Merged: 7.30 Report, Pilot's shortage (03 April 08)

[kimwestt]

Shortage of Pilots !!

The only real shortage in the GA arena is CP's who have their feet on the ground. One in particular - works 4 one of the east coasts larger GA ops - might have serious letter from serious people in regards to anti discrimination. Stay tuned !!!

[Tankengine]

ABC , on shortly!!

[Wellhung Unit]

Geez....The QF CP just don't get it does he....Give the Qlink boys and girls a job on a jet eventually, problem solved...........wake up

[Zero_au]

730 report on ABC tonite

Sorry for late notice for SA Pruners but tonites show has a report on the pilot shortage. It suggests that airlines that don't pay properly may fold! WA members will have some time to spare before it shows. Do you guys in the West get the same report as us here in the eastern states?

[Friction Nut]

.....and apparently the majority of pilots leaving Qlink are going to mainline or Jetstar...

I believe NOT

[Green gorilla]

Its on in WA.

[Zero_au]

Crikey Tank, we must have been tapping away on the computer at the same time!!

Zero

[Gearupandorrf]

Qantas CP.....

Is it just me or did Chris Manning not present very well in front of the Camera- seemed very uncomfortable? Even my Wife made the comment that he looked like he was trying to hide something.

Still- could never top the Engineering Mgr (David Cox??) when grilled on TV re: the "Staples" incident!

[puma4319]

Yeah when he blatantly lied about Qlink pilots all moving onto Jet* and Mainline he seemed very uncomfortable. It was a good report, but i'm a bit dissapointed with his performance. I thought he'd have more integrity than that. Is it me or did he seem like bit of a puppet for managment?
Shame Rex declined being interviewed too...I would of liked to have seen their take on it all.
All in all though i'm happy it wasn't another pure crap media story regarding the state of the industry, but seemed like they had done a bit of research this time!

[Hugh Jarse]

I had to laugh. More guys are/will have left QLink in the last 12 months for external jobs than the sum of all pilots that have progressed to Mainline in the last 12 years!

Capt. Manning either has no idea (and is out of his depth), or is clearly toeing the company line....

I'd suggest the latter.

[Flyingblind]

Thought it very telling that Rex declined to comment. Still a pretty good effort from the ABC crew.

[Bluebottle]

Jarse, he's just chanting the company mantra...at least he looked extremely uncomfortable doing it, so he obviously knows the truth.

A shame the report never asked WHY the regional pilots can't have progression to mainline after jumping through the hoops at Eastern/Sunnies.

As for Rex not appearing...............

[tenfouroldmate]

Shame Rex declined being interviewed too...I would of liked to have seen their take on it all.

Seems to be the common management practice for REX... Don't acknowledge the problem and maybe it will go away!

[KRUSTY 34]

You know, I used to believe that Chief pilots were there to be the link between the pilot group and management. After about 5 minutes in this game I came to realise that they are no more than Company "Yes Men"!

A certain CP who worked for Gerry years ago put his integrity before ambition, but alas he was the exception.

As for the program, I think the measage may be starting to get through.

Captain Ian Woods: "Those that pay the most will keep their pilots, those that don't won't have any".

Peter Harbison: "It's bad now, but it looks like getting a whole lot worse."

Does any of this sound familar? Rex declined an interview of course. I mean do these people realise just how incompetent they look. It may be a case of remain silent and let them think you are a fool, rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt!

Jesus wept!!

[Veruka Salt]

..... and absolute BS that mainline pilots aren't leaving to go overseas.

I hear that another mainline 767 Capt has just interviewed with EK.

[B A Lert]

Sadly, Chris Manning made used-car salesmen look good. For whatever reason, he looked very very uncomfortable as he was probably dreading a few hard questions. They weren't put as we saw and heard as journalists today have no concept of the aviation industry. That's why some of Chris' colleagues have never been (deservedly) skewered.

[tenfouroldmate]

"Those that pay the most will keep their pilots, those that don't won't have any".

I agree with this statement but have concerns that the cadet schemes that Q_link and Rex are running (however efficient they may or may not be run) may be a way out for these companies to pay top wages. IF the above companies can survive the pilot shortage by operating with cadets (for the next say, 2 years), paying them sub-standard salaries will undermine the attempts of the more experienced pilots to get the wages they deserve.
It happened in the pilots' strike in the 80's and has happened in other industry strikes as well. Pilots that were willing to work for nothing got the jobs.

[KRUSTY 34]

tenfouroldmate.

I reckon that's exactly what REX have in mind. Problem is whether REX like it or not, they need ATPL rated pilots with at least 2000 hours and 500 multi command to sit in the left seat! They also require SIM instructors and qualified line Check and Trainers. The continued loss of these people will ensure that the cadet scheme will not only not save REX, but will most likley end in tears for all concerned.

There is only one answer. And we all know what that is.

[LEvans]

Erm, it's 7:20 in WA now, so unless we get the 7:00 Report, or the 6:45 Report, it aint on :P

[puff]

Amazing how Rex is willing to put on media releases about how bad the problem is blaming all the majors for 'poaching' their pilots, and when they had a free opportunity to talk about it on a tv show dedicated to the issue that they suddenly went all quiet ? Strange.