SKW CEO warns pilot shortage could lead...
03-08-2017, 02:13 PM
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SKW CEO warns pilot shortage could lead...
SkyWest CEO warns pilot shortage could lead to big service cuts | Government Affairs content from ATWOnline
SkyWest Inc. president and CEO Chip Childs warned the US Congress of a “growing pilot shortage” that could become significantly more pronounced over the next three years, leading to the grounding of large numbers of aircraft in US regional airlines’ fleets.
Testifying March 8 at a House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Childs said Utah-based SkyWest—the parent of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines and the US’s largest regional airline operator—has been able to maintain adequate pilot hiring levels so far. But he said smaller regional airlines are having increasing difficulty finding qualified pilots and the shortage will likely soon begin to seriously affect SkyWest.
“All of us [in the US regional airline industry] see a very significant pilot shortage,” he said. “We’re deeply concerned about the statistics as we move forward over the next three years. There are a lot of retirements at the majors and we simply don’t have the backfill.”
Childs said US major airlines, which primarily hire flight deck crew from US regionals, are expected to hire 18,000 pilots in the next three years, nearly the size of the current regional airline pilot workforce. He warned that the shortfall in pilots could ultimately lead to the parking of as much as two-thirds of the US regional airline fleet in operation today.
That would create a big loss in service to smaller US markets, Childs warned, noting, “We are the only source of [air] travel at 60% of the airports that we serve.”
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has cast the problem as largely one of compensation levels for pilots, but Childs said there has been a “tremendous move and shift [to higher] compensation in the last few years” for pilots at US regional airlines.
FAA’s Congressionally mandated rule requiring pilots to accumulate 1,500 flight hr. before becoming a first officer at a Part 121 US airline has been blamed for escalating the cost of becoming an airline pilot, but Childs did not press Congress to change the law that led to the rule as US regional airlines have in the past. In what may signal a change in lobbying strategy for US regional airlines, Childs instead pushed for Congress to provide guidance to FAA to allow for more “alternate pathways” to meeting the 1,500-hr. requirement within existing law.
Childs said prospective pilots need financial assistance. “We need some loan programs for pilots,” he told lawmakers.
Also testifying at the same hearing, Alaska Airlines president and CEO Brad Tilden said, “I just want to support Chip Childs on the pilot training … Student loans [for pilots] guaranteed by the federal government … would be beneficial.”
Asked by a House member about expanding service to rural areas in the US, Childs said, “The reality is if there are not enough pilots … [and] you’re trying to get new service—that is not going to happen unless we resolve this.”
SkyWest Inc. president and CEO Chip Childs warned the US Congress of a “growing pilot shortage” that could become significantly more pronounced over the next three years, leading to the grounding of large numbers of aircraft in US regional airlines’ fleets.
Testifying March 8 at a House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Childs said Utah-based SkyWest—the parent of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines and the US’s largest regional airline operator—has been able to maintain adequate pilot hiring levels so far. But he said smaller regional airlines are having increasing difficulty finding qualified pilots and the shortage will likely soon begin to seriously affect SkyWest.
“All of us [in the US regional airline industry] see a very significant pilot shortage,” he said. “We’re deeply concerned about the statistics as we move forward over the next three years. There are a lot of retirements at the majors and we simply don’t have the backfill.”
Childs said US major airlines, which primarily hire flight deck crew from US regionals, are expected to hire 18,000 pilots in the next three years, nearly the size of the current regional airline pilot workforce. He warned that the shortfall in pilots could ultimately lead to the parking of as much as two-thirds of the US regional airline fleet in operation today.
That would create a big loss in service to smaller US markets, Childs warned, noting, “We are the only source of [air] travel at 60% of the airports that we serve.”
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has cast the problem as largely one of compensation levels for pilots, but Childs said there has been a “tremendous move and shift [to higher] compensation in the last few years” for pilots at US regional airlines.
FAA’s Congressionally mandated rule requiring pilots to accumulate 1,500 flight hr. before becoming a first officer at a Part 121 US airline has been blamed for escalating the cost of becoming an airline pilot, but Childs did not press Congress to change the law that led to the rule as US regional airlines have in the past. In what may signal a change in lobbying strategy for US regional airlines, Childs instead pushed for Congress to provide guidance to FAA to allow for more “alternate pathways” to meeting the 1,500-hr. requirement within existing law.
Childs said prospective pilots need financial assistance. “We need some loan programs for pilots,” he told lawmakers.
Also testifying at the same hearing, Alaska Airlines president and CEO Brad Tilden said, “I just want to support Chip Childs on the pilot training … Student loans [for pilots] guaranteed by the federal government … would be beneficial.”
Asked by a House member about expanding service to rural areas in the US, Childs said, “The reality is if there are not enough pilots … [and] you’re trying to get new service—that is not going to happen unless we resolve this.”
03-08-2017, 02:19 PM
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The pilot shortage is just getting worse and worse...
Raising pay won't help if there is no one available to accept the increased pay...
Raising pay won't help if there is no one available to accept the increased pay...
Childs said US major airlines, which primarily hire flight deck crew from US regionals, are expected to hire 18,000 pilots in the next three years, nearly the size of the current regional airline pilot workforce. He warned that the shortfall in pilots could ultimately lead to the parking of as much as two-thirds of the US regional airline fleet in operation today.
03-08-2017, 03:05 PM
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"Regional industry". . . in what other work environment do the separate industries that do exactly the same kind of work? There isn't any "regional" equivalent to any professional educated job I can think of. Pro sports don't count.
03-08-2017, 03:22 PM
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Money helps, but does not solve everything
I dropped out after three years because I could not afford to go to the airlines. For the past 10 years I have been doing well for myself in accounting. With all the changes I threw my hat back in and got picked up by a regional right away once I got my paperwork in order. The real solution is the FAA needs to re-think SIC qualifications. Right now we are asking young students to make irresponsible decisions.
03-08-2017, 03:24 PM
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Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Air Transportation in the United States in the 21st Century | U.S. House of Representatives
That's the link of the entire meeting, for anyone interested. Minute 19:30 a ranking member of the committee states "I personally believe the pilot pay is pathetic" and goes on to talk about how the colgan FO was living in her parents basement and commuting from Seattle.
Also interesting minute 59:27, ms Nelson from the flight attendants association calls out the idea of the pilot shortage stating, there is plenty of supply but $20k wages aren't going to attract talent, and it forces a BS. Response from ole' chip.
That's the link of the entire meeting, for anyone interested. Minute 19:30 a ranking member of the committee states "I personally believe the pilot pay is pathetic" and goes on to talk about how the colgan FO was living in her parents basement and commuting from Seattle.
Also interesting minute 59:27, ms Nelson from the flight attendants association calls out the idea of the pilot shortage stating, there is plenty of supply but $20k wages aren't going to attract talent, and it forces a BS. Response from ole' chip.
Last edited by Rocksteady; 03-08-2017 at 03:58 PM.
03-08-2017, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Rocksteady
Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Air Transportation in the United States in the 21st Century | U.S. House of Representatives
That's the link of the entire meeting, for anyone interested. Minute 19:30 a ranking member of the committee states "I personally believe the pilot pay is pathetic" and goes on to talk about how the colgan FO was living in her parents basement and commuting from Seattle.
That's the link of the entire meeting, for anyone interested. Minute 19:30 a ranking member of the committee states "I personally believe the pilot pay is pathetic" and goes on to talk about how the colgan FO was living in her parents basement and commuting from Seattle.
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