The problem in the US is becoming more serious by the day. As the regionals park airplanes then the majors will have to accomplish their flying which was previously contracted out at cheaper regional pay scales. This will result in more hiring at the majors meaning more demand upon regional pilots to move up and creating an empty vacuum at the regional level. The new FAA rules requiring 1500 hours compounded by the extremely expensive venture to obtain all of your pilot ratings has left few willing to go that route. Even the aviation schools like Embry Riddle and in North Dakota report less than 1/2 of their students are now seeking commercial flying jobs. Aviation has become much more diverse and there are jobs in other aviation related fields. The average age of pilots will continue to increase upwards as there are not enough younger pilots to replace them. I think at American it is now an average age of 53 y.o. The sky is not falling yet but at the regional level it is reaching a breaking point, especially with summer peak travel upcoming and the US economy still strong. It will be awhile before a shortage exists at the Major level but if the economy stays strong for several years then it will become a buyers market for pilots. The fortunate thing as an Ex-Pat pilot is this demand will push up wages and salaries at Foreign airlines as pilots move back to the US from foreign jobs to pursue a position at a Major. The demand in Asia alone is mind boggling and throw in the huge growth in the Middle East and you have a recipe for a shortage of highly qualified pilots. At the entry level pilot level there are many airlines like China who have set up a cadet pilot program. I can foresee the US Majors having to go to a cadet system as the military has produced such few pilots recently and the costs of training and paying for it by yourself have risen to such high levels. Not many entry level pilots are now willing to go spend 150K for training and then have to gut out 1500 hours somehow for a chance at an entry level regional job paying 22K per year. Interesting times.