I think the most important thing to look at is where you live (or where you want to live) and then look at who flies near there. Being home as much as possible is key to living a good life if you have a family. (Or if you have girlfriends that live there. haha)

 

Major Airline Pilot Shortage? Haven't we heard this one before??? ROTFLMAO

Let's see... last time it was retiring vietnam-era vets.

What is is this time? The unusually high number of major airline pilots being abducted by UFO's? I guess that is a risk up in the flight levels

 

I am just curious, what do you mean when you say "fits your lifestyle"?

 

Mostly I mean by this where you live. If you live on the east coast for example, you might not really want to go to Skywest unless you are planning on moving.

Living in, or close to, where you work is HUGE for the quality of life crowd and commuting will be tough on anyone's lifestyle.

I went to Air Wisconsin because I am from Wisconsin and wanted to work in the Midwest. Now I am a bitter man.

So there.

That's all I mean by lifestyle. Nothing more sinister or kinky than that.

 

Thanks Saaab. Who do you work for now?


One other question, and please dont beat me up. I am NOT an airline pilot nor am I close to being one.

What exactly is wrong with Gojets? Why is everyone bashing them? Again, I know nothing about them. I never even heard of them before. But if so many people are bashing them, I am curious as to whats the deal?

 

look at usair and cal.......dinosaurs

 

I still work for Air Wisconsin.

Go Jets is despised because it was created as an 'alter ego' company to get around contract language, and to put pressure on labor, at Trans States Airlines. They are owned by the same owner and GJ is more or less a company within a company, used as leverage against existing contracts.

 

Not that I agree much with HMP but she's actually right and it is still the Vietnam era pilots. They make up over 30% of the industry and will be forced to retire my 2011. Yes, right now there isn't a shortage, but with commercial aviation training diminishing, military pilots are diminishing as well as choosing to make the military a career and with over 30% of the industry retiring by 2011 there probably will be a shortage. By 2011 most of the current regional pilots that want to and are qualified to move on will move on and that will leave the regionals fighting for pilots. And don't say they won't because they are now and it will be worse in 5 years.

Yes, there are a number of furloughed pilots (they will be recalled or go somewhere else) and major airline routes may reduce with the mergers and buyouts, but when you run the numbers all signs point to a bright future. The US Airline industry is current running at a record 83% capacity nation wide. That doesn’t leave much room for reduction!

 

There is some cause for optimisim, but I guess I'm cautious and don't want to get too excited. The not-so-optimistic view...

The high load factors don't help much in the long run if airlines are selling seats below cost, which they are in many cases. Selling seats below cost is a loss-reduction tactic, not a profit-making tactic. What has happened is we now have "customers" who are attracted by ludicrously low fares who would not or could not afford to pay a realistic fare to fly...they are only here to take advantage of a smokin' deal while it lasts.

What probably has to happen is consolidation of 4 -6 majors, which would reduce capacity and allow airlines to charge what their services are worth. The trailer-park crowd would probably not be able to afford to fly (except where SWA provides service).

If I'm wrong, we'll all be in great shape and the beer's on me

 

Rickair777,

Fares have gone way up in the past 18 months and most airlines are now posting profits, some of them even large profits. Don't let the airlines let you believe they aren't making money. They are.