Chinese airlines are poaching *experienced Australian pilots by offering more than $750,000 a year, leading to concerns pilot shortages may spread from *regional Australia to major routes.
Combined with a decline in Australian pilot training, the *lucrative Chinese contracts have prompted some pilots to warn of potential shortages of major airline captains amid a developing global shortage.
“They are talking about 737 training captains earning *upwards of $US600,000 ($769,000) tax-free and that’s going to be difficult even for the major Australian airlines to cope with,”
It was only a few months ago, that this shortage was dismissed as yet another case of
Australian exceptionalism. (Australia is not different)
Airlines have used adversarial IR driving conditions (not just salary) to the point where rational people look elsewhere.
Gutting GA when it suited them and allowing the taxpayer through the military to foot the bill for pilot training they proceeded as though
supply was unlimited. It isn't. Naturally the state of aviation as an industry and a career is a multi faceted problem, with many competing parts.
The fact remains that the shortage is real, it is not cyclical and short term remedies may protect next year's bonus, but the shortage will continue to bite.
With employers in the western hemisphere used to getting their way with 'outcomes' and bargaining/negotiation Australian pilots may be in for a wild ride!
If I were sitting there in bulls&it castle wondering how to address this problem I would do exactly as the major employer has done:
- Try to integrate foreign pilots into Australian domestic flying-thus establishing precedent
- Introduce 'jets' to a subsidiary- The fear factor
- Quietly lobby to improve supply-457 Visa
- Continue with Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt.
It is not beyond the realms that regional airline networks are simply unable to be crewed.
Would it be pertinent for airlines recognising such a problem to lobby Oberfuhrer Dutton to place airline flights on the essential services, you know 'national interest' list thereby stopping pilots, cabin crew and engineers from allowing a shortage of crew to disrupt the 'vital air bridges'?
Whilst there is mere postulation, it is relevant as the airlines lobbied quietly for a period of time, with the 457 announcement made in the quietest media period; that between Christmas and New Year. It would appear that all major unions,
despite a supposed lobbying presence in Canberra did not see this one coming.