Thank you for the corrected link, boogie-nicey, it is the one that I use to verify my sorry opinion of USA pilot employment situation. Every word in that Wall Street Journal report is correct. Many US pilots bail-out for jobs overseas.
xxx
Yes, many pilots in my age bracket (50-60) - that many of you youngsters, are keen to insult in response to sound advice - have the same opinions as I have... If 20 of age again, yes, I would train in the USA for a licence, but not seek employment in USA under any circumstance.
xxx
There might be a (qualified) pilot shortage now in the USA... but plenty of pilots with CPL-IR-ME and 250 Cessna/Heavy hours are available. All these are busy playing CFI to share their superior aeronautical knowledge and experience to other young student pilots in US flight schools. The more qualified pilots, with ATPL and 2,000 hrs are finding underpaid F/O employment with the commuter carriers that bear an emblem of American, Delta or United on the tail... but that is not flying for AA, DAL or UAL... These more experienced F/Os are teamed with commuter captains, having what (?) 6 months extensive experience in the left seat of a Brasilia or CRJ... The blind leading the blind... I wish the passengers knew the level of experience of some of these crews...
xxx
Maybe, there will be a "hiring craze" in the next 2 years, 5,000 of you pilots will be hired.
Now, let me give you my point of view on your career horoscope of your next 25 years as "airline pilot"...
* You will be hired next year (having spent $80,000 to get there) to be a CRJ F/O, very low pay.
* In 2011, you will become a captain on that CRJ, surviving with your salary.
* Motel 6 near airports, commuting 3 times a month, maybe a divorce...
* In 2012, you will be hired by Delta, the "real Delta" and be a 737 F/O...
* First year wages again, commuting again.
* In 2014, 10,000 pilots layoffs, because USA will declare war against Iran (?) or Zimbabwe (?)
* Furlough until 2018, during which you will be... a CFI (maybe?)... moving 3 times, remarried...
* Recalled, you will pass the next 10 years as F/O on the 787... wages start to be ok in 2025 (maybe?)...
* Your airline will merge with another... loss of seniority for "the other list"...
* And finally you will be captain in 2027... forced to move again. Retirement will come in 2035...
* Hopefully your wife will have a little store selling mobile phones and perfumes to survive...
Is that what you call a career of a professional?...
xxx
No thanks - USA, thank you... I prefer to fly A380s for Patagonian Air Service.
Happy contrails