Regional Staffing With Upcoming Retirements And Work Rules

[CaribPilot]

Do you guys think some regionals will implode due to lack of staffing?

Add in that equation the fact that many banks aren't financing flight training anymore, and not as many people are flight training compared to 5+ years ago.

Somebody please look into their crystal ball and give an accurate future picture of things to come.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Pay is poor and schedules brutal. Who wants to fly for a regional.

 

[cynic]

Flying airplanes is stupid easy and better than working at walmart... there is an endless supply of bar tards with a credit card ready to 'graduate' from pilot school and start at an airline.

And if you don't have any other options it's not that bad of a gig

 

[LearLove]

at the local airport where I keep my plane the flight school has no "young" students (high school, college or just post college age) learning to fly. All the students that I have seen in the past few years are professionals in their 40's and 50's learning to fly as a hobby.

Of the 200 (ish) planes hangared/tied down at the field I think I'm the only owner in the below 40 age segment to have a plane. All the other owners I know are age 50 or more with a majority being over 60 (except one Pitts guy who is in his 40's and flies for NJA).

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Will the pilots of the major airlines successfully negotiate a 100 seat pay rate that management will agree to? That's the real question...

 

[Inconceivable]

Regional airlines will subsidize Part 142 training for new employees and bind them with an employment contract and promissory note. Providing initial training from zero to hero is still far cheaper than paying competitive wages to attract employees that would have to be projected through to the entire pilot group. It's not what you want to hear, but it is the least expensive solution for the airlines.

They still haven't hit the bottom of the barrel yet. When they do, they will buy some pilots and start from scratch - not pay everyone more. After all, why should they pay YOU more? - you're already doing the job for present wages.

It will increase total airline training and staffing costs, meaning even less money available for your next contract negotiation. So, if you want to know where the money is going to come from to train the next generation of regional airline pilots just look in the mirror.

 

[xjlifer]

Regional airlines will subsidize Part 142 training for new employees and bind them with an employment contract and promissory note. Providing initial training from zero to hero is still far cheaper than paying competitive wages to attract employees that would have to be projected through to the entire pilot group. It's not what you want to hear, but it is the least expensive solution for the airlines.

They still haven't hit the bottom of the barrel yet. When they do, they will buy some pilots and start from scratch - not pay everyone more. After all, why should they pay YOU more? - you're already doing the job for present wages.

It will increase total airline training and staffing costs, meaning even less money available for your next contract negotiation. So, if you want to know where the money is going to come from to train the next generation of regional airline pilots just look in the mirror.

I wish that wasn't true....but that or some variation will probably happen.

The other way out will be for Sen McCain to get his wish of "open skies" then air mexico and every other airline in the world will fly US domestic routes.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

They still haven't hit the bottom of the barrel yet. When they do, they will buy some pilots and start from scratch - not pay everyone more. After all, why should they pay YOU more? - you're already doing the job for present wages.

I think when they started putting guys on the line with 300 TT and 25 ME, they hit rock bottom. Not to mention a lack of a college degree, CFI certificate or any PIC flying experience to speak of.

 

[bri5150]

Flying airplanes is stupid easy and better than working at walmart... there is an endless supply of bar tards with a credit card ready to 'graduate' from pilot school and start at an airline.

And if you don't have any other options it's not that bad of a gig

Not this again...you get old.

 

[wms]

Vv

I think when they started putting guys on the line with 300 TT and 25 ME, they hit rock bottom. Not to mention a lack of a college degree, CFI certificate or any PIC flying experience to speak of.

You referring to UAL in an earlier decade?