HELP ME ACCELLERATE THE PILOT SHORTAGE!!!
I've been reading that most regional airlines have dramatically reduced their hiring minimums. Recently, several regionals have dropped their hiring minimums to simply a commercial-multi and a pulse, (i.e. Pinnacle and PSA). Many/most other regionals are at or below 500 TT and 50 multi and some have taken to offering signing bonuses, (RAH) Clearly the regional airlines are running out of first officer candidates. And with the cost of primary flight training, state of the industry, and soured management-labor relations, I doubt there will be sufficient back-filling of the candidate ranks.
I've taken the oppotunity to crunch some numbers, found on the website; http://www.pilotjobs.com/. According to that website, there are 14 regional airlines actively recruiting new-hire pilots. Taking the respective airlines' April hiring targets, (or the last reported month if April's number are not available), I calculate that these 14 regional airlines want to hire 610 pilots in April, alone. If that trend continues, that would equate to an annual demand of 7300+ new-hire regional pilots at these 14 regional airlines. Obviously, this is a unscientific sampling. The actual numbers will certainly change, (up or down). But also keep in mind that there are more than 14 regional airlines out there.
So where are these regional airlines going to get their new hire candidates? And, more importantly,.....why, when the numbers are so very much in the pilot's favor, would anyone want to apply for a job with a regional airline, earning $18,000 to $23,000 the first year, (hoping to get into the upper $20's or lower $30's after one year)?!?!?!
And what are the regional airlines going to do in order to feed their addiction for new-hire pilots. How are these regional airline executives going to keep their airlines vital with fewer pilots and fewer pilot applicants. And how are they going to keep their management bonuses from dwindleing/disappearing when their pilots are dwindling/disappearing? Are they going to hire ab-initio students? They could, but that will take months or years to bear fruit. Are they going to continue using the bankrupcy courts to force concessionary contracts? Are they going to continue to use the National Mediation Board to further stall contract negotiations? Or are they going to resolve contract issues, raise pay, start giving significant signing bonuses to attract new talent, and stop relying on shallowing pool of hungry CFI's, SJS sufferers, and low-time 135 right-seaters. Will they be forced to entice, (read "steal") established pilots from other regional airlines and freight haulers using significantly higher starting pay, better benefits, and better quality of life? Remember this,......regional airline management types NEED regional airline pilots!!! And the law of supply and demand has caught up with them.
I don't pretent to know what the regional airlines are going to do in order to continue attracting new-hire pilots......but I'd sure like to accellerate the pilot shortage and find out.
So with that, here's my proposal. If you are a CFI, SJS sufferer, a newly-minted or soon-to-be minted Commercial Pilot, or a lowly 135 right-seater like myself......DO NOT APPLY TO ANY REGIONAL AIRLINES UNTIL AFTER JUNE 15. That's only 2 months. If a regional airline is interested in interviewing you today, they'll be interested in interviewing you 2 months from now. You can make it another 8 weeks without applying to a regional airline and you'll be doing youself and your bretheren pilots a wonderful favor. IMAGINE......if no pilots applied to the regionals over the next two months. Things might get better in a hurry, (for all of us). Contract disputes may get resolved, (ASA and Pinnacle). Recently taken concessionary contracts may be revisited, (Comair). And the better regionals may actually raise their pay and/or offer significant signing bonuses, (i.e. RAH). Refrain from applying to any regional airline(s) until after June 15 and you may find yourself with higher starting pay, a signing bonus, and the promise of a better quality of life. Wait longer than 2 months and who knows what may evolve. You could find yourself the target of a bidding war.
Solidarity!
I've been reading that most regional airlines have dramatically reduced their hiring minimums. Recently, several regionals have dropped their hiring minimums to simply a commercial-multi and a pulse, (i.e. Pinnacle and PSA). Many/most other regionals are at or below 500 TT and 50 multi and some have taken to offering signing bonuses, (RAH) Clearly the regional airlines are running out of first officer candidates. And with the cost of primary flight training, state of the industry, and soured management-labor relations, I doubt there will be sufficient back-filling of the candidate ranks.
I've taken the oppotunity to crunch some numbers, found on the website; http://www.pilotjobs.com/. According to that website, there are 14 regional airlines actively recruiting new-hire pilots. Taking the respective airlines' April hiring targets, (or the last reported month if April's number are not available), I calculate that these 14 regional airlines want to hire 610 pilots in April, alone. If that trend continues, that would equate to an annual demand of 7300+ new-hire regional pilots at these 14 regional airlines. Obviously, this is a unscientific sampling. The actual numbers will certainly change, (up or down). But also keep in mind that there are more than 14 regional airlines out there.
So where are these regional airlines going to get their new hire candidates? And, more importantly,.....why, when the numbers are so very much in the pilot's favor, would anyone want to apply for a job with a regional airline, earning $18,000 to $23,000 the first year, (hoping to get into the upper $20's or lower $30's after one year)?!?!?!
And what are the regional airlines going to do in order to feed their addiction for new-hire pilots. How are these regional airline executives going to keep their airlines vital with fewer pilots and fewer pilot applicants. And how are they going to keep their management bonuses from dwindleing/disappearing when their pilots are dwindling/disappearing? Are they going to hire ab-initio students? They could, but that will take months or years to bear fruit. Are they going to continue using the bankrupcy courts to force concessionary contracts? Are they going to continue to use the National Mediation Board to further stall contract negotiations? Or are they going to resolve contract issues, raise pay, start giving significant signing bonuses to attract new talent, and stop relying on shallowing pool of hungry CFI's, SJS sufferers, and low-time 135 right-seaters. Will they be forced to entice, (read "steal") established pilots from other regional airlines and freight haulers using significantly higher starting pay, better benefits, and better quality of life? Remember this,......regional airline management types NEED regional airline pilots!!! And the law of supply and demand has caught up with them.
I don't pretent to know what the regional airlines are going to do in order to continue attracting new-hire pilots......but I'd sure like to accellerate the pilot shortage and find out.
So with that, here's my proposal. If you are a CFI, SJS sufferer, a newly-minted or soon-to-be minted Commercial Pilot, or a lowly 135 right-seater like myself......DO NOT APPLY TO ANY REGIONAL AIRLINES UNTIL AFTER JUNE 15. That's only 2 months. If a regional airline is interested in interviewing you today, they'll be interested in interviewing you 2 months from now. You can make it another 8 weeks without applying to a regional airline and you'll be doing youself and your bretheren pilots a wonderful favor. IMAGINE......if no pilots applied to the regionals over the next two months. Things might get better in a hurry, (for all of us). Contract disputes may get resolved, (ASA and Pinnacle). Recently taken concessionary contracts may be revisited, (Comair). And the better regionals may actually raise their pay and/or offer significant signing bonuses, (i.e. RAH). Refrain from applying to any regional airline(s) until after June 15 and you may find yourself with higher starting pay, a signing bonus, and the promise of a better quality of life. Wait longer than 2 months and who knows what may evolve. You could find yourself the target of a bidding war.
Solidarity!
