Past V1

WASHINGTON – The thousands of airline pilots who are furloughed or working overseas when they would prefer to fly for a U.S. airline and live in this country makes it clear that no shortage of trained and qualified airline pilots currently exists in the United States, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

“There may be a shortage of qualified pilots who are willing to fly for U.S. airlines because of the industry’s recent history of instability, poor pay, and benefits,” said Capt. Lee Moak, president of ALPA, “But thousands of highly qualified and experienced U.S. airline pilots are either furloughed or working overseas and eager to return to U.S airline cockpits—under the right conditions.”

Furlough numbers show no shortage of pilots who are fully qualified to serve as flight crew members on U.S. airliners exists, ALPA pointed out:

Some 1,154 ALPA members currently are furloughed from their airlines.
Comair Airlines closed in 2012, furloughing more than 850 highly trained and experienced pilots, nearly all of whom are looking for jobs.
ASTAR, Evergreen, and Ryan have shuttered their operations recently, putting approximately 800 pilots on the street.
In addition, thousands of U.S. pilots now fly for foreign airlines because those airlines’ stability, pay, and benefits are much greater than those offered by U.S airlines. For example,

The average first officer (copilot) starting salary at 14 U.S. regional airlines is $21,285/year plus benefits; Delta and United start copilots at $61,000/year plus benefits.
At Emirates Airlines, new-hire copilots receive $82,000/year plus a housing allowance and other extraordinary benefits. Similarly, Cathay Pacific pays new copilots $72,000/year plus a housing allowance and other extraordinary benefits.
Many expatriate U.S. pilots say they would return to the United States if airline industry conditions improve here.

Moreover, recent safety enhancements implemented in the United States—higher minimum qualifications for airline first officers (copilots) and science-driven, consensus-based rules to ensure that flight crew members receive the rest they need to fly safely—and have had minimal effect on pilot staffing. U.S. airlines have been active participants with ALPA, the FAA, and other industry stakeholders in crafting these safety enhancements and preparing for their implementation, which were first announced more than two years ago.

Capt. Moak asserted, “The real solution to preventing any future pilot shortage is for airlines to produce consistently profitable results. Congress can support this goal by implementing pro-growth aviation policies that reduce the tax burden on airlines and give the industry an opportunity to compete and prevail in the international marketplace.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 50,000 pilots at 31 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on twitter @WeAreALPA.


Well there you go...

Cubdriver

Music to my ears, statement I can entirely agree with. As a regional airline applicant during the last two years I saw plenty of evidence that no serious pilot shortage existed. If a shallow one did indeed exist, it was of the sort Mr. Moak describes in his speech. Since there are no statistical numbers or practical evidence of a pilot shortage to be found from any reliable, unmotivated source, one is left to think that a disinformation campaign must be at work among interested parties who stand to benefit from the myth and its effects.

CloudShredder

So basically the U.S. Airlines aren't short on pilots, but they're short on pilots... I agree with what they're saying though. The pay is too low, and they're not able to attract enough talent resulting in the U.S. Airlines creating their own little pilot shortage...

CBreezy

It's music to your ears because it justifies your inability to get hired anywhere...which is perplexing considering I know almost all regionals are snatching up qualified candidates each month. I have friends who were offered jobs at all of the "good" paying regionals. Each of them received multiple offers. I received offers from 4. Even ones who I felt had no business in a jet got hired within a month of applying.

I agree that decent pay and job security is what could solve this issue in a heartbeat.

CRM114

Yes, not as much of pilot shortage as it is a recruiting problem. It couldn't happen to nicer bunch of guys.

todd1200

It depends on what you mean by "pilot shortage."

People under 65 with an ATP and able to pass a 1st class medical? No shortage.

People with all of the above and willing to accept the employment terms offered to junior regional FOs? Shortage.

hindsight2020

...thence, any business which cannot afford to raise pay in order to satisfy staffing required by the business, while maintaining a profit of any kind, is by definition insolvent. This is true for ANY business mind you, so what's the problem then?

Regionals either raise pay at the bottom or, if their business model is such that it cannot raise pay and maintain its margin, then consolidate/shut down. Next...

As to the labor side, yeah nothing new. 10,000 RJ pilot jobs is not an entitlement. Nobody is owed a pilot job.

Cubdriver

Oh I got interviews and got hired. So what was your point again, you're irritated about what?

Past V1

Oh goodness...first page and we're already bickering. We are never going to get anywhere like this.

JamesNoBrakes

So, corporate welfare=higher pay?