The shortage of pilots is real. And as APC covered automation for cargo planes in our last article, it's clear that some see that as the solution.

But what about UPS's new internship-to-pilot program, called "FlightPath"? What are your thoughts on UPS's need for more pilots?

Check out our article.

While there may be a shortage of pilots, there is not a scarcity of pilots.

Big distinction between the two.

UPS is currently short pilots, but only because management drug its feet on 1. hiring, 2. securing additional training capacity, and 3. training more instructors as delivery of the 747s ordered in late 2016 apparently snuck up on them. That is to say the current UPS pilot 'shortage' is 100% self-inflicted and temporary.

There is absolutely NO shortage in qualified (defined very loosely as ATP with 2500tt with 1000 multi-turbine, or equivalent military experience) applicants to UPS and three new sims should be up and running (allegedly) by the end of November to help alleviate the training backlog.

As for FlightPath...that program was announced over a year ago as the Ameriflight Gateway Program. UPS interns work in UPS Training, Flight Ops, or other departments for a year or more, then go to Ameriflight, then have the opportunity to return to UPS.

As a former Co-op (intern), I think it provides a fantastic opportunity for people who want to fly for UPS to get into brown polyester as a line pilot as quickly as possible.

UPS interns doing the Gateway/FlightPath will provide a small but steady stream of young, highly motivated pilots to Ameriflight, which will help keep UPS' feeder fleet moving. Those pilots will gain valuable experience flying UPS volume, and should become VERY competent pilots. UPS helps keep their feeder fleet staffed, and the ability for those former interns to (fairly quickly) return to UPS as a line pilots is the the carrot that will keep that small but steady stream flowing. If UPS doesn't pick up an overwhelming majority of those Gateway/FlightPath pilots, word will spread quickly and interest in the internship will rapidly wane...causing a negative impact on UPS' contracted feeder lift through AMF.

For AMF and UPS it is low risk/high reward, for interns and potential interns I see it as medium risk/YUGE reward and clearly with today's Courier-Journal article being picked up by USA Today is generating positive publicity.

10k total, 4000 hrs in -400/-8 and 1200 in MD-11, 7 internal recs, 3 job fairs talking to DT and crew and not even a hint of a call. In fact, a couple of months ago, I got a TBNT on my 2018 app, but my 2016 and 17 apps are still active.

There is no pilot shortage, just an absolutely screwed up hiring mentality these days headed by HR people that don't really know anything about aviation and experience. I've met so many others in my boat that just can't get a call after many years, its pretty baffling.

Yes, it eats at me a little.

Various companies have "guaranteed interviews".

This won't cut it with the Pilot Shortage getting worse going forward. Flow through programs, like Envoy/Piedmont/PSA have, and direct hiring/training of non-pilots, like the US mil, and many foreign airlines have, will be required.

Palm Tree,

I'll start by saying our hiring process certainly has room for improvement...without a doubt.

By your resume alone you are extremely well qualified. But UPS doesn't hire just off resumes. You had 3 face to face interactions with HR and they made the decision to take a pass on a well qualified applicant; why? I would look as objectively as you can at those previous face to face interactions because that is where the problem lies. Don't be fooled by the relaxed environment. Those are on the spot interviews and if you don't get past them you will never get a call. Whether you realized it or not somewhere that 10 min discussion went off the rails. If you can figure that part out and try again I think you will get much better results.

Best of luck to you.

Yep, you're probably 100% right. I've always known I don't do well trying to be someone else and even with paid coaching, I still manage to un-impress HR people. For 18 years of a civilian career after the Army, I always gotten along with the people I have flown with, granted the few in every bunch that I may have butted heads with. I guess some of us just aren't meant to be in the top companies, but I think my future will be bright soon.

Thanks for the advice.

Let the shortage rage on!

While ckap’s logic is sound, I would wager that is just as likely the hiring team fumbled your file somewhere along the way. FWIW...

Exactly this - there is NO shortage of pilots (qualified) willing to work for UPS wages. They must have 100's if not 1000's of resume's on file.

The shortage will be felt first way way down in ACMI / regional / charter yada yada land - where the pay AND QOL are much much worse. Is there is a shortage of pilots willing to work for crap wages in a strong economy for bottom tier companies? Sure. A shortage willing to work for UPS wages? Total BS.

It's either UPS or FedEx HR personnel who said in about two years, they would have no idea how to get enough pilots to crew their aircraft.
The Pilot Shortage is getting much worse over about the next 4 years...after that it will ease up, a little bit.

Where did you hear that?

Enough pilots to crew their feeders, perhaps...but the trunk fleets? Nah.