Pilot shortage - How are airlines coping?
 

With proposed regulatory changes to duty times and prevalent pilot shortages, one would reckon pay scales for low-time FOs would improve. Any idea where they're at? :confused:
Last I heard, Air Georgian FOs make around 30k annually; :ugh: Encore's open-house indicated approx. $47/ hour to prospective FOs. Not sure if these are factual, so thought I'd ask!

The airlines are coping by trying to cut wages by 40% or more and reducing quality of life by having you work more days. It makes perfect sense if you don't think about it.

I am out of the business now but only recently; things were only starting to improve for newcomers when I left, then things went crazy. It's only been a short time since the shortage began when you think of it.

So the mainline carriers are not experiencing a shortage. I think it is stating the obvious, the two main carriers get much of their feed from their feeder airlines, and have at least some relevant experience. There is also a minority who go straight to mainline in at least one of the airlines, the other one I am not sure. The job is attractive enough to attract people with some background who would otherwise choose to stay where they are.

So that promise of a shot at the big times (and eventual big paychecks) still seems to be enough to attract people to crew their airplanes. I know of one person with very little time, and I mean very little time, that was taken on by one of the feeders, spent about 3 years there, and was taken on to the mainline carrier, right seat in a widebody no less. Not everyone gets on of course, but it is still enough incentive to attract people.

Not the ideal situation I know, but it is what it is.

Air Georgian has written a letter to the Canadian aviation industry about pilot supply solutions:

Air Georgian | Air Georgian Writes Open Letter to Canadian Aviation Industry

Encouraging Canadian CFIs:

Jazz Further Supports Seneca With Flight Instructor Bursary Program | Aero-News Network

Ahhaa I recall the late 90's when you were lucky to get onto a twotter.... and if you did you were stuck there.... for life..... that's why I left.... looks like not much has changed.

So, doesn't it make sense if you are 35, have a family, full time job but still desiring to be a pilot by getting some loans for education/training? I'm so confused of starting for a new career, spending that much time for training especially after I heard these kind of issues about airlines.

Might also ask how the RCAF is dealing with a pilot shortage. This has a familiar ring to it:

“The RCAF is also dealing with a pilot shortage, with only 64% of the trained CF-18 pilots it needs to meet its commitments, says the Auditor General. However, National Defence is unlikely to be able to close the gap because pilots are also leaving the fighter force faster than new ones could be trained, the report says.“

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...nnel-s-453792/

Probably so but I'm not sure a government entity has the ability to do much of that.

Heck, I'm also not sure civilian aviation entities see the need to do that.

The wheels just keep on turning regardless.

The pay..... certainly agree with you.

Terms and conditions..... I believe TC can play a pivotal role in that. Better flight duty regs is a great start. Operators look at any duty regs as targets rather than limits. And they do find inventive ways to even push those limits.
Give the regulations more teeth and zero leeway for abuse and hopefully things will improve and make flying a viable and sustainable career and attract much needed man(person)power.

I don't remember when exactly but the CAF/RCAF did substantially raise their CF-18's pilot salary some years ago as incentive to stay.

So yes, a government can do it.

Apparently, it didn't achieve the desired result according to the article I posted; pilots are still leaving faster than their replacements can be trained.

The USAF is facing a very similar (if not identical) situation. And they've thrown retention bonus after retention bonus at their pilot group without desired results. Now they're allegedly "improving" the lifestyle situation in hopes of convincing people to stay. Time will tell.

There's only so much the military can do because ultimately the needs of the service supersede the wishes of the individual.

We'll see...

Same game is playing out down in Oz.. Rumours abound that Defence HR has tried some backroom deals with the major airlines whilst claiming there is no pilot retention issue?!

There is a pilot shortage and time from licence to first job to airline is amazing. The interview is pretty much a check to see if you have a pulse these days.... but the management are still in denial that there is a shortage. I'm not sure at what point they will admit it? I think that rather than admit there is an issue and work towards resolving it they are working towards automating the job out of existence... but that will take time and it may be time they don't have.

Here's a recent program...not many details:

"CAE creates over 1,500 new pilots yearly over 30 cadet training programs globally, and we are thrilled to add a first Canadian cadet pilot training program to our list of curricula," said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group president, Civil Aviation Training Solutions.


CAE, Jazz And Seneca Launch First Cadet Pilot Training Program In Canada | Aero-News Network