Are those numbers for airplanes only? Or do they include helos, gliders, balloons, etc...?

More importantly, how many of those are foreign students ex. JAL

You prove my point, sir! It's funny how you view the lawyers and doctors, but your fellow pilots are not worthy enough to get into a law school? Most of my pilot friends never attended ERAU or UND, or any aviation - related BA, BS, or MS program. We just went to college for business, psychology, physics, law, music....etc. Some went to law school, two graduated UW Law and one got honors at Seattle U Law. Couple others got accepted to medical programs at Emory and NYU. Most of us are career pilots, others decided to stay in law and medical field. Not everyone is a success story, but none of us is a whiny ....th! And WE ARE ALL PROUD of what we do! If one jobs doesn't pay well enough, there is always an option...this is LIFE!

Are you kidding me? At the regional level a majority of newhires are lacking a four year degree. A fair percentage drop out and go to ATP, 18 months later they're 'airline pilots'. You can't even compare regional pilots to Doctors or Laywers.

I've never understood the fascination pilots have with comparing themselves to doctors. Doctors have over a decade of higher education along with an intimate working knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics. A degree in mediveal poetry still allows one to cheek the box and be a pilot. Pilots are trained through practice and repetition to complete tasks. Anyone can be a pilot, but most people could never be a doctor. It's a ridiculous comparison. Not even apples and oranges.

Even if we did somehow cause hell to freeze over and double pay at the regionals, we'd still be regional pilots fighting over scraps from the mainline partners. We're completely replaceable by whatever company can do it for a dollar cheaper. Making it to mainline is not just an ego/paycheck thing. It's also about a slight modicum of stability as well as being treated like a human. No regional will ever be a safe place to call a "career".

Yeah, I made a mistake posting anything on here! My apologies! go! Be miserable regional pilots and have your wives and husbands take care of you. There are losers in any profession, and many doctors, lawyers and teachers should never be allowed to practice, just like some pilots. But, I consider myself a professional and so do most of the pilots I know. P.S. Making a living selling shoes also requires a great amount of skill.

So does pole dancing. Anastasia Sokolova is a genius.

No, it doesn't. I guarantee if you only have that degree, you can't be hired as a pilot. You have to go to pilot-school too.

People tend to rationalize their situation because they "want to believe" they can make it to the international 777 job. Some will make it. Many(most) will not. People experience this kind of denial of reality in many walks of life. Basic human psychology. Unfortunately, this shifts the focus away from making the present situation better, which is great for the employer.

Pfft, you want that 777 international job? That's simple, go down to NW 36th ST in Miami with a decent amount of big jet time like in a 767. Where do you get decent 767 time? Same place! Everything in life, the outcome is forged with a mindset. Be it a 777 pilot, a doctor, or a shoe polisher. Everyone has it within themselves to devote a large portion of their life to reaching a goal. Not everyone can afford it however in the pocket book. That simply is just anothet pre-req you must get out of the way. Everyone is their own worst enemy.
Talking about dreams? Please, anyone who has spent any amount of time in this industry comes to the realization that the only thing that truly matters is Quality Of Life. You may find your comfortable zone as a lifer at a regional in the training department, maybe its long haul freight, maybe it's teaching aviation at a university. It has nothing to do with being a loser, and everything to do with getting comfortable. For myself, I have a 4 year degree, and over 200 college course credits. Took all the pre-reqs for a medical profession, and everything else I ever was interested in. I do what I do because it interests me the most.

Comparing pilots to doctors is an apples to oranges comparison.

But becoming a pilot requires a fair amount of specialized training (also expensive). Also, quite a bit of tenacity to work one's way up the ladder in this career field. However, I wouldn't compare this to the level of education and training in medical school and residency.

Law School may be a better comparison. Though admissions standards are high (therfore it's tough to get into) the coursework itself isn't particularly difficult if you can study, regurgitate information, and think for yourself. Like aviaton, you can have an undergrad degree in anything, and most people that put forth a 100% effort can handle the classwork itself. While I believe most people can get through law school, much like most people can get their pilot certificates, we really don't have much comparison to the JD that graduated in the top 25% of their class from a top 10 law school...

Just my $.02