Pilot Shortage in US

InTheTrees

Interesting story in Yahoo News today:

"A widening shortage of U.S. airline pilots is spotlighting the structure of an industry built on starting salaries for regional-airline pilots that are roughly equivalent to fast-food wages.

The shortage's toll rose Tuesday, as Republic Airways Holdings Inc., one of the nation's largest regional carriers, said it would remove 27 of its 243 aircraft from operation because it couldn't find enough qualified pilots. The news, which followed service disruptions at other airlines, sent Republic's shares down 4.1% to finish at $9.45."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pilots-near-minimum-wage-012500215.html

notharrypotter

UK version

ProfessorPlum

An another version:

The Great Airline Pilot Shortage Myth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kN4XyVTW4Y

basill

Or the real truth could be one of the folllowing.....

- We had a load of old airframes that were costing us to fly but needed to find an excuse to cover up our poor fleet renewal strategy
- We were getting run out of dodge on a number of routes so had to pare back
- Now that the majors are calling furloughed pilots we can't find qualified pilots to fly our aircraft for peanuts anymore

The thing aout the markets and analysts is that they are generally pretty smart so will see the wood for the trees. The journos of course will print any old tripe.

folbotcar

Ah the good old pilot shortage myth. It's always just around the corner. Been hearing about it for years. It was supposed to happen when all the wartime pilots retired. That would have been twenty or thirty years ago. It never happened.

Flight schools perpetuate the myth regularly to drum up business.

Shortages do occur locally on occasion. During one recession, an applicant to an airline might be told that he had no chance. 'We have 2000 CVs on file.' said the airlines. The trouble was that all the airlines had the same 2000 CVs on file. When the recession ended there was a bit of a scramble. But it was no shortage. I remember Aer Lingus recruiting PPLs at one stage though.

I think they're really ought to be a pilot shortage. I mean seriously who in their right mind would want to be a pilot with the current terms and conditions. With the pay and job insecurity not to mention the cost of training. It's a crazy ambition.

sawdoubters

21,000 pay is the shortage

they can earn 84,000 middle east no tax and free accomadation


also the regional planes are old and crap and if theres delays the plane goes to back of takeoff or landing spot


you now need 1500 hours to become a pilot


http://www.pilotjobsnetwork.com/jobs/Ryanair

Dublinflyer

I think the shortage is at the more experienced end of the scale. I lot of these guys and gals are heading to the middle east as the benefits and lifestyle is a lot better. There are still a lot of low hour people out there finding it hard to get work where they want. The shortage story has been around for years and I never really buy into it, not for experienced people anyway.

notharrypotter

The shortage story has been around for years

Would it not be true that this story in some version has been doing the rounds about all aviation professions?


In Europe would the "free movement of labour" not deal with any supposed shortfalls?

they can earn 84,000 middle east no tax and free accommodation

The whole package now would have to be examined. It appears that in some cases the latter is no longer available.

folbotcar

notharrypotter wrote: »

Would it not be true that this story in some version has been doing the rounds about all aviation professions?


In Europe would the "free movement of labour" not deal with any supposed shortfalls?

Probably not just in aviation. Although shortages do arise from time to time in various profession. Which tends to lead to an upward pressure in salaries. It's worth nothing there is no apparent upward salary pressure in aviation. Quite the opposite in fact.

As for free movement of labour? That mainly seems to apply to Irish and British airlines. Just try and get into Air France or Lufthansa or any of Continental airlines even if you are fluent in the local language.

It's a bit of one way street there. But of course Ryanair does it differently. Allegedly Ryanair is ignoring most but not all Irish applicants. Of course they deny it and they say it's all based on merit. Which seems to imply that if you've been rejected by Ryanair and you're Irish then you should probably consider another career because you're not good enough.

I'll leave you to work out which scenario is more plausible.

basill

Ah the aviation food chain in action. 10 or more years ago the big US carriers are furloughing thousands so they head for the ME and Asia. Those that didn't or couldn't work abroad gave up their shiny jets and went back to the regionals where they were welcomed back and paid peanuts. Move on a decade and the legacies have taken most back. Many have realised that the desert isn't the holy grail. Emirates have dropped entry requirements to just a few thousand hours now. And the little old regionals still haven't learnt that you need to pay for experience.

Suasdaguna1

basill wrote: »

And the little old regionals still haven't learnt that you need to pay for experience.

And the Aviation Herald will continue to churn out reports upon reports re commuter serious incidents and accidents.