Reuters article about pilot shortage
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IATA estimates airline traffic will nearly double during that period, so companies like Canadian training group CAE Inc (CAE.TO) and L3 Technologies (LLL.N) are building new flight simulators to cash in on training demand.
Yet as pressures from pilot groups seek a rise in T's & C's for line pilots, and with some success, the lonely often freelance SFI at these training centres has seen a reduction in income over the past few years. They have no bargaining power and are often retried or part-time line pilots earning pocket money. The full-time SFI, perhaps without a medical, has been screwed to the floor. They are one solution to the shortage, but reap small rewards for their efforts.
Yet as pressures from pilot groups seek a rise in T's & C's for line pilots, and with some success, the lonely often freelance SFI at these training centres has seen a reduction in income over the past few years. They have no bargaining power and are often retried or part-time line pilots earning pocket money. The full-time SFI, perhaps without a medical, has been screwed to the floor. They are one solution to the shortage, but reap small rewards for their efforts.
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There is no real shortage of pilots, just a shortage of victims. Only when airlines squeal that the only way to ensure their very existence is to have a properly funded ab-initio schemes will I believe their is a real shortage. Until then, I hope unions screw the very last drop of essence, plus interest, they screwed out of us over the past 15 years or so. It should cost billions, of not we have been screwed; again!
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There is no real shortage of pilots, just a shortage of victims. Only when airlines squeal that the only way to ensure their very existence is to have a properly funded ab-initio schemes will I believe their is a real shortage. Until then, I hope unions screw the very last drop of essence, plus interest, they screwed out of us over the past 15 years or so. It should cost billions, of not we have been screwed; again!
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There is no real shortage of pilots, just a shortage of victims. Only when airlines squeal that the only way to ensure their very existence is to have a properly funded ab-initio schemes will I believe their is a real shortage. Until then, I hope unions screw the very last drop of essence, plus interest, they screwed out of us over the past 15 years or so. It should cost billions, of not we have been screwed; again!
Name an established airline with good terms and conditions, which has an ab initio training program in place and is experiencing a shortage of Pilots.
Even without a cadet program, the top tier can still crew their aircraft. There may be bottle necks in training and the net may need to be cast a bit wider with reduced minimums but they can still get by.
Shortages are primarily with:
Rapidly expanding airlines in China and Asia whose growth has outpaced the normal lead time from off the street to experienced Captain.
Previously top expat employers such as Emirates and Cathay who let their terms and conditions slide. Now a job back home is a more attractive option.
Second level airlines such as Ryanair who screwed their Pilots into the ground during previous surpluses.
Regional and general aviation level jobs which have traditionally paid poorly and simply been regarded as a steppingstone to better things. Their Pilots have moved up the food chain and haven’t been replaced.
Even without a cadet program, the top tier can still crew their aircraft. There may be bottle necks in training and the net may need to be cast a bit wider with reduced minimums but they can still get by.
Shortages are primarily with:
Rapidly expanding airlines in China and Asia whose growth has outpaced the normal lead time from off the street to experienced Captain.
Previously top expat employers such as Emirates and Cathay who let their terms and conditions slide. Now a job back home is a more attractive option.
Second level airlines such as Ryanair who screwed their Pilots into the ground during previous surpluses.
Regional and general aviation level jobs which have traditionally paid poorly and simply been regarded as a steppingstone to better things. Their Pilots have moved up the food chain and haven’t been replaced.
Twas ever thus I fear. The see-saw has been a decades long feature of the industry. However, the low cost boom is responsible for accentuating the problem as airlines have cut costs and treated pilots badly, so no surprise that many vote with their feet.
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Contentment has no price, but inestimable value.
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Father DB
You speak so many true words.
Up until recently I have had some admiration for most FOs handling the 737-800 quite well and coping with most issues good. Even with only 18 months of basic training and then bang into the RH seat at M.78!
Now lately not so much.
I can quote a friend of mine on a 10 aircraft base uttering his frustration after a particularly interesting week on: " Is there ANY competent FOs on this base!!??"
And he is not picky, but he demands that they show some interest!
I tend to agree with him, the standard is sliding rapidly and some basics are slowly eroded by FMS and iPads.
The few linetrainers that are left that I talk with are all agreeing that the standard of the entry Fo has gone down lately.
So, there is a lack of qualified , competent candidates .
You speak so many true words.
Up until recently I have had some admiration for most FOs handling the 737-800 quite well and coping with most issues good. Even with only 18 months of basic training and then bang into the RH seat at M.78!
Now lately not so much.
I can quote a friend of mine on a 10 aircraft base uttering his frustration after a particularly interesting week on: " Is there ANY competent FOs on this base!!??"
And he is not picky, but he demands that they show some interest!
I tend to agree with him, the standard is sliding rapidly and some basics are slowly eroded by FMS and iPads.
The few linetrainers that are left that I talk with are all agreeing that the standard of the entry Fo has gone down lately.
So, there is a lack of qualified , competent candidates .
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Hear hear Dick Byrne,
I have recently traded in my not so shiny regional jet in which I toured relentlessly for a lumbering turboprop which I cycle to and return home from usually on the same day. I have a laugh with my colleagues and whilst inexperienced I find them to be generally well trained and motivated. I sometimes quip that if I ever find myself in a Boeing or Airbus I will have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. That gets some funny looks.
I have recently traded in my not so shiny regional jet in which I toured relentlessly for a lumbering turboprop which I cycle to and return home from usually on the same day. I have a laugh with my colleagues and whilst inexperienced I find them to be generally well trained and motivated. I sometimes quip that if I ever find myself in a Boeing or Airbus I will have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. That gets some funny looks.
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Reduction of labour unit cost as it relates to pilots is cult like obsession.
Using fair means or foul IR 'practitioners' have patted themselves on the back for decades as that unit cost reduced.
Reversion to mean will take some adjustment for them having built whole careers destroying yours, but sadly demographics are working against any nefarious plan they conjure!
Using fair means or foul IR 'practitioners' have patted themselves on the back for decades as that unit cost reduced.
Reversion to mean will take some adjustment for them having built whole careers destroying yours, but sadly demographics are working against any nefarious plan they conjure!
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During my entire 40 year career there were always headlines bleating about shortages of pilots. True I was never out work but then there was never really any shortages either.
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I know it wasn't recent, but there have definitely been shortages in the past. I recall in the late 80s being CFI of a small flying school and being cold called by the chief pilot of Brittania to ask if I knew of anyone interested in being sponsored for their CPL/IR. If that doesn't show a shortage then I don't know what does!
Last edited by BizJetJock; 10th Jun 2018 at 07:27. Reason: Spelling
Did you watch the 2 space x rockets simultaneously land a few months back.
Futerism, the speed technology is advancing, self learning computers, AI, and quantum computing will make it possible.
Boeing are working on pilotless and Airbus are fairly far along with single pilot ops. The role of a pilot is going to change.
I ageee at the moment it seems impossible. And if it’s economically viable, the cost saving of crew vs having to carry more fuel and increased possibility of diversion is a possible distractor.
But somewhere in the world in the next 30-50 years someone’s going to have a crack at it.
Personally i I think single pilot ops are far more likely.
Futerism, the speed technology is advancing, self learning computers, AI, and quantum computing will make it possible.
Boeing are working on pilotless and Airbus are fairly far along with single pilot ops. The role of a pilot is going to change.
I ageee at the moment it seems impossible. And if it’s economically viable, the cost saving of crew vs having to carry more fuel and increased possibility of diversion is a possible distractor.
But somewhere in the world in the next 30-50 years someone’s going to have a crack at it.
Personally i I think single pilot ops are far more likely.
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Bring it on. This will reduce the number of PAX significantly, therefore reducing the number of pilots required and solve the issue in no time.
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I hate to say it but I'm with googlebug on this...single pilot ops is just around the corner, freighters first (that'll be the Beta test).
ALPA is howling up a storm in the US about it already, saying no way Jose. But they said the same thing about the flight engineer!!
ALPA is howling up a storm in the US about it already, saying no way Jose. But they said the same thing about the flight engineer!!
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That's why most of the US air carriers went bankrupt because of selling their product below their cost. Only in socialist countries can airlines continue in business with constant loses, year after year. FYI every time an airline goes under, pilots along with their fellow employees, loose their jobs.