The future of airline pilots

[taylud123]

hi

At the moment i am currently studying for my GCSEs, and i need to make a decision on what i would like to do as a career. I am interested in becoming an airline pilot, but before i commit myself i have a question.

How long do you think it will be before an airline pilots job is obsolete, would it worth all the time and money to train if there is no future for airline pilots?

If you think back 15 years, there were 3 -4 pilots working in the cockpit, now only 2 and their workload has been drastically reduced. How long will it be before there is only 1 pilot, just monitoring the computer flying, or a totally unmanned aircraft.

So if i did become a pilot, how long would i have in the job before automation and computers take over a pilots job?

I would like people and other airline pilots opinions, as this could change my career choice :)

[potate]

I don't think the general public can develop the confidence to fly on a totally unmanned aircraft. But perhaps a low fare would entice them. On a bad day when a computer could not provide a safe outcome I imagine teamwork and decision-making between 2 pilots would be critical.

[wiggy]

If you think back 15 years, there were 3 -4 pilots working in the cockpit, now only 2 and their workload has been drastically reduced.

Don't get too carried away with the extrapolation and the sales brochures , over 20 years ago we were already down to 2 pilots on the likes of the 744 (any extra was, and is, down to crew rest requirement)...and guess what? So has every airliner that has followed including the likes of the 787 and the A350...and no, I'll bet the workload hasn't been reduced at all.

if i did become a pilot, how long would i have in the job before automation and computers take over a pilots job?

The jobs going to be around for IMHO 50 years plus, the problem is the T&Cs, so please don't ask me what you will be earning!!!

[Abacus]

It reminds me of Noel Edmunds Christmas TV special many years ago where he was on board a BA Concorde flight from London to Barbados. Part of the programme took place on the flightdeck where Noel asked the Flight Engineer what he thought of the future of Flight Engineers with the advent of increasing technology. A reference was made to the Boeing 747-200 which had two pilots and a Flt/Eng and the advent of the 747-400 which had two pilots and no Flt/Eng. The Flt/Eng thought for a moment and quipped - "that's true, but just wait for the 747-500, that will have two Flight Engineers and NO pilots!"

In answer to the OP's question. The industry is in a race to the bottom with regard to salaries and T/C's. As long as there is an ample supply of willing recruits prepared to fund their own training, type rating and initial line experience the future will look very bleak!
Look for a profession that will adequately reward your efforts, not take advantage of them!

[darkroomsource]

To clarify for the OP,
Worry less about this career existing in 30 or 40 years, worry more that there are many more pilots available than positions.
And why I say many, think in terms of 10-20 times as many pilots as there are airline positions.

Get a degree in something you love, AND pursue a flight career. That way, if it turns out you're a fabulous engineer or programmer or accountant, you can fly on the weekends and it will always be fun.

[taylud123]

OK thank you all for replying, I'll maybe get a degree in something else, and see what the industry looks like in the future, although, even if I don't get an airline job, I'll still be flying privately anyway :)

[Halfwayback]

Welcome to the Wannabees Forum!

I'm glad that you got your question answered and, to add my voice, it will be many years before fare paying passengers will get into an aircraft that doesn't have a person controlling its progress in flight.

Yes a UAV such as a Raptor can be flown and landed remotely but when the secondary back up system fails on a passenger aircraft it still requires informed decisions to be made - it will take a long time to achieve the necessary change of mind-set. I think you will have time for a career in aviation if you choose.

However, the number of vacancies and the number of pilots is a completely different discussion.

Good luck either way!

HWB