There are plenty, PLENTY of pilots out there. Just not a lot who will take $19k a year to start out at a regional. Or even $35k for most majors. If the airlines need pilots they have to get those people into the seat somehow.

Just my two cents but as an 1,100 hour CFI Im all for the ATP min req. Im also one of those guys who took a boatload of debt to get where I am.

That being said,,,

if it does come to ATP mins, there wont be any shortage of pilots out there...The "Zero to Hero" schools will simply add some sort of buy your "FO ATP Mins" program, which by the way is already out there, and guess what..???....I gaurentee there will be people lined up at the door to sign up. Its the world we live in. Why pay your dues when you can "re-pay your loan" later and get what you want now? Marketing? hello?

And when that does happen, i cant wait, cause then we'll finally get some movement in this industry. The 'backlog' will reverse, most guys will go back on their seniority, and the corporate/charter/CFI/121/piper cherokee cargo guy/jumpers/cropdusting/check running/whatever world will be begging for pilots....And how do you get guys to come work for you??? YOU PAY THEM WHAT THEY ARE WORTH!!!!!! REGIONALS WILL NEVER DO THAT!!!

There is, and there will be no genuine shortage of pilots. There will only be a shortage of people that are qualified AND willing to be paid TERRIBLY. I am so glad that the factory schools are starting to suffer. Weed out the losers that just think that flying is an easy and glamorous lifestyle. We only need passionate professionals in this industry. I have managed a flight school for six years (I'm leaving), and I think we need stronger barriers to entry. Supply goes down, professionalism goes up, demand goes up, and then PAY goes up...

By the way - Nobody seems to understand who the REAL culprit is - THE CONSUMER!! If you were not a pilot, would you be willing to PAY for GOOD PILOTS, a comfortable airplane, bountiful schedule offerings, excellent in-flight service, SAFETY, etc???? Since deregulation, the airline industry has continually had to bid down to the lowest bidder because CUSTOMERS are not educated enough to feel justified to pay what they should pay. Most discretionary travelers prefer CHEAP over everything else. Only business and first class travelers care about anything but "value".
What we need is to educate the customer. What's the difference between Captain Sully and the "Captains" of the last three regional airline crashes? Oh, Sully is experienced and therefore "expensive". Congress is ****ed; the Colgan 3407 disaster really opened their eyes to the true nature of post-deregulation aviation, where pilots can train at a factory school, buy themselves 250 hours of turbine time at Gulfstream and magically become a "captain" someday. Any coincidence that all three of the last US fatal airline crashes were "captained" by a Gulfstream alumn? Experience should be EARNED, RESPECTED, and then PROPERLY RECOGNIZED WITH APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION!!
Somehow, the industry needs to do a better job of DEMANDING good pilots and PAYING THEM ACCORDINGLY. Now that it is impossible for people to get career training loans at factory schools, only die-hard pilots who EARN their experience will earn the right to fly in the 121 environment. THEN we will HAVE to be paid accordingly.

Plenty of pilot s today. Lets see in 2-4 years where we are at. I don't know how many people will sign up at schools needing 1500 hours to make 19k. So many FBO's will go out of business because they won't have enrollment except for the weekend warrior type pilot. With 1500 hours, it looks like a lot of growth will be over seas. regional will need to increase pay to retain talent.

All the furloughs are getting called back and the US aviation is shifting to more regional flying. I would expect a large shortage. And that does take in account for retirements.

Ask your self how many people will change their mind after the last hiring spree if they now needed 1500 hours.

look at these numbers

Taking manufacturers' market outlook studies into account, IATA predicts that 17,650 new passenger aircraft will be delivered by 2018, requiring more than 200,000 new pilots, or nearly 19,000 pilots a year. Current global training programmes can produce a maximum of 15,200 per year, leaving a shortfall of more than 3,000 pilots annually

Career Mapping Key To Addressing Pilot Shortage Say Industry Experts

Although I believe that Congress could care less about improving the pay of a regional airline pilot, this bill would do just that. How could it not? A person starting at 0 hours would not have the ability to fork out 100k and be an "eligible" 121 pilot within 6 months or even a year. It would require individuals to invest more time to acquire 1500 hours. Perhaps while they are instructing, working part 135 or some other job they may come to a conclusion that their time and experience are worth more than the pathetic wages offered at the regional entry level. This industry is not headed in a good direction. This, however, would be a progressive step.

I've said it in plenty of other posts when people in this industry start blaming the consumer for the price. Consumers will pay what the industry sets - or they will find other transportation. Consumers look for the best deal period. They expect, and should be given, the highest quality of transportation and safety. We trust that our leaders are giving us that through the FAA. If that isn't true - then it isn't the consumers fault.
Proskuneho - do YOU not look for the best deal when you go to buy groceries, gas, a dress shirt, etc....?
Business and first class travelers don't want to sit next to the guy/gal overflowing into their coach seat, or like my last flight - have some kid kicking your seat for 2 hours.
I care about all those things that you speak of in your post and I will often search for the cheapest ticket if it fits in with my schedule - or most recently when someone else is playing for the ticket I'm sure they bought the cheapest they could get away with. I am an American Consumer. I will maximize and stretch my dollar as far as I can.
If this industry wants to digs itself out of the bottomless pit, then it will need to be fixed from the inside; unless you want regulation back.

In another post someone asked about military not having the 1,500 hr minimum if they would be given some type of waiver. I porposed in my reply that I didn't think that they should have any special treatment and that I didn't think that it would matter much in the ifrst place. Another poster then brought up the waiver that might be in place for the aviation colleges and that their graduates might have some type of lower mins. If this comes to be accepted then I do think that the military should fall under this exception. Personally, I'd rather see the hard and fast 1,500 rule. IMO.

USMCFLYR

Don't turn the regionals into Walmart
 

I look for good deals, BUT I would rather pay for quality and I would rather pay for something made in the USA. I would rather wait for something that is quality to go on sale or clearance at a reputable store, or just wait until I can actually afford it. That's why I never shop at Walmart. I hate that place. They have damaged the economy, the jobs landscape, and tainted consumer expectations of "value." I hope the airlines don't keep going down the same road as Walmart. :eek:

Value is in the eye of the consumer? is it not?...look at it this way...five different airlines serve the same route. are you really gonna buy the most expensive tickets? the made in America airline? the reputable airline? (thats an oxymoron) Really? Theres a 'percieved' value of 'that airline ticket' your airlines know the real value and they know that threshold and therefore they keep it as high as possible to sales/revenue/ROI/economy as high as possible.

Its the unfortunate nature of just about any business...do it faster, better, easier, at the absolute rock bottom cheapest cost to me the consumer/investor/whatever.....dont jinx it,,,,we may see walmart airlines on the ramp soon too. Im surprised the airlines arent painting logos for advertisments on thier a/c tails yet? or was that banned some time ago? wonder what it costs to run a commercial on tv in the air?...lol...