I am becoming slightly concerned that there is a 'crunch' coming in the next 6 months as supply and demand fall more heavily out of synch.
There was a timeframe around late 1997 to late 1998 when demand for pilots picked up and people suddenly started getting jobs. Then the lag in training was extinguished by the increased numbers who started training as a result of what now looked like a buoyant hiring market. This increased supply slowed things down to a lower but still healthy recruitment stream which we have enjoyed to date.
With a freezing of sponsorships, some airlines entering difficulty and the looming economic downturn there *could* be the signs that recruitment is going to slow. Be advised that this will be very painful for a year or two as the colleges continue to pump out students who enrolled in the high times.
For someone thinking of making the big leaps in expenditure for flying training over and above the PPL the exams and the like I might soon be advising caution.
Its too early to call - just read the financial press to gauge the level of uncertainty about the next 12 months. But the worst time to enter the market is as it slows - its like a motorway pile-up and just as ugly.
Good luck,
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