Originally Posted by
Luray
Wow, i did not expect so many comments. Actually i have nothing against fresh out of school pilots , we've all been there so don't get me wrong. I wrote something about safety but it was purely assumption which is clearly proven to be wrong. My concern is mainly with T&C and European aviation that is definitely going god knows where. Lets assume regulations won't change and low-cost airlines will expand, multiply and mutate(like Lauda) and eventually bigger legacy carries will struggle hard to compete and either go belly up or transform to another low cost airline with a proud name and huge debt. As i pilot i prefer not moving to Asia and rather have a decent life in Europe and get an average salary. People in Europe are relatively rich and can spare us some change on top of the ticket price. Otherwise we all end up senior captains sharing dorm bunks and frozen pizza.
i believe the market saturation has to do with the lower standards and experience levels for pilots. For example, I’ve flown with 20 year old 737 pilots in Africa that had 750 hours total, 500 in the 73. They obviously did not have a degree. These individuals did not have to go through the gauntlet and many stages that the same aviator would have achieved, had they been in the US. They paid for flight school, paid to train and fly the 737, and now find themselves employed. These individuals did not have to “earn” their wings or types. They bought them. To be in the right seat of a 73 in the US, you would most likely have a 4 year degree as 72% of american ATP holders have and all major airlines require. You would have gotten your ratings in the military, during college or shortly thereafter. You would have then spent several years accruing experience(hours), trying not to get killed by student pilots, yelled at by career flight school management and getting ready for your first airline interview. By this stage, 65% of the people who started flight school wirh you are no longer pursuing aviation(they couldn’t hack it). You interview with several regional airlines and hopefully get hired. Now, the airline is paying you a salary and for your training. They expect results. Now you learn how to study all over again and the pressure is on. Now you hopefully get signed off on line training after 25-50 hours. Once again, they expect results, they’re paying for it. By this time, you’ve lost another 5-20% of the people you started with. After a few years of 5 leg days, you get a Captain slot. Once again, they expect results. You will lose another 5-20% in upgrade. Now, you’ve got to be an instructor all over again as you’re flying with green FO’s once you’re off high mins. Now you’ve got 1000 in the left seat and are updating your CV(resume) and studying all over again for interviews. Maybe you get hired at United or Jet Blue. Restart initial training. Once again, they expect results. Now, you’re a seasoned veteran, a college graduate, an experienced aviator, at least 28-30 and worthy of the right seat of a Boeing or Airbus and the associated salary and responsibility. Merika....