Pilot Shortage Still Affecting Airlines

[JetLagedBird]

The pilot shortage situation in the United States is deteriorating. Any news on sponsoring ex-pat pilots or Canadian pilots?
[color=#e74c3c]To red the full article ==> Click here (https://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/transport/airplanes)

[bafanguy]

Any news on sponsoring ex-pat pilots or Canadian pilots?
To red the full article ==> Click here (https://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/transport/airplanes)

Not other than Aussies on E3 visas. Or maybe a few H1B visas ? Or H1B1 ? The whole visa thing is too confusing for me to sort out. But then, these airlines don't always publicize their hiring practices. If anecdotal information is accurate, the critical point in the system is at the regional level.[/color]

[alfaro]

Silver airways is sponsoring pilots using H1B visas, check its website

[bafanguy]

Silver airways is sponsoring pilots using H1B visas, check its website

Interesting about Silver. I Googled around looking for the H1B ad but this is all I could find (airline apps.com). It just makes the usual statement about having legal ability to work in the USA. But empirically it may not tell the whole story:

"Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer without sponsorship"

Never mind, I found what you were talking about although if you click on the H1B section, it says they're no longer accepting applications for the program:

https://www.silverairways.com/careers

[bafanguy]

JetBlue admits it has a pilot-attrition problem:

“Despite its hiring efforts, JetBlue is suffering an elevated attrition rate as many of its pilots go off to work at large legacy airlines that offer more pay. CEO Robin Hayes said management will have to ‘plan more conservatively’ about the future rate of pilot attrition, an indication that he does not expect the issue to go away soon.”

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297963/jetblue-airways-cuts-summer-capacity-citing-pilot-shortage/

[bafanguy]

My anecdotal sources tell me that Frontier Airlines is also having a pretty serious pilot-attrition problem. Frontier just hasn't been as upfront about it as JetBlue with their news release or Spirit with their ad begging for Aussies.

I've looked around for any statement from Frontier management but haven't seen anything official.

[bafanguy]

More alleged pilot shortage episodes. Perhaps there's just a shortage of pilots willing to fly for these companies:

https://airlinegeeks.com/2022/05/06/cape-air-request-community-terminations/

[1201alarm]

It is obvious, at one point the pool of guys who have 1500 hours will be dry. And at that point there are only three options for the US:

1. change the law, although this will be difficult since in the public perception this law has made aviation safer
2. stop expanding, compensate with less dense networks but bigger planes, which takes a lot of time and destroys a lot of value in the enormous RJ fleets of the US
3. tweak with immigration bureaucracy and bring foreigners in who speak good english, fit culturally and probably already hold FAA papers

[stewartvwyk]

It is obvious, at one point the pool of guys who have 1500 hours will be dry. And at that point there are only three options for the US:

1. change the law, although this will be difficult since in the public perception this law has made aviation safer
2. stop expanding, compensate with less dense networks but bigger planes, which takes a lot of time and destroys a lot of value in the enormous RJ fleets of the US
3. tweak with immigration bureaucracy and bring foreigners in who speak good english, fit culturally and probably already hold FAA papers
Well said, pros and cons to all of them but the quickest and most cost effective is no 3. I personally think this will happen within the next 6 months.

[bafanguy]

It is obvious, at one point the pool of guys who have 1500 hours will be dry. And at that point there are only three options for the US:

1. change the law, although this will be difficult since in the public perception this law has made aviation safer

This is currently being batted around in one form or another:

"Specifically, Republic is asking that pilots who graduate from the rigorous closed-loop training program outlined are granted the ability to also apply for the R-ATP […] The exemption would allow a safe and more diverse group of aviators to enter the industry by providing an additional opportunity for underserved communities and demographics,” writes the letter from Republic."

https://airlinegeeks.com/2022/05/10/republic-airways-requests-exemption-from-1-500-hour-rule-to-address-pilots-shortage/

[1201alarm]

Sounds like someone is slowly trying to creep towards a program similar to the european cadet-ab-initio-programs.

I still wonder if the pool of hireable junior pilots would become much bigger with the outlook of being hireable after 750h iso 1500h. It is still a lot of bugsmashing after your 250h cadet training.

[bafanguy]

Sounds like someone is slowly trying to creep towards a program similar to the european cadet-ab-initio-programs.

I still wonder if the pool of hireable junior pilots would become much bigger with the outlook of being hireable after 750h iso 1500h.

There are those who opine that you're correct in that. We just don't know yet.

And...to the second sentence...I would say yes.

[migrant]

Well said, pros and cons to all of them but the quickest and most cost effective is no 3. I personally think this will happen within the next 6 months.

And drop the 1,000 flight hours in air carrier operations as an SIC in part 121 operations 😵‍💫 I don’t really see anyone who’s been an airline Cpt forever, willing to jump into the right hand seat for two years just to be able to fly the US.

[bafanguy]

I don’t really see anyone who’s been an airline Cpt forever, willing to jump into the right hand seat for two years just to be able to fly the US.

I'm sure you're familiar with the accident that brought us the current regulations for ATPs at Part 121 carriers.

Those regs were not designed to accommodate every variation on a theme; they were crafted in the US frame of reference. They just didn't see the case of/need for very experienced expats being recruited into the Part 121 world...and I'm not sure the regs would've turned out differently if that had been considered.

Those who consider two years in the RHS in the USA beneath their dignity need not apply. Not trying to be snarky...just pragmatic.

[jetjockey696]

Might be good for a few captain be a FO for a few year.. I think they forgot how to treat fellow pilot with respect, as they blow hot air about flying. god gift to knowledge and how they invented flying.

[am111]

And drop the 1,000 flight hours in air carrier operations as an SIC in part 121 operations 😵‍💫 I don’t really see anyone who’s been an airline Cpt forever, willing to jump into the right hand seat for two years just to be able to fly the US.

You’d also have to get most of the airlines to tear up their seniority lists. Very few DEC positions available unless you want to go fly for a regional where pay and conditions are worse than EU LCCs. Funnily enough, those are the one’s feelings the shortage.

[1201alarm]

It is obvious, at one point the pool of guys who have 1500 hours will be dry. And at that point there are only three options for the US:

1. change the law, although this will be difficult since in the public perception this law has made aviation safer
2. stop expanding, compensate with less dense networks but bigger planes, which takes a lot of time and destroys a lot of value in the enormous RJ fleets of the US
3. tweak with immigration bureaucracy and bring foreigners in who speak good english, fit culturally and probably already hold FAA papers

Coming back to above, following was in flight international a few days ago:
https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/pilot-union-complains-to-us-government-about-pilot-hiring-practices/149140.article

ALPA is starting to lobby against option 3 as pointed out above. They also have realised where the obvious way is to solve the shortage.