Often what we hear or read in the popular press is widely divergent from reality.
If we cut the number of pilots in half today, salaries would be higher tomorrow. There has never been a shortage of pilots, there has been a shortage of high paying pilot jobs and seeking those jobs will always be a highly competitive pursuit.

so thats how guys could afford airplanes, boats, two houses, three kids, three wives, two girlfriends and cool cars. WOW!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Shack!

So, back in 1978, a Captain could buy a new Cadillac every month. Now, a Captain can buy a 1978 Cadillac every month:cool:

So what was the supply vs. demand back in the late 70's and early 80's. ?

Blogging at FL250: About That Pilot Shortage...

The late '70s were fed a very large supply of highly qualified pilots from the winding down of the war, it is evident that despite a few hiring booms in the past few decades there has also been a string of furloughs and failures.
Pilot supply shortage has never been a significant factor-filling the available pilot seats was never a problem.

The real problem was an industry that is subject to cycles of boom and bust, driven into a highly competitive maket with razor thin profit margins and limited ability to adjust to fluctuating demand without going bankrupt. Add a nearly lunatic pricing model and you can see why so many airlines get swept away on the turn of the tide.

ROFL , at least someone in here is catching on :)



Ally

Certainly not by splintering into a bunch of independent unions, each going our own way.

What happens at one airline affects us all eventually, both up and down.

We need the strength of a national union with strong international relationships, we need to get every airline pilot onboard. We need to support each other by pooling our resources, sharing lessons learned, establishing national and now international strategies (joint venture protocols) to protect and elevate this profession. We need to pool our influence in every governing body, financial institution and organization which impacts our industry. We as individual pilots must become activist for our profession, and not just rely on the very few who volunteer or contribute to ALPA-PAC.


It's only by pooling our resources, establishing higher standards in all aspects of our professional lives and becoming activist that we can turn this around.

The first challenge is to reject apathy and cynism and get involved in your career.

Here's an easy first step, if you're a Delta pilot, there are two "Call to Action" campaigns on the Delta Pilot Website (just click on the American Flag), take a few minutes, click on the link and do something for your profession today. Make it a habit. If you work for another airline you might have a similar link.

Your next step, after writing your Congressman and Senators should be to click on the "5 Ways to BACK the Pac" link and join ALPA-PAC.

Enough with the excuses already.

Reroute, they even have form letters for ya if you are lazy! :D

For the last thirty years pumping your money or concern to a bunch of buffoons has not done a bit of good by any real measure.
Just as they have abandoned what is best for the country, any effort to support them will result in a lower standard of living.

Make it a habit to vote them all out until they quit stealing your prosperity.