...now finding it difficult to attract good students and that they're now going out to colleges and schools to try and attract more. They suggest that piloting is fast losing its appeal in a competetive employment market, and that the (primarily cost) barriers to entry and the ever-less attractive pay and terms of service of pilots are the main causes of this.
So the penny if finally starting to drop in the aviation industry? I suppose it was only a matter of time. One of the harsh realities of trying to become a commercial pilot is that it costs a fortune to get the correct bits of paper so you can even be considered for an interview.
The return on investment just doesnt add up. The very very cheapest you could possibly do a CPL/IR/MCC course is GBP35k (realistically think in the region of 45-50k) and what does that get you? These days little more than the possibility to accept more debt to buy your own Type Rating (add another GBP15-20k to the costs).
What will you earn in your first few years as a pilot? Well, you might make GBP30k in your first year (if you are very very lucky), so that means you have a best case scenario of a Return on Investment of -5k. Not very good is it?
Now lets look at another career choice. Do an HNC/HND in Computer Science or Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Government funds the course costs (including exam fees etc). You just need to find beer money. Follow that by self investing approx GBP6K in a Microsoft Certifed Software Engineer/Administrator (MCSE/MCSA) course (probably about 4-6 weeks all in) and hey presto you can start earning from GBP35 per hour. At that rate of pay you will cover your costs within 2 months. After you have built up some experience and a little bit of specialist knowledge you can start charging anywhere up to GBP100 per hour. Generally you work weekdays, can plan holidays/days off earn enough to fly for fun and buy a fast car. No 0400 report times. Check out this thread
Typical Pilot's Day for more detail on the working life in aviation.
If you were thinking logically and sensibly what option would you choose?
Airlines are lucky at the moment, there is an over supply of pilots and still enough silly sods like myself who are willing to pay through the nose to realise our ambitions, but the question that aviation companies may have to start addressing is this: if the aviation industry is to expand at the levels forecast, where are all the pilots going to come from?
Being a pilot may well still be regarded by the masses as being a "glamour job" but just by reading sites like PPRuNe, a lot of the mystique is removed.
Yes, it is a very rewarding and fulfilling career
<but> we still have to put food on the table and have some form of home/social life. Everyone needs to find a balance between professional life and private life. Depending on what company you work for that may or may not be possible.
OATS may well be going to schools and colleges, but has been pointed out many times, they are still just selling a product. A very expensive product. There is no guarantee of a job at the end of that product. Most people could accept the risk of spending GBP6k with the possibilty of getting work at the end. How many are willing to accept the risk of spending GBP60k for an even more uncertain prospect of work?
I realise that this forum is filled with many rose coloured spectacle wearers, but aviation is an expensive game to get into and the rewards are getting less and the opportunities, at the moment, fewer.
I fear that things may well get worse before they get better.