed mostly by ex-military pilots. This is not the case any more, and it still appears to me the industry is overrun by persons interested in aviation at just about any price.

 

smart man. the glory is gone,,,,...so is the ca$h

 

They've hired a fair amount of Lakers lately, without recommendations, without any jet time, and without the type.

 

Legally, an employer can not ask you your age. Good luck in the hunt.

 

That may be, but they can find it elsewhere...and they WILL take it into account.

 

Skywest is right. Right now there is no shortage of qualified (minimally) pilots. There is a shortage of qualified pilots willing to work for peanuts and diet cokes. Hopefully this will change, but the various managements will resist to the last day before cancelling flights. Copilots and FE's on charter and cargo 727s in the late '80s made as much or more money and had more time off than lots of regional captains do now. It's almost laughable to hear the excuses the regional managers are making about why they can't find help. All they have to do is up the pay and lifestyle, and they'll have plenty of better qualified pilots....the problem is that the majors that contract these regionals won't pay them more until THEY start losing flights...and there's always somebody ready to lose money to get a contract.

 

They may not be able to ask your age, but I would bet $ they can come within 3 - 5 years from the years and work experience that's on your resume.