Agree to a point. The "shortage (ha ha) will be at the regional level, NOT the legacy level.

Yep, there's PLENTY of regional lifers, but there's ALSO plenty of us that are ready to GTFO ASAP. Combine that with the 135 pilots, corporate pilots, separating mil pilots, etc etc etc.

The "shortage', (again, ha ha) will be at the regional level. So your point of there being plenty of qualified pilots within the U.S.A. is true. But at the level where the alleged "shortage" will be, how many of the qualified pilots will be willing to work at the wages regional pay?

It was seen as measure to get pilots into cockpits quicker, or to put "meat in the seat".

It was designed to give a pilot TONS of turbine/multi crew simulator time with VERY LITTLE ACTUAL FLIGHT TIME. A pure "apprenticeship" if you will. You can probably google the specifics, but IIRC it was less than 100 hours in ACTUAL airplanes combined with the sim time before be put into the cockpit of an airliner.

http://aviationknowledge.wikidot.com...-pilot-license

Ready to vomit after reading that?

 

Well, the fact of the matter is that there is no way an MCL regulation will be up and running anytime soon. The regionals are going to be hurting very soon. A year before the new rules kick in, the regionals are already limiting new hires to those at or near 1200-1500. When these guys run out, doubt there will be many more entering the pipeline. This is no mystery - these airlines must have plans to handle this, especially with all these new aircraft orders. There sure doesn't seem to be any panic, though.......

 

Look at the number of 50-seaters being grounded; add in route cancellations and further consolidation in the regionals--problem solved. Flights like CLT-GSO, CLT-CAE, and a whole slew of others out of hubs will go.

GF

 

The best solution to that is simple. Increase the pay dramatically. I would say first year pay shouldn't be less than $40, and second year shouldn't be less than $55. Especially considering "regional pilots" are now flying routes like LGA-JAX in 76-person jets.

What they are paying now is pathetic, pure and simple. Pilots are, most certainly, white-collar folks, and should be compensated as such, even at the regional level.

Just my $0.02 from an up-and-coming pilot...

 

Yea!

Tell that to regional airline management. Or the 22 year old willing to "fly for peanuts."

 

I won't have to tell them that, I hope that the lack of applicants will speak for themselves. Supply and demand; very simple concept.

Unfortunately, there will still be a certain amount of folks who, like you said, are willing to "fly for peanuts." After all, they get the privilege of flying super-kool airplanes like the brand new MRJ!!!

In any career, you do have to "work your way up." But even considering that, pay is horrifically low.

 

You work at Silver, and have no room to talk big.

 

skylover -

You need to take a step back for now from this line. You just had your first introductory flight did you not? If a few years you just might fit that bill of the pilot willing to work for peanuts. It is easy to talk the big talk about not taking such jobs when you have nothing invested in the game as a whole.
At your stage of the game of aviation (sort of like a baby crowning), you probably need to do more listening and less talking about such subjects. Hopefully when the time comes you'll remember some of what you might have learned on this site. When you turn down your first multi-turbine job because of low pay or poor work rules then you should feel comfortable with coming on a forum and preaching to others.

USMCFLYR

 

You do realize that there was a special element in play at this time that was creating such a demand for pilots. An element that I haven't seen in a while and I'm pretty sure you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand why it will probably never again exist at the regional level.


Find me growth at a regional airline. That peak has come and gone. Unless they start building airports in the middle of the ocean while the gubment subsidizes it. You can catch a commercial flight into just about any airport in the world. So I wouldn't count on any future expansion.

And no, Gojetzzzzz doesn't count as a growing airline. They fly nothing but other airlines lost flying. How many regional carriers needed to shed flying for these guys to build an airline is sad. I think a lot of the flying lost is gone forever.

I don't think the key to a better profession with respect to pay, QOL and flat out respect lies in the supply and demand of pilots. The real key is in the demand for lift. Less seats in the air makes it easier for the airlines to charge more. Charging more generates more revenue for lesser overhead. In theory it would make it harder for the corporations to come up with excuses to pay you less.

I'm sure there are many views to that concept. Doesn't matter how short they are on pilots. You will never get paid more if they keep giving tickets away. I wouldn't bank on a shortage to help you out in the future.

 

I would gladly settle for what my blue collar buddies make in skilled trades. Name me one other union/skilled trade job that offers less pay/security/benefits.