Shortage of Pilots May Ruin Small Airlines
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Living next door to Alan
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shortage of Pilots May Ruin Small Airlines
(Contains some of the well-known Rex press release)
Shortage of pilots may ruin small airlines
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | October 10, 2007
AUSTRALIA's biggest private regional carrier has warned that a looming pilot shortage will lead to more flight cancellations and help drive smaller airlines to the wall.
Regional Express said yesterday that Australia was facing a pilot shortage that would turn into a crisis for regional carriers in as little as 12months as demand for staff by bigger carriers intensified.
The regional carrier estimates Australia will need an additional 1800 pilots over the next two years but is likely to train less than half that.
It warned that this could result in some regional centres losing their air services, problems for emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and more smaller airlines going to the wall.
Rex chief of staff Jim Davis said some airlines were already struggling to find enough pilots to crew their regular schedules and were being forced to cancel flights.
Mr Davis pointed to Transport Department statistics showing that Rex cancelled 0.9 per cent of its flightsfor July, while Qantas cancelled 1.6 per cent, Qantaslink 1 per cent, Virgin Blue 1.1 per cent and Jetstar 0.3per cent.
"The Rex cancellation rate, for example, is now running at four times historical levels," he said.
But he said the situation was expected to get far worse, and carriers in regional areas would bear the brunt of the problem as major airlines intensified their raids for staff.
The smaller operators had no defence against such massive recruitment and were in no position to match the salaries and conditions of their bigger counterparts.
"Over the last three months, more than 20 per cent of our pilots have been poached by Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas and I am sure the situation is similar or worse in other regional carriers," Mr Davis said.
"It is almost too late to avert some of the disastrous consequences in Australia of the looming pilot shortage, as it takes at least eight months to train a new pilot."
Rex has moved to address the shortage by starting up a cadet scheme that will train 40 people a year and Mr Davis yesterday called on the federal Government to subsidise training for young aviators.
Training for a commercial licence costs about $80,000 and airline chief pilots have identified this as a major impediment to recruitment.
Qantas has also moved to revamp its pilot training and encourage more young people into the industry, while Transport Minister Mark Vaile has ordered a report on the issue and hasbeen talking to ministerial colleagues about including pilot training in HECS.
From The Australian.
Shortage of pilots may ruin small airlines
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | October 10, 2007
AUSTRALIA's biggest private regional carrier has warned that a looming pilot shortage will lead to more flight cancellations and help drive smaller airlines to the wall.
Regional Express said yesterday that Australia was facing a pilot shortage that would turn into a crisis for regional carriers in as little as 12months as demand for staff by bigger carriers intensified.
The regional carrier estimates Australia will need an additional 1800 pilots over the next two years but is likely to train less than half that.
It warned that this could result in some regional centres losing their air services, problems for emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and more smaller airlines going to the wall.
Rex chief of staff Jim Davis said some airlines were already struggling to find enough pilots to crew their regular schedules and were being forced to cancel flights.
Mr Davis pointed to Transport Department statistics showing that Rex cancelled 0.9 per cent of its flightsfor July, while Qantas cancelled 1.6 per cent, Qantaslink 1 per cent, Virgin Blue 1.1 per cent and Jetstar 0.3per cent.
"The Rex cancellation rate, for example, is now running at four times historical levels," he said.
But he said the situation was expected to get far worse, and carriers in regional areas would bear the brunt of the problem as major airlines intensified their raids for staff.
The smaller operators had no defence against such massive recruitment and were in no position to match the salaries and conditions of their bigger counterparts.
"Over the last three months, more than 20 per cent of our pilots have been poached by Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas and I am sure the situation is similar or worse in other regional carriers," Mr Davis said.
"It is almost too late to avert some of the disastrous consequences in Australia of the looming pilot shortage, as it takes at least eight months to train a new pilot."
Rex has moved to address the shortage by starting up a cadet scheme that will train 40 people a year and Mr Davis yesterday called on the federal Government to subsidise training for young aviators.
Training for a commercial licence costs about $80,000 and airline chief pilots have identified this as a major impediment to recruitment.
Qantas has also moved to revamp its pilot training and encourage more young people into the industry, while Transport Minister Mark Vaile has ordered a report on the issue and hasbeen talking to ministerial colleagues about including pilot training in HECS.
From The Australian.
Last edited by Hugh Jarse; 11th Oct 2007 at 07:42. Reason: Clarity
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Transport Minister Mark Vaile has ordered a report on the issue and has been talking to ministerial colleagues about including pilot training in HECS.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 665
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If Bob'orke was still Prime Minister, there wouldn't be a problem. He'd just drop on down to the RTA (or CES!) and grab a couple of dozen bus drivers and quickly glorify them - and have the problem solved in a jiffy.
I can't see what the problem is, because I can distinctly recall this (deep intake of awed breath) esteemed Rhodes Scholar blithely inform the Australian public some years ago
that flying was dead easy and anyone could do it, so a quick 'sortie' by 'Bob' to the local CES and he'll have saved the day yet again.
I can't see what the problem is, because I can distinctly recall this (deep intake of awed breath) esteemed Rhodes Scholar blithely inform the Australian public some years ago
that flying was dead easy and anyone could do it, so a quick 'sortie' by 'Bob' to the local CES and he'll have saved the day yet again.
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
People weigh up pros and cons.
If you look at what people for most regionals get paid in comparison to other sectors and how wages in the pilot market have travelled over the past 10-15vs the increase in cost of living and training its hardly a surprise. If the wage increases were consistent with increases in other industries then people that REALLY want to fly for a living will somehow scratch the money together in order to live their dream.
GOVT- Subsidizing the training costs as opposed to removing prohibitive taxes and fees on operators in the long term will only dilute the quality of candidates that come thru the ranks. In other words you really have to want "it" to work three jobs 6-7 days a week and repay your flying loan over a number of years whilst working for under 30 k in GA for up to a decade.
OPERATORS - Want quality and lots of it? Better Terms and Conditions. Retain staff, attract staff. Swallow the pride, unpuff the chest: the pilot tree is nearly empty.
If you look at what people for most regionals get paid in comparison to other sectors and how wages in the pilot market have travelled over the past 10-15vs the increase in cost of living and training its hardly a surprise. If the wage increases were consistent with increases in other industries then people that REALLY want to fly for a living will somehow scratch the money together in order to live their dream.
GOVT- Subsidizing the training costs as opposed to removing prohibitive taxes and fees on operators in the long term will only dilute the quality of candidates that come thru the ranks. In other words you really have to want "it" to work three jobs 6-7 days a week and repay your flying loan over a number of years whilst working for under 30 k in GA for up to a decade.
OPERATORS - Want quality and lots of it? Better Terms and Conditions. Retain staff, attract staff. Swallow the pride, unpuff the chest: the pilot tree is nearly empty.
I'm still wondering where the shortage is. 4300hrs,loads of Command on turbines. sent out a load of Cv's and only recieved one reply. Sent to Virgin and jetstar over 2 months ago.
One very important question that isn't being asked is that with all the BS sprouting forth from Rex about pilotage shortages where is the AFAP or ANY OTHER professional pilot association? Where is their counter media release? Putting our side of the story?
Hello Laurie anyone there?
Whenever the federal government make a statement on health issues the AMA are right there with a comment and soundbite for the media, where are OUR PAID representatives huh?
Hello Laurie anyone there?
Whenever the federal government make a statement on health issues the AMA are right there with a comment and soundbite for the media, where are OUR PAID representatives huh?
im sick of seeing these threads
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Sent to Virgin and jetstar over 2 months ago.
Simply putting in a resume and waiting for the phone to ring, just doesn't work, well not often anyway!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Adelaide
Age: 69
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One very important question that isn't being asked is that with all the BS sprouting forth from Rex about pilotage shortages where is the AFAP or ANY OTHER professional pilot association? Where is their counter media release? Putting our side of the story?
Hello Laurie anyone there?
Whenever the federal government make a statement on health issues the AMA are right there with a comment and soundbite for the media, where are OUR PAID representatives huh?
Hello Laurie anyone there?
Whenever the federal government make a statement on health issues the AMA are right there with a comment and soundbite for the media, where are OUR PAID representatives huh?
Reckon he'll be throin up in me pot plant again later on.
Give him a break, he only earns around $200K+ a year, what do expect from him, work 2 days a week?
To all me pilot friends out there, ring up old mate lawrie and tell him what you really want. I need a good giggle and so does he!!
I'm still wondering where the shortage is. 4300hrs,loads of Command on turbines. sent out a load of Cv's and only recieved one reply. Sent to Virgin and jetstar over 2 months ago.
Isn't that a word that's used too much these days.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Far East of Mexico
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Supply and Demand
Mr Hat,
I think that you are on the correct track.
Undoubtably with the erosion of Terms and Conditions in Australia due to an oversupply of Professional Qualified Pilots in the last couple of decades, the attractiveness of an Aviation career has decreased.
My belief is that reducing the financial burden for budding new pilots will do nothing to alleviate any perceived pilot shortage. Those individuals who are considering any career will primarily look at renumeration and life style.
What has aviation to offer these days? An income at the top of the tree in a couple of decades that will not even allow your children access to a good private school let alone paying a mortgage, taking the occasional overseas holiday and buying a new car! How about lifestyle issues? How many people would prefer to be home every night and have weekends off?
Notwithstanding the above, as aviation protectionism is decreasing and the market for pilots becomes global, there are many experienced people from troubled, unsecured and dangerous countries who would be more than prepared to live and work in Australia.
I have it on excellent authority that one of the first people employed for Virgins 777 International operation is a South African. After employment I am told that he immediately contacted lots of his compatriots and advised them to expedite their Australian residency process!
There is undoubtably a current shortage of pilots around the world. As a friend told me some time ago there are more aircraft being built than pilots being trained. Employers and manufacturers recognise this. Responses by the industry to date include extending mandatory retirement ages, lowering entry requirements and utilising technology in building aircraft that are smarter, easier to operate and intrinsically safer.
Making a pilots licence easier to afford in order to alleviate the current shortage is an experiment with no gauranteed outcome.
Allowing more non-national pilots residency in Australia will combat a shortage (if only in the short term) as well as allowing employers to once again keep a lid on terms and conditions.
It's been done before and it is only a matter of time before it happens again.
I think that you are on the correct track.
Undoubtably with the erosion of Terms and Conditions in Australia due to an oversupply of Professional Qualified Pilots in the last couple of decades, the attractiveness of an Aviation career has decreased.
My belief is that reducing the financial burden for budding new pilots will do nothing to alleviate any perceived pilot shortage. Those individuals who are considering any career will primarily look at renumeration and life style.
What has aviation to offer these days? An income at the top of the tree in a couple of decades that will not even allow your children access to a good private school let alone paying a mortgage, taking the occasional overseas holiday and buying a new car! How about lifestyle issues? How many people would prefer to be home every night and have weekends off?
Notwithstanding the above, as aviation protectionism is decreasing and the market for pilots becomes global, there are many experienced people from troubled, unsecured and dangerous countries who would be more than prepared to live and work in Australia.
I have it on excellent authority that one of the first people employed for Virgins 777 International operation is a South African. After employment I am told that he immediately contacted lots of his compatriots and advised them to expedite their Australian residency process!
There is undoubtably a current shortage of pilots around the world. As a friend told me some time ago there are more aircraft being built than pilots being trained. Employers and manufacturers recognise this. Responses by the industry to date include extending mandatory retirement ages, lowering entry requirements and utilising technology in building aircraft that are smarter, easier to operate and intrinsically safer.
Making a pilots licence easier to afford in order to alleviate the current shortage is an experiment with no gauranteed outcome.
Allowing more non-national pilots residency in Australia will combat a shortage (if only in the short term) as well as allowing employers to once again keep a lid on terms and conditions.
It's been done before and it is only a matter of time before it happens again.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Space
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AKA...We are finding it a bit tough to find new pilot's who have to put up with Crap T & C's and this will make it hard for us to compete.....Boo Hoo why would you stay flyen a Scab on 40k when you go fly jet on double the $$ ???
Maybe the cheepest part of an airplane won't be the pilot anymore
Any operator who offers a good mix of lifstyle and coin with always be able retain staff
Maybe the cheepest part of an airplane won't be the pilot anymore
Any operator who offers a good mix of lifstyle and coin with always be able retain staff
flyhardmo,
Tis' the calm before the storm!
Jim Davis knows this, and has said as much in the press release. Notwithstanding the blatant omission of the true reason for the shortage, and the disgraceful misinformation and spin purported by REX mangement, the writing is now well and truely on the wall. And they know it! Whether they are prepared to do what is necessary, indeed what should have been done months ago, remains to be seen?
Either way, the number of pilots quoted, needed by the major airlines over the next 2 years would require every available candidate in this country, and then some!!!
Be patient. Unless you have 2 heads, or are stuck on a mountain somewhere, they will more than likely seek you out before long. Now that Mr Davis, will be poaching! And it will be ruthless.
Sadly for REX and the other Regionals, we aint' seen nothin' yet.
Tis' the calm before the storm!
Jim Davis knows this, and has said as much in the press release. Notwithstanding the blatant omission of the true reason for the shortage, and the disgraceful misinformation and spin purported by REX mangement, the writing is now well and truely on the wall. And they know it! Whether they are prepared to do what is necessary, indeed what should have been done months ago, remains to be seen?
Either way, the number of pilots quoted, needed by the major airlines over the next 2 years would require every available candidate in this country, and then some!!!
Be patient. Unless you have 2 heads, or are stuck on a mountain somewhere, they will more than likely seek you out before long. Now that Mr Davis, will be poaching! And it will be ruthless.
Sadly for REX and the other Regionals, we aint' seen nothin' yet.
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 11th Oct 2007 at 10:46. Reason: clarity
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Australia
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Over the last three months, more than 20 per cent of our pilots have been poached by Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas and I am sure the situation is similar or worse in other regional carriers," Mr Davis said. "
Funny that Skywest has none of the "regional carrier" problems that Mr Davis talks about. While they are having problems finding people that meet their requirements for expansion plans I think the number of people that have left in the last year could be counted on one hand and still leave a few spare fingers!
And the reason? They look after there staff, and have a good CA. Mangement actually listens to the pilot body. Maybe you could learn a thing or two Mr Davis?
Funny that Skywest has none of the "regional carrier" problems that Mr Davis talks about. While they are having problems finding people that meet their requirements for expansion plans I think the number of people that have left in the last year could be counted on one hand and still leave a few spare fingers!
And the reason? They look after there staff, and have a good CA. Mangement actually listens to the pilot body. Maybe you could learn a thing or two Mr Davis?
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ennui,
Short term plans indeed. Poor greedy decisions that made GA harder than it needed to be. Getting rid of towers selling off airports introducing fees left right and centre. Whilst some of these were fair enough others weren't due to the size of our country and the small number of tax payers (people need the bugsmashers).
I understand that training is expensive I'm still paying it off but i think making the industry a bit more attractive (from 152 to 747 salaries) to school leavers will attract people in a different way to reducing the cost at the outset.
An inlaw on reading the article asked me "why a shortage now?".. i said "Boom+Expensive houses+Stagnant Pilot salaries= Enrol in teaching."
Short term plans indeed. Poor greedy decisions that made GA harder than it needed to be. Getting rid of towers selling off airports introducing fees left right and centre. Whilst some of these were fair enough others weren't due to the size of our country and the small number of tax payers (people need the bugsmashers).
I understand that training is expensive I'm still paying it off but i think making the industry a bit more attractive (from 152 to 747 salaries) to school leavers will attract people in a different way to reducing the cost at the outset.
An inlaw on reading the article asked me "why a shortage now?".. i said "Boom+Expensive houses+Stagnant Pilot salaries= Enrol in teaching."
Despite a pilot shortage, you still need to pursue the company you wan't to work for! The people I know who have been getting jobs, update their applications regularly, usually monthly, but some as often as weekly.
Simply putting in a resume and waiting for the phone to ring, just doesn't work, well not often anyway!
Simply putting in a resume and waiting for the phone to ring, just doesn't work, well not often anyway!
I personally feel that the ridiculous recruiting methods being implemented at present are part of the reason why they can't find the people they want. If airlines actually screened EVERY resume sent to them then maybe they would be able to find some suitable applicants. The business of getting internal reccomendations works great in small companies but when you are recruiting large numbers of people you can't recruit consistantly like that.
However to do things properly would mean employing staff something which airlines seem adverse to in this day and age.