Growing Pilot Shortage
Join Date: Sep 2015
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I am not sure if there is an actual shortage, but it looks like that you can get a job in a reasonable time after completion of you ATPL (f) if you did fairly well in your training with no major hiccups.
There has been a lot of movement in the market lately, people moving on to different airlines, or leaving smaller operators for the big shiny jets. At smaller airports, you can definitely see that they are shorthanded of well-trained pilots. Think about areal survey flights, photography flights and random sightseeing flights. Them being short of pilots is a good indication of what might be coming to the airlines too if aviation keeps on growing at this pace.
So I am not sure about a shortage but it definitely looks very good for people coming out of school this year or planning to move on to a different airline.
There has been a lot of movement in the market lately, people moving on to different airlines, or leaving smaller operators for the big shiny jets. At smaller airports, you can definitely see that they are shorthanded of well-trained pilots. Think about areal survey flights, photography flights and random sightseeing flights. Them being short of pilots is a good indication of what might be coming to the airlines too if aviation keeps on growing at this pace.
So I am not sure about a shortage but it definitely looks very good for people coming out of school this year or planning to move on to a different airline.
Join Date: Jun 2000
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you can definitely see that they are shorthanded of well-trained pilots.
And therein lies a possible problem. The type of pilots flying who've joined in the past 10 years are different animals from those 30 years ago, even though the technology is not so wildly different. LNAV/VNAV, magenta line FMC flying with triple autopilots started early 80's. FBW & GPS has taken it a stage further, but the basic foundation is not so far removed. What has changed is the type & depth of training. MPL pilots coming from a diluted CPL syllabus straight into a computerised jet, MPA trained monkey style.
So what is a 'well trained pilot'? We've had many circular debates on here for years. I'm not trying to start another one. However I do feel there is a need for a good long hard review of what the real requirements are for the major airline jet environment. I still see the 'candidate's requirements' are very similar to 40 years ago, but the job is completely different. The sim tests are still raw data SE ILS's following procedural patterns and then visual circuits and NDB approaches with GA's. All great stuff and should be possible; but I then ask why do some airlines want these skills but do not let their crews use them on a daily basis? What's the point of being recruited because you are a nice, team working, well hand-eye coordinated, clear thinking son of a gun, who is then treated like a school boy; as in sit down do your job and don't ask questions; and not allowed to fly.
Square pegs round holes comes to mind. I beg to differ with some ideas of what is a well trained pilot. We hear there are some large airlines who like to poach from some small airlines because it is believed their training is excellent. That might be true in an automated trained monkey environment, but it doesn't make them well trained pilots; just one sort of pilot.
And therein lies a possible problem. The type of pilots flying who've joined in the past 10 years are different animals from those 30 years ago, even though the technology is not so wildly different. LNAV/VNAV, magenta line FMC flying with triple autopilots started early 80's. FBW & GPS has taken it a stage further, but the basic foundation is not so far removed. What has changed is the type & depth of training. MPL pilots coming from a diluted CPL syllabus straight into a computerised jet, MPA trained monkey style.
So what is a 'well trained pilot'? We've had many circular debates on here for years. I'm not trying to start another one. However I do feel there is a need for a good long hard review of what the real requirements are for the major airline jet environment. I still see the 'candidate's requirements' are very similar to 40 years ago, but the job is completely different. The sim tests are still raw data SE ILS's following procedural patterns and then visual circuits and NDB approaches with GA's. All great stuff and should be possible; but I then ask why do some airlines want these skills but do not let their crews use them on a daily basis? What's the point of being recruited because you are a nice, team working, well hand-eye coordinated, clear thinking son of a gun, who is then treated like a school boy; as in sit down do your job and don't ask questions; and not allowed to fly.
Square pegs round holes comes to mind. I beg to differ with some ideas of what is a well trained pilot. We hear there are some large airlines who like to poach from some small airlines because it is believed their training is excellent. That might be true in an automated trained monkey environment, but it doesn't make them well trained pilots; just one sort of pilot.
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We hear there are some large airlines who like to poach from some small airlines because it is believed their training is excellent. That might be true in an automated trained monkey environment, but it doesn't make them well trained pilots; just one sort of pilot.
We don’t seem to have the unofficial mentoring of old. If I see my FO doing something that is technically ok but could be improved with a bit of thought and the benefit of experience I’m not likely to tell him or her because it may not be well received. It’s likely to be met with argument for the technique they displayed. Only twenty years ago if I was informed of a different way to approach something I always took it onboard for consideration before implementing or discarding it. I certainly didn’t argue my position right off the bat.
There are no doubt benefits and pitfalls to both attitudes but I sometimes wonder how the new FO’s will ever progress if that mentoring is rarely occurring now days.
There are no doubt benefits and pitfalls to both attitudes but I sometimes wonder how the new FO’s will ever progress if that mentoring is rarely occurring now days.
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I have for the most part found that FOs, especially those with not much experience, appreciate feedback and pointers on how to improve. On the other hand, captains, especially those that have done the job for very long and who are bored with it and grown complacent, have sometimes real issues with honest feedback.
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https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/n...nuses.amp.html
45K sign-on bonus to fly EMB175 and 6 years later flow-through to AA. Not a bad deal for young low hour pilots.
45K sign-on bonus to fly EMB175 and 6 years later flow-through to AA. Not a bad deal for young low hour pilots.
"The signing bonuses of up to $45,000 will go to pilots who already have a solid record and Part 121 commercial airline experience, Wilson said."
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Love to apply for the Envoy gig but there's that slight flaw in my plan....Must have the Legal right to live and work in the USA or a Green Card. Whilst I have a 10 year crew visa I don't meet that requirement. As I've said many times before..."when countries like the US, Canada, Australia and NZ offer sponsorships/Visas then and only then is there a genuine Pilot shortage. Worse still, as a Brit we're not even allowed to play the green card lottery.
