Just look at how many commercial pilots have a medical certificate. There are a lot more than total airline jobs. If they paid $80k for a first year FO, more of them would decide to work for an airline. Increase it more, and more of them would jump on. And at the same time, more people would decide to learn how to fly, increasing the pipeline. It's a pay issue, not a pilot shortage.

 

More diplomatic than I'd be. It looks to me like NMuir is back with a new screen name. Same libertarian talking points.

 

I sincerely hope that anyone who is against EAS also writes their congressman to get rid of the CRAF (subsidies for airlines with wide bodies).

I ran into a friend of mine on Monday. He is the Alaska State DOT Commissioner. He said Alaska has 40% of the total EAS.

And for many of you on here, may I suggest you look at a "to scale" map of Alaska (first hint: it is not a small island off the southwest coast of California. Second hint: Alaska is about 1/3 the size of the lower 48.). We are not talking about a convenience to avoid driving two hours to another airport. .... avoiding a two week sled dog trip to another airport, maybe...

 

It never ceases to amaze me that low time pilots would spout there mouth off. Ever shut doen an engine with 53 souls on board? Ever land in a snowstorm with 35 knot crosswind on a contaminated runway? Do you even know what an opspec is? Controlling RVR? 3585?

Guess what? Everyday passengers dont want to be flown by jack wagons in the coditions I mentioned if that pilot has less than 1500 hours. No no no, no a regional is not a place to learn. Its a place to do. As soon as your at a regional your in the big league. Captains dont want to babysit you. They are xpect you have your s h i t together. If not YOU will be very well known and very unliked.

Take this time to learn, grow, build time, and learn some humility. Not doing so will hurt you in the long run, and perhaps ruin the lives of thousands (yes you kill 50 and you impact thousands).

 

Even though pay has quadroupled in recent years there is still a shortage. What you are overlooking is that not everyone chooses their employer based on wage. Not everyone wants the hassle that comes with having the best paying job out there. Just like not every passenger wants to buy the cheapest ticket.

 

I think most people are talking about lower 48 EAS, which is highly wasteful. Some AK EAS is wasteful, some isn't. I think most people are ok with most AK EAS. Some of it is actually "essential" whereas most lower 48 EAS is "convenient."

 

It never ceases to amaze me that newbies with no clue, actually believe they have one...

 

He is very angry at the world that he has to have 1500 hours. He'd probably work for free to get the experience.

 

No doubt! My guess is if Gulfstream were still in business, he'd be first in line to pay them to sit right seat.

 

Lack of experience, not training. Every pilot should be about to recover from a stall in his sleep... Literally.