For the last few decades employers have squeezed the orange and now the pips are squeaking. $100 000 outlay to get started followed by poor pay and conditions put a lot of suitable people off entering the industry at all. Companies took full advantage of previous pilot surpluses and can’t complain now that the boot is on the other foot.
From the small GA operator who could easily fill his requirements from walk in applicants and never had to advertise, right up to the second tier who had the entire food chain below them willing to finance their own A320/B737 rating, its being felt. What wasn’t considered was that most of the applicants on file were also on file elsewhere and hardly anyone bothered to update that they got another job and weren’t interested anymore. The hold files thinned considerably once they were followed up. I can’t ever remember seeing so many jobs on the AFAP website, many from employers who never normally had to do more than make a few phone calls if they needed crew.
The suction effect from the top is getting stronger and being felt by everyone, from the 800hr C206 pilot in the Northern Territory whose employer is trying to get the insurance minimums reduced so he fly a twin, to the junior Jetstar Captain who can double his pay and go straight onto an A330 in China
A flying job in Australia is an attractive way of making a living as long as the pay and conditions are right. A nice lifestyle, good climate and infrastructure, safety and the rule of law count for a great deal and would be enough to keep many people at home instead of chasing the $$$ in Asia or the Middle East.
QANTAS still provide a good career and lifestyle a won’t be short as long as they plan correctly and possibly widen the net a bit.