international hog driver
30th Mar 2006, 18:35
A few months back a thread was running around here about training capacity (or lack of) that we are facing at the moment and it looks like it is coming true.
For quite a while airlines both big and small have taken the poaching option as the easiest and least costly of all when they are looking for new people. Well the chickens have come home to roost in the past few weeks for number of European outfits. Captains /TRE’s / TRI’s and basically anyone with experience are now starting to vote with their feet.
We have heard of the FR self funder’s who have been twiddling thumbs for a while ‘cause there are no Trainers available. Now certain regional operators are feeling the pinch as well. It is true just today a friend of mine who meets all the requirements for DEC with another company has been told “well we cant take you now as we have not trainers or sim slots”.
Some have asked why does a regional operator need DEC’s??? Well quite simply the experience base of the existing FO’s does not meet the insurance policy requirements. (Yes it is that low).
Other operators have been sub-chartering, making discreet timetable changes and the like simply to try and crew flights. Two well known operators who do type ratings for other companies and individuals have quietly put out the “School closed until further notice” signs simply because where they used to make a few $$$ on the side they now don’t have enough training capacity for themselves let alone outsiders.
Well now that poaching season is in full swing some operators are starting to worry that they will not have enough crew. Not only themselves but also their back up operators who usually make a tidy sum in summer.
Why should anyone care I hear you ask????
Simply this, In Europe today there is not enough training capacity to crew planned summer schedules this year. With all the airlines in the Middle East, South and Far East Asia having ordered enough aluminium to provide Alcoa profits for the next decade and people leaving to go where the dollars are there is simply not the capacity left. Everything from Initial type ratings all the way to Command and Training Upgrades.
So shareholders, financiers, stake holders and you Mr travelling public, don’t blame the pilots when your flight to your summer holiday is delayed, cancelled or simply missing and the lame excuses from airline management flow.
It is very simple to fix this problem. Start investing in your people, invest in them as they are the ultimate resource, the days of disposable workers (flight crew) are basically over. Invest in their training, Invest in having enough people.
Don’t say it cant be done, It’s a lot more expensive to have an aircraft on the ground and the passengers delayed (especially under the new laws) than it ever was before.
Finally for those in Airline management who have read this far and not thought your productivity bonus going out the door… Don’t say that there is not room left for additional cost, that is the biggest load of bollox and you know it. Your prices are driven by yield management who not only look at bums on seats but also at what the opposition are up to. LH are not the most expensive where I live, their service levels are great and their people are well paid….. Ask yourself how come they made a tidy $547 million profit?
For quite a while airlines both big and small have taken the poaching option as the easiest and least costly of all when they are looking for new people. Well the chickens have come home to roost in the past few weeks for number of European outfits. Captains /TRE’s / TRI’s and basically anyone with experience are now starting to vote with their feet.
We have heard of the FR self funder’s who have been twiddling thumbs for a while ‘cause there are no Trainers available. Now certain regional operators are feeling the pinch as well. It is true just today a friend of mine who meets all the requirements for DEC with another company has been told “well we cant take you now as we have not trainers or sim slots”.
Some have asked why does a regional operator need DEC’s??? Well quite simply the experience base of the existing FO’s does not meet the insurance policy requirements. (Yes it is that low).
Other operators have been sub-chartering, making discreet timetable changes and the like simply to try and crew flights. Two well known operators who do type ratings for other companies and individuals have quietly put out the “School closed until further notice” signs simply because where they used to make a few $$$ on the side they now don’t have enough training capacity for themselves let alone outsiders.
Well now that poaching season is in full swing some operators are starting to worry that they will not have enough crew. Not only themselves but also their back up operators who usually make a tidy sum in summer.
Why should anyone care I hear you ask????
Simply this, In Europe today there is not enough training capacity to crew planned summer schedules this year. With all the airlines in the Middle East, South and Far East Asia having ordered enough aluminium to provide Alcoa profits for the next decade and people leaving to go where the dollars are there is simply not the capacity left. Everything from Initial type ratings all the way to Command and Training Upgrades.
So shareholders, financiers, stake holders and you Mr travelling public, don’t blame the pilots when your flight to your summer holiday is delayed, cancelled or simply missing and the lame excuses from airline management flow.
It is very simple to fix this problem. Start investing in your people, invest in them as they are the ultimate resource, the days of disposable workers (flight crew) are basically over. Invest in their training, Invest in having enough people.
Don’t say it cant be done, It’s a lot more expensive to have an aircraft on the ground and the passengers delayed (especially under the new laws) than it ever was before.
Finally for those in Airline management who have read this far and not thought your productivity bonus going out the door… Don’t say that there is not room left for additional cost, that is the biggest load of bollox and you know it. Your prices are driven by yield management who not only look at bums on seats but also at what the opposition are up to. LH are not the most expensive where I live, their service levels are great and their people are well paid….. Ask yourself how come they made a tidy $547 million profit?