I attended the FAPA job fair in Orlando in Nov 2012. There were 12 companies recruiting & On that day, they had about 38-40 people show up. That's it just 38-40 total showed up. Approx 70% of those who showed up, were less than 1000 hrs TT at that time, so effectively, only 12-14 qualified guys. The highest was a former com air capt with 34,000 hrs TT..

Each company was lucky to 1 or 2 qualified pilot from that event, some got none..

12 months later, I am assuming that they don't even have 40 people to commit to the job fair, that is why the fee to attend is gone & they are even offering a $25.00 gift card..

This is A sign of changing times and a sign of times ahead....

Imagine how it will be 12 months from now....

I may have attended that fair as well and remember that the lines were pretty long. I can't remember what they charged at the time, maybe registration and something else; I seem to remember it being 120 total. Maybe I'm wrong though.
I'm not sure if paying to attend a job fair in other fields is the norm but it is something worth googling. I remember in college they were free but that may be just for academia. Regardless, this isn't a bad sign.

WOW! I know at the place I am at we had openings for 12 pilots and got 25 applications. Of the 25 only half were qaulified. I currently fly under part 91 but in years past I was told for the same amount there were between 3-400 applications.

Well, aero crew is still asking for $104/134 to attend the Nov job fair in Dallas.
I do not want their gift card but I am in the area and very hesitant to pay to attend a job fair. This is ridiculous, it should be FREE if they are really desperate for pilots with ATP mins. So far, it does not seem to be the case unfortunately!

There will never be a shortage. Not now, not ever. If you think that there's a shortage just because there's some movement after there was NONE, you don't follow the industry. It's possible either that, or you are thinking you'll get to a major. That's no longer something that's normal. Not everyone playing Freshman or even JV will make it to varsity, and no amount of hard work can change that for every Dick and Jane pilot out there.

I like Janes chances way better than Dicks.

I don't like dicks at all, but you live your life the way that makes you happy. :)

I tend to agree with you based on past history but it's hard to deny that the retirement numbers at the majors are huge. I don't think there will be a shortage of qualified applicants at the majors, at least in the short term, but there will definitely be a shortage at the regionals. In the past all they had to do was lower mins and they still had trouble but now with the ATP rule and the lack of pilots training out there its going to be tough finding guys.

Between FAR 117 staffing changes and age 65 retirements, I don't see why the music would stop at the majors any time soon. What is it that you see stopping hiring at the majors?

No shortage at the majors. I'm not so sure about the regionals and overseas carriers.
I take it that you weren't flying prior to 9/11. I remember jumpseating on regionals and more than a few times, the FO had less than 500 hours because there was so much turnover. One morning, there was one of these brand new FOs with his epaulets on backward - it took me a few minutes to convince him that the narrow side points toward your neck.