SS,
Thing is, if the flying DOESN'T back off soon, we are in REAL trouble!
Any reduction was only going to be a temporary bulge in numbers as we are just not capable of training at a rate to keep pace with deliveries. If we DON'T achieve a temporary surplus over the next few months, we are in real trouble, of the parking Aeroplanes variety.
I do think there was some "Blue sky" thinking involved, probably vastly underestimating attrition. 4% is still 100 pilots, and each captain leaving is TWO training courses needed, so there is about 40% of our training capacity gone just keeping numbers current.
Short of early retirements of airframes or deferral/leasing out of deliveries, I don't see a solution. They can double the pay, get all the top-class applicants they need, and still not be able to keep up with the pace of expansion.
But hey! There's always something interesting to talk about around here!!
