I could not agree more. These are far bigger dangers to American aviation and having US pilots or at least US residents flying US-registered airplanes. Or having US companies operating within the United States. Do we really want Chinese airplanes flying US routes? Don't think it hasn't crossed the minds of senators and managers.

While we sit and squabble about seat counts and pay rates per seat, far bigger issues are afoot, and the issues you mention make the current ones pale in comparison.

well kick my butt and someone call Kit Darby - he was right after all!

The forces at hand are already circling for the "multi pilot crew license" and a Euro style "cadet" program.

The 800 hour rule is a setup for this very thing. A problem is being manufactured, and a solution will "mysteriously appear" in the form of cabotage and the MCPL.

Nu

The danger of cabotage is not that it brings in foreign workers to take your job, rather it allows your current company to move resources out of the US where more favorable company rules exist. I.E. perhaps to a country where unions are illegal.

Although it would be nice to be able to take advantage of European labor laws and wildcat strike.

All this talk of cabotage and foreign workers is silly. As far as pilots go, Americans ARE the 3rd world. I dare you to find any country where pilots are easier to come by then the US.

....at the moment. The point of the thread is that this is changing. Couple this to the fact more pilots are being produced elsewhere who are willing to work for less pay and longer hours than many in the USA today.

Nothing is permanent and our industry is no different. It is evolving quickly just like all other businesses in the United States.

I agree. Pilots are a dime a dozen and I don’t think that will change any time soon, possible not even within the next ten years. The industry is cyclical and there fore labor (pilot) demand is also cyclical. Please do not think there will be a pilot shortage. The pilot shortage marketing strategy for flight schools is a very old one. Then, airlines capitalize on the idea also by lowering wages because pilots are willing to work for less to position them selves for when wages go back up when the shortage actually comes. I hope I am wrong but I doubt there will ever be a shortage.

Just a question, where is the threat in that? Most pilots in other countries are far better compensated than we are, are you talking pilots or other workers? It is kind of hard to ship a rampers job overseas. Although it wouldn't bother me if they tried to ship some management jobs overseas.

[quote=mwa1;783107]well kick my butt and someone call Kit Darby - he was right after all![/quote

LOL, you are absolutely right! Kit Darby has made a fortune for the last 30 years (yes I'm old) predicting an impending pilot shortage. I first heard his claims back in 1983 when he was VP of sales at Future Airline Pilots Association (FAPA). I have been waiting for this pilot shortage my entire career.