Pilot Shortage
11-13-2006, 07:30 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Looking Forward
Posts: 253
Originally Posted by Pilotpip
I think the point he was making is not that they are less safe, but the public percieves it to be that way. Much of the reason that turboprops have seen a decline is the fact that the public percieves this as old technology. They have no grasp of how a turboprop engine works nor do they realize that the Q-400 they're getting on has 45 years of lessons learned and changes in design philosophy incorporated into it that that DC-9 doesn't have. They see props and they think "unsafe puddle-jumper that are always crashing".
Anybody catch ABC World News Tonight? They ran a story about a system that's in testing at DFW to reduce runway incursions. I noted about 10 errors in the story. Worst of which, an ATC tape along with an animation listed as a "Private Pilot". The aircraft shown in the animation was a jetstar and based on the callsign and the pilot's accent english was not their primary language. The media doesn't help this perception one bit but the public is too ignorant to care. Why should they? They don't care who or what they're flying as long as they get from point A to B on time and safely.
Anybody catch ABC World News Tonight? They ran a story about a system that's in testing at DFW to reduce runway incursions. I noted about 10 errors in the story. Worst of which, an ATC tape along with an animation listed as a "Private Pilot". The aircraft shown in the animation was a jetstar and based on the callsign and the pilot's accent english was not their primary language. The media doesn't help this perception one bit but the public is too ignorant to care. Why should they? They don't care who or what they're flying as long as they get from point A to B on time and safely.
11-14-2006, 06:18 AM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: FO - 757/767
Posts: 1,228
Originally Posted by G2TT
Good post, but you forgot the third part of the passenger trifecta: On time, Safely, and most of all for the CHEAPEST price. I hear people say all the time that "I don't ride on these things" or "Stupid Puddle Jumper", ect. as they are getting on the dash, but they get on and I haven't seen a single one of the complainers get off before we left. As soon as they arrive safely at their destination it doesn't matter what they rode on, as long as they get there.
11-14-2006, 03:38 PM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Groundlooped and liking it
Posts: 266
Pilotpip, thanks. I think HotMama slightly misunderstood. I was trying to state the public opinion of safety. For what its worth, maybe they're right. A 747 could be safer, since it will have more experienced pilots. I'm not trying to start a war on pilot time/requirements. I'll stop now.
PS I still hate flying as a passenger in coach on anything. I'll let everyone know if hell freezes over and that changes.
PS I still hate flying as a passenger in coach on anything. I'll let everyone know if hell freezes over and that changes.
11-14-2006, 03:57 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,750
Originally Posted by hatetobreakit2u
and the general public still believes that pilots make good money.
This is the biggest part of the problem. The flying public is unaware of this situation. When I tell people that I will gross less than 40K this year I have had some people say, "You mean 140K, right?"
I tell them the truth.
But the general public thinks we earn a lot, don't work much, the airplane flies itself, we have lots of cute flight attendants, all have long paid vacations, etc.
Most of them simply don't comprehend that a new F/O on a jet aircraft these days earns around 20K, give or take. It just goes right over their head.
Eventually the pendulum will swing in our favor because the pilot factory flight schools will no longer be able to recruit suckers to do this job. The shortage is starting, but it will take a while 'til we feel the benefits of that shortage.
11-14-2006, 04:18 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: MD80
Posts: 1,111
Originally Posted by saab2000
This is the biggest part of the problem. The flying public is unaware of this situation. When I tell people that I will gross less than 40K this year I have had some people say, "You mean 140K, right?"
I tell them the truth.
I tell them the truth.
Some people I know don't even tell others that they are pilots. However, what's even more scary is that a lot of pilots I talked to that are trying to go pro don't really care that the pay is going down.
11-14-2006, 04:28 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by AirWillie
What's scary is that this is true for some major airlines also. Some people I know don't even tell others that they are pilots. However, what's even more scary is that a lot of pilots I talked to that are trying to go pro don't really care that the pay is going down.
Some people I know don't even tell others that they are pilots. However, what's even more scary is that a lot of pilots I talked to that are trying to go pro don't really care that the pay is going down.
11-14-2006, 04:48 PM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Posts: 297
People need to travel. Whether it is to visit friends and relatives, enjoy a relaxing break away from home, or to do business in distant cities, air travel makes it possible. And transportation of goods by air brings to us the things that we need and want from around the globe. Demand for air transport will be driven by global economic growth and will, in turn, contribute to that growth. The need to expand the existing fleet to meet growing demand, plus the need to replace older airplanes with newer, better ones, creates a market for 27,210 new airplanes worth $2.6 trillion to be delivered over the next 20 years.
(Source: Boeing)
This stuff is really interesting: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pdf/CMO_06.pdf
(Source: Boeing)
This stuff is really interesting: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pdf/CMO_06.pdf
11-14-2006, 05:04 PM
#39
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
Listen guys I know the past few years have been rough, but in the next few years there is going to be a mass exodus of pilots (retiring), and not only are the big boys going to have to replace them but they are going to need to hire a ton, becuase they have been flying the past 5 years with the bear minimum of pilots. 9/11 hit us pretty hard but I feel that things are slowly starting to turn. I think we are in at a good time. And the money for airline pilots was never all that great for just starting out and that is what most of us are doing, JUST STARTING OUT. Look at the payscale of SWA, FED, UPS, CAL etc........THEY MAKE GREAT MONEY. American, Delta, United even though they used to make much much more, still is pretty good, and that is going to change, especially with the airlines once again making profits. I am excited for all of our futures and just remember we do have the option to go sit in a cubicle and make enough money to have a house, car, blah blah, we are Airline Pilots we do for a living what alot of people can only dream. The fact that I can still say this and be in debt and have to work two jobs to just get by just shows how much I love what I do, and how much you guys all do too. We can all leave the industry but then we would be bitter and hate ourselves for it. Just ask SKYHIGH hell tell ya!
11-14-2006, 05:07 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: FO - 757/767
Posts: 1,228
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
Listen guys I know the past few years have been rough, but in the next few years there is going to be a mass exodus of pilots (retiring), and not only are the big boys going to have to replace them but they are going to need to hire a ton, becuase they have been flying the past 5 years with the bear minimum of pilots. 9/11 hit us pretty hard but I feel that things are slowly starting to turn. I think we are in at a good time. And the money for airline pilots was never all that great for just starting out and that is what most of us are doing, JUST STARTING OUT. Look at the payscale of SWA, FED, UPS, CAL etc........!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
