Not to pick a fight with Bellanca; though I had to chime in as I have an issue with grouping a 310 with a Seminole or Duchess... I'd take a good 310 driver any day. The others mentioned are trainer twins and overall don't really compare.

 

Well... Most of the flight schools I know of have slowed way down. I don't think there will ever be a real pilot shortage because of the likelihood of another recession or the outbreak of major conflict in the Middle East. Those are more realistic than saying there are still a ton of 200 hour wonders being pumped out of these pilot mills.

 

For a good6 years now, on the domestic side of things, I would have to say yes, there is a reduction of actual person's that are going into the big name pilot mills. Even in the smaller school's and fbo's I could only imagine the reduction of flow of domestic students.

As for the international side of things.. I can say the current institution I work, we are pumping those guys and gals out on the regular. Now I'm not real big on the whole economic side of things in the world, but quite simply people in Europe are doing something right as opposed as to what we're doing here in the states.

It's still looked at as a prestigious career according to my students with good benefits and great pay.

Now I don't wish that any company would go under, but I would hope that they hurt enough one day to realize something needs to be done. In terms of QOL for our boys in the states. My buddy just had an interview at commute air and words directly from the higher ups from there said they don't even know if they'll be able to fill the classes in the coming future...Hmmm I wonder why. To the OP, congrats on your small milestone, I wish you all the best and keep at it!

 

I don't care who heard it from who, it's not happening. Like all of us, I have friends in high places in this industry that tell me there will be a shortage. There is not and will not be a shortage. This garbage about not being able to fill classes is absolute garbage. As long as I'm squeaky clean and an ATP and can't get interviews, you can't tell me there is a freaking shortage.

 

I just left Europe. It is still viewed as a prestigious career but there are soooo many unemployed pilots that the majority finishing training today probably won't find a flying job in the next decade. It is a really tough market there at the moment. Statistics show that flight training in Europe has just started to slow down even thingy tue economic slowdown started 5-6 years ago. I just left working at a flying school there and I am consistently asked by former students and coworkers on the process to emigrate to find a pilot job elsewhere.

 

And how will a Seneca II and V be categorized as well if I may ask ? Good reason I went on from Duchess onto a Seneca which is a more chartered type twin than a trainer...

 

Knew a guy that got hired at sierra west airlines with 400 tt he went to right seat in a metro. Pays not great but better than some regionals. Schedule is a little rough, on call a lot. Six days off a month. Fight time varies some months where 20 hrs and some where 100 hrs. There was a training contract. Company seems to know their a stepping stone, upgrade can be fast. Sometimes right as you hit the 135 mins.he said it was all in all a good company for what you need to get out of it. They have lears and a falcon that I guess they offer to metro guys, not sure about how the contract plays in to it. Can't really do much better with 500 hrs, as far as I know anyways.

 

That's like the opposite of what the Sierra west thread says, at least for pay and conditions. But I will say this about this, with 500hrs, that's the best anyone can do right now.

 

Yeah I'm not sure, he was recently there and said they've changed some stuff.

 

I'd hope so. I used to handle their planes at my old job and I never met a happy FO.