On pilot shortages and stuff
Am I right in thinking that the current "pilot shortage" is still a shortage of experienced pilots who will work for the money offered, or has that now changed to a genuine shortage?
I only ask because I know of a couple of jobs (in Europe) for which there really hasn't been the material available - it's not just the heavy training costs to take the people on, but their sheer lack of experience in the first place. I mean, surely the N Sea companies wouldn't be forking out for so much IR training if it were otherwise?
I recognise the signs from a period just before Air Europe folded (many moons and many buffalo ago) when you couldn't get on a (fixed wing) pilot course for four years, and many companies went bust because they couldn't get pilots. Instrument rated pilots were being hauled off the N Sea and Madrid Centre was severely understaffed because the Air Trifficers had all gone flying, if memory serves. If that is what's coming for the helicopter industry, then it's time we did something about it.
Phil