Pilots Union Says There Wouldn?t Be a Pilot Shortage if Pay Was Higher

[Flying Ninja]

Pilots Union Says There Wouldn?t Be a Pilot Shortage if Pay Was Higher

http://skift.com/2014/02/07/pilots-union-says-there-wouldnt-be-a-pilot-shortage-if-pay-was-higher/

?There may be a shortage of qualified pilots who are willing to fly for U.S. airlines because of the industry?s recent history of instability, poor pay, and benefits,? says Capt. Lee Moak, president of ALPA.

 

[Raoul Duke]

Age 70 Retirement. . . Problem solved.

 

[livin'thesim]

Think of all the guys who have gotten out of the profession who would gladly get back in for the right money.

I know a few guys who have thousands of hours and enough 121 time to be viable, who would leave their good jobs if the pay was right. They never got over the flying bug, but had to leave the industry to feed their families.

 

[screech]

"Pilots Union Says There Wouldn?t Be a Pilot Shortage if Pay Was Higher"

Well duh. In other news, its been reported that the Pope is Catholic.

 

[BoilerUP]

Shortage does not equal scarcity.

 

[kf4amu]

At least half of my friends in college went ATC because they couldnt afford to be pilots.

 

[Traderd]

At least half of my friends in college went ATC because they couldnt afford to be pilots.

So you're telling us you know one controller?

I kid, I kid.....

 

[jmreii]

Pilots can say and do anything they want considering they don't run or control anything in this piece! Put your own funds up and then you can talk or do anything you want.

 

[kf4amu]

So you're telling us you know one controller?

I kid, I kid.....

ha! zing!

 

[3GRNDWN]

"Pilots Union Says There Wouldn?t Be a Pilot Shortage if Pay Was Higher"

Well duh. In other news, its been reported that the Pope is Catholic.

Ha ha! Well said.

 

[mu2]

Livin'thesim,

That's describes me to a T. I love to fly but I got out because of money, QOL and job security. Increase these 3 things and I'll gladly come back!

 

[fofornow]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that inpart why we pay dues to the union? To increase our pay and quality of life? Just think how bad it would be without the almighty union... (sarcasm)

 

[bvt1151]

Think of all the guys who have gotten out of the profession who would gladly get back in for the right money.

I know a few guys who have thousands of hours and enough 121 time to be viable, who would leave their good jobs if the pay was right. They never got over the flying bug, but had to leave the industry to feed their families.

This is a problem of the seniority system, not pay. There's no way you could prop up all of the junior rates of the pay scale to bring these guys back. The seniority system requires they start at the bottom, regardless of experience. That is what needs to be fixed if you want to include them back into the 121 industry, but we both know that will never happen. They are out forever, and that's the way ALPA likes it.

Shortage does not equal scarcity.

This is very intriguing to me. Could you elaborate your thoughts?

 

[BoilerUP]

This is very intriguing to me. Could you elaborate your thoughts?

A scarcity of pilots (or widgets) means there are not enough pilots (or widgets), period.

A shortage of pilots (or widgets) means there are not enough pilots (or widgets) at the current price level. Raise the price, the shortage goes away.

This is why United, Delta, and US AAirways have 10k resumes on file (to say nothing of SWA and FedEx) and Great Lakes, Expressjet and Mesa are struggling to recruit and retain flight crew.

 

[General Lee]

A scarcity of pilots (or widgets) means there are not enough pilots (or widgets), period.

A shortage of pilots (or widgets) means there are not enough pilots (or widgets) at the current price level. Raise the price, the shortage goes away.

This is why United, Delta, and US AAirways have 10k resumes on file (to say nothing of SWA and FedEx) and Great Lakes, Expressjet and Mesa are struggling to recruit and retain flight crew.

Those 10K resumes could be from the same people, having multiple resumes or applications to each of the big 3. As the big 3 start filling classes, the other airlines (Regionals and LCCs) had better raise rates and benefits or risk paying more for upgrade and newhire training to replace the outgoing poached pilot.

But seriously, there might be an "actual" shortage due to upcoming retirements. Crew Resources at DL just sent out a memo stating full capacity hiring (50 per month) has been approved through April, 2015. From there they believe it will continue at the max for the next 10-20 years. Years! And that's just DL. How about the other 2 legacies? There looks to be a big scarcity eventually.



Bye Bye---General Lee