Worldwide Pilot Shortage - The First Phase.

[Kaptin M]

Anyone else noticing it?

It's no longer a "rumour".

Flights cancelled - or "re-scheduled" - to accomodate the lack of pilots employed.

Pilots rostered to fly 100 hours per month (the absolute maximum legally permitted), followed by minimum days off.

It's not really "news" any more.

.....but we're doing it.

Gentlemen :ok:

Let's each have FAITH in each other :ok:

[Trolle]

Where on the planet are you? In some parts of Europe it is going the other way, especially among the traditional flag carriers.

I sure hope you are right though, although some better treatment of employees would also be a good start.

[Airbubba]

This Great Pilot Shortage has been coming for decades now in the U.S.

First, it was supposed to be the WWII pilots retiring from the airlines (actually hiring was pretty brisk in the late 60's).

Then the Korean War vets reaching retirement. Until a few years ago the military was the primary source of airline pilots in America.

Recently, airlines were going to expand so much there would be "one crash a day" according to CNN aviation expert Mary Schiavo. I remember Aviation Week had a Y2K cover story on the coming shortage of maintenance workers. Post 911 thousands of U.S. pilots are furloughed and several airlines on the brink of shutting down.

I think the 100 hour months are more from the bean counters maximizing productivity than any real shortage of qualified pilots.

If one of the major U.S. carriers shuts down even the expat market will be flooded with current and qualified applicants based on past and personal experience. We like our guns but we'll work overseas if we are desperate enough <g>. Of course, when a job driving the lav truck opens up back home we'll repatriate. Been there done that...

[maxrpm]

Hello Kaptin M!

Where is that wonderfull region you are working?

Here in Middle Europe my old Friends who flew at Volare still don´t see their families. Their jobs are now in Asia. Can´t find any other work. Still Air Littoral Pilots applying at our company - after all this years. Former Swiss pilots getting daily more. From 900 Applicants (all full ATPL) company was able to take 70.

[411A]

OTOH, Continental has recalled all of their furloughed pilots, and may actually hire a few new ones.
Sadly, for the likes of Delta, American, United and Northwest, the future looks cloudy at best.

Of course, when America West and US Air merge, it may well put some pilots out on the street again.

Meanwhile, B747 Commanders seem to all have jobs, ditto for many older Flight Engineers on the jumbo as well.

First Officers?
I suspect the airlines will have to start training a few, in the not too distant future, depending on where the head shed is.

All in all, things are a lookin' up...generally.

Until the next downturn, that is.:}

[Farrell]

I just bumped into a very pleasant AA pilot in a parking lot who told me that the regionals are hiring. Think I might have spooked him a bit though as I suppose in the US, just walking up to someone in the parking lot and going........'Hi, I'm Wayne and I want to be a pilot!!' might be a social faux pas!! :rolleyes:

[V1 Rotate]

I thought that Airbus had solved the "crew shortage" problem once and for all with the advent of the A380.
Part of their sales pitch is the dramatic shift in the pax / crew ratio. (600pax / 2pilots)

V1:cool:

[bushpilot]

:} This has got to be the Friday Joke! This has got to be a yearn continued by some airlines and flight schools to keep an abudance of pilots on standby from the suckers all pouring into and out of their flight school machinery with the "I belive! and I'm a sucker!" sticker on their backs. :E

[LAWN DART DRIVER]

Continental is hiring 30 a month. The first new hires started in April. I hope the movement keeps going.

LDD:ok:

[fullforward]

See "BA Shortage" thread around here.

JetBlue, Southwest, Ryanair, Thomsonfly, EK, SK, QR , you name it, employing like crazy!...Fact.

[ManaAdaSystem]

And:

Air Deccan, Jet Airways, Spice Air, Air India, Kingfisher, Malaysian, Air Asia, Singapore + Sing Cargo, Schenzen, Hainan, Korean, Sri Lankan, Oman Air, Tiger, Etihad, Silk Air +++

[Willie Everlearn]

This is an inevitable reality for our industry. Full stop.

Those of us involved with the training of Pilots know full well the reality of what is truly going on in this industry. I liken it to an often overused term, Tsunami. Most don't even recognize it let alone understand it.

What you NEED to know going forward, is your professional worth. More than at anytime previous to this. Spend the time in your own critical analysis of what you really and truly think you are worth and what it is you need to create as the ultimate employment contract and be very cautious in any compromise you may face regarding employment. You could be greatly disappointed and wind up spending far too much time whinging on this forum about how you got stiffed.

Time to change that! Isn't it boys and girls?

Many would-be employers of pilots, 'offer' take-it-or-leave-it contracts and have done so for the last decade. This reality is evaporating and should those of you deciding to stand your ground have the ********* to do so, by being adamant about your Q&E and self worth could start a trend by turning some of these outfits down.
I mean that sincerely!

Apply to whomever you wish.

Attend the interview. Play in a group to appease the evaluators as to your leadership skills and ability to play nice. Even make an honest attempt at the Psychometric ****e.

Once you've been offered the "Ts&Cs", should they not fall within your own assement of self worth, based upon your own Qs&E, TURN THE OFFER down OR tell them what you feel you are worth, point out to them what you are willing to accept and if it is truly 'negotiated' with fairness and honesty, take the job.

You'll not be as disappointed, your new employer won't be as disappointed AND DON'T SIGN ANY TRAINING BONDS!!!

We may not all share the same Union Rep, but we all can surely make a difference in turning our lot round in the employment circus. Many of these employers are convinced (even betting) we don't know the pool is not only drying up but is in desperate need of replenishment.

Are you playing into their hands?

(simple musing from a jaded "professional" getting too old to be relevant)

:sad:

[p2hl_p2hl]

Is SK hiring?

Please see: http://www.sasflightops.com/pilot/pilot.html

I know that it is an old press release but it is on the pilot recruitment update section.

Best regards peter

[fullforward]

I mistyped. It's SQ, Singapore Airlines.
Cheers:ok:

[Metro man]

A general shortage of pilots, no. Shortages of suitable candidates in specific areas and specific aircraft types, yes.

Therefore if you are experienced on a good type and prepared to relocate worldwide things are definately looking up :D

[fullforward]

Good remark. It's a point.

[STOKKEN]

:( Unfortunately don`t believe SAS are hiring. A lot of pilots are trying for Leave of Absence and early Retirement......

[CanAV8R]

Unfortunately not everyone is hiring. But their certainly is lots of work around now. SAS is not the only flag ship still reeling from 9/11. But alas my friends. Air Canada was dead in the water not a year ago. They were broke. Now? Bought 100 jets + and need 500-1000 pilots in the next 5 years.

The music is playing and getting louder. Grab a chair before someone trips over cord and the power goes out..........

[backtrack320]

i hope the ab-initio's will finally be taken into consideration by those people complaining about pilot shortage, there are still some 100's out here in Belgium.

I know KLM cityhopper is looking for pilots, the KLM pilot school cannot supply enough ab-initio pilots because they are needed on the KLM expanding fleet.

[DEE-DUCK]

More wise utterances from first officer captain M....:hmm:

[flying scotsman]

I had a call from etihad this morning after getting a PFO recenty ( I stucK in a cv before I knew what they paid....).

now they are loking for non-rated guys at the right price. and many will take them up becasue it will get them a shot at a widebody command etc. - despite the very poor pay.

so you have the wannabees who will take whatever is offered to get on the first rung of the ladder. and you also have the experienced Pilots who will do much the same (proportionally in light of experience) to take the next step up to something bigger.

the T & C of most airlines have come down. if times get tough all they have to do is loosen the belt a little and give some of it back -- the unions and most pilots will think a significant corner has been turned. - rubbish.

there is no pilot shortage, there are just more jobs available. still loads of airlines with pleanty of SFO's looking for a command and EVERY airline I know has a knee deep pile of CV's of guys trying to get in.

I wish it was otherwise but it's just wishful thinking.:yuk:

edditted for pur spellingg

[Re-Heat]

I'll believe it when the pay goes up due to lack of supply...

[trainer too 2]

Backtrack...

Not enough abinitios????? That is flight school PR!! The only reason KLM have to go outside is because nobody is bidding for left seat F50. All F50 F/O's rateher wait and go to the F70 or 737 as the F50 captaincy is rated too low in the seniority system and thus pay wise.

[flyA380]

BA has now no more DEP selection for their hold pool open on the website.
Does anyone know if/when they will reopen the on-line applications? I heard they had trainings planned until May 2006: how much more people do they really need on the A320 and on the B777 fleet if one cannot apply anymore today...
Is the BA hiring rush over?:ugh: