Don't be so pessimistic. After 28 years spent in Civil Aviation, I have known several crisis. I was in charge of 150 flight engineer cadets in 1984, the Air France management has told us that they did not see the cadets on board defore 1991. In order to boost the recruitment all the french flight engineers have taken leaves (not paid). Six months later, Air France was in the situation they need the day after all the cadets. My advice to the wannabes: a crisis cannot last a very long period; be ready for the rush which will end the crisis.
eaglet WB (also known as froggy) and my personal hello to www