Airline Pilots Still In Demand

[MYFpilot]

“The excitement over the verification of a pilot job market in the middle of this stalled recovery was contagious,” said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. about the seminar/job fair in Washington, DC. “Many pilots are unaware that there are still opportunities at every level – majors, nationals, regionals, passengers, cargo, and fractionals, and it’s AIR, Inc.’s duty to inform them.” AIR, Inc. predicts 6,000 to 7,000 new pilots jobs will be created in 2002.


...Fascinating conversation piece if I do say so myself.

 

[bigD]

Kit Darby really needs to lay off the pipe. That crack is going to ruin his life.

::waits for bobbysamd to chime in about Kit::

 

[surfnole]

Apparently Mr. Darby knows something that most of the pilots on these boards don't.

Hey, I will bet if you send him some money, he will tell you where to find those jobs!

 

[TurboS7]

He forgot to mention that all the jobs were PFT and then work for free..............but you are building all that time so you are prepared when the biggest hiring frenzy of the 21st century comes our way.

 

[Flic1]

It's funny because I was just going to post a thread about an ad I just saw in the Sept '02 Airline Pilot Careers mag(Kit Darby Inc.) It ceases to amaze me that a flight school ad in this day and age would put in bold lettering, "Men & Women WANTED to Supply US Airline Pilot Shortage". I won't name the school but I'm sure many of you have seen it. I don't know how they get away with this type of marketing ploy....

 

[MYFpilot]

Maybe paying some school a few thousand bucks would get me the "direct track" to my airline career.

You gotta love advertising.

Yeah, kinda reminds me of the old one...

On a job interview as the hiring manager is looking over the applicant's resume, pauses and says; "Your resume is the biggest collection of over-exaggerations and half-truths I have ever seen ...Say, how would you like to work in our marketing department!"

What a wonderful industry flight training is. Every time I open a flying magazine and see all the glossy ads, I just quiver in disgust. If I weren’t so burnt out I’d have a moral ephiphany, be the Jerry Maguire of CFI's, and write a manifesto to change the industry.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

The October 14th issue of Forbes magazine actually quotes Kit Darby (or, as they call him, A. K. Darby) in the article about JetBlue.

I can't believe it. Then again, I have paid him hundreds of dollars in the past. So, if he could take my money from me, then why wouldn't he be able to convince Melanie Wells and the editors at Forbes that he is an industry expert.

(By the way, I did laugh out loud when I saw his quote in the article)

 

[RightBettor]

I have always said...

If it were the early 1900s, Kit Darby would be crossing the countryside in a wagon selling snake oil to cure all that ails you! I could just hear it, "Step right up folks and get ready for the BIG PILOT SHORTAGE!! That's right! Drop a few C-notes on the table and I'll make sure you have the inside scoop to your flying dream job!! Step right up folks and pay more money than you can possibly afford and get my 'Airlline Pilot' career kit!! Hubba Hubba Hubba!!! You Sir!!! Yes, you!!! YOU have to be prepared for the loooming pilot shortage!! That's where I come in!! I'll get you headed in the right direction so you can take full advantage of the looming 'PILOT SHORTAGE!!' Step right up folks!! Don't be shy!!!"

Actually, the scene in the Steve Martin movie, "The Jerk," is more fitting. Remember that one? For those who don't remember... Navin R. Johnson (Steve Martin) is concerned he is not doing so well as a carnival barker while manning the "Guess My Weight" booth. His boss comes over and asks how things are going. Navin seems to think he's not doing so well because he only got a few people to try the guessing game and he gave away a few prizes as a result. The carnival boss explains, "Don't worry kid, you're doing fine. You just took in $10 and gave away 37 cents of CRAP!!" (Perhaps the dialouge is not verbatim, but you get the idea.)

So if you want to spend money with Kit Darby, remember that line from The Jerk.

BTW, I never paid one red cent for any of that crap and got job offers from every airline job for which I interviewed. (It can be done without giving your money to snake-oil salesmen.)

That's just my "37 cents of crap."

Regards,
RightBettor

PS: No disrespect to those who have spent money with Kit and found his stuff useful. These intemperate thoughts are only to serve as a warning to those who may be considering dropping the money but may least be able to afford it. (Does that make sense?)

 

[katanabob]

I admit I bought a book or two from Air, Inc. I was appalled by the outdated information being sold as fresh meat. Their website didn't even have any pertinent information on it.
Frankly, between this board and Aviationinterviews.com providing free, accurate, up-to-date information in boundless quantities I can't see Darby's stale crap selling like hotcakes anymore.
As a side note, I think Aviationinterviews.com is now asking for a one-time fee of $5 to cover their expenses. I'd encourage everyone who has used the site (those who originally registered for free are allowed to keep going there for free, though I'm sure the contribution would still help) to pitch in a couple bucks- it's certainly a small price to pay.

 

[TurboS7]

Maybe now is the time to open up a flight school. You could open up a base in Saudia, Kuwiat, and Bagdad. All those guys are having a hard time getting visa's now. Don't need to worry about PFT they'll just buy an airline to get experience. You can work it out and get a commission as a finder fee. Good project for some furloughed pilot.

 

[pilotyip]

Negative vibes

I don't understand all the neg vibes, he sells a service, and if you don't like it you should not buy, but to brand people who use his service as being ripped off is not fair. Some do actually get non-PFT jobs at his shows. I wish there had been something like this in the late 70's and mid 80's for me during my job scearch. Like I said before, I was at the show, I was recruitng for future jobs and six qualified pilots came by my booth, they are all getting interviews and I am sure some will be hired.

 

[Publishers]

Kit

While it is interesting and fun to poke at Kit, the fact is that I do not doubt the statistic.

If you look just at Comair, ACA, ASA, and other regionals, you have a substantial number of hires this year. Alaska has hired people, Southwest has hired people, fractionals have hired people, on and on.

There are also the Evergreen's, Express.net, and others. While you may not want these type jobs, the fact is that people were hired and 6000 is not surprising.

 

[RichO]

I think this is a pretty good list of airlines who are hiring, or who have hired recently...(that I've heard of)


Alaska
SW
FedEx
UPS
JetBlue
Comair
ASA
ACA
AirWis
Skywest
The Fractionals

I believe history has showed that this industry is very cyclical, anyone think that were just in one of the down turns? Or does everyone have a different opinion?

 

[enigma]

With the advent of hate-crimes legislation, this country has accepted the idea that we can now judge intent as well as action. From that perspective, it seems to me that Mr. Darby's intent is not to help out of work pilots get jobs, I think that Mr. Darbys intent is to lure new entrants into the job market.

In my view, Mr. Darbys strategy is to publish misleading "facts" in an effort to convince unsuspecting dreamers of the "opportunity" available to aspiring pilots. He fools them into spending money with his advertisers (conflict of interest), and having an oversupply of pilots helps him sell his "services". I liken his actions to the drug dealer who gives out the first dose for free. I know of no action he has taken to improve the career. In my view, his actions/words do just the opposite.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that he receives a paycheck from the management side of UAL. His business helps them more than it helps us.

Recap: He helps ensure an oversupply of pilots. An oversupply leads to low wages and bad working conditions. Therefore Mr. Darby is bad for working pilots.

regards,
8N

 

[TurboS7]

Enigma,
Good post. You have to be in this because you love it and not for the money. But those that love it deserve the money because it is a very necessary service to our our economy.Off the subject but you have some of our "fun" ex-FA's with you now. I am sure you know them.

 

[bobbysamd]

"Kit"

“The excitement over the verification of a pilot job market in the middle of this stalled recovery was contagious,” said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. about the seminar/job fair in Washington, DC. “Many pilots are unaware that there are still opportunities at every level – majors, nationals, regionals, passengers, cargo, and fractionals, and it’s AIR, Inc.’s duty to inform them.” AIR, Inc. predicts 6,000 to 7,000 new pilots jobs will be created in 2002.

I think I am going to retch.

Hello, Kit, your "pilot shortage" shtik, even in its truncated form, above, is getting old. You need to hire some new writers. Allow me to be the first.

Kit, I have a word to add to your vocabulary. The word is "sophistry." "Sophistry" is defined as "a subtle, tricky, superficially plausable, but generally fallacious method of reasoning." Random House Webster's College Dictionary, p.1231 (emphasis added). "Superficially plausable" because at first blush your statement about so many jobs appears to be true. Explain it to those qualified pilots, to use your terminology, who apply and are not getting those jobs, notwithstanding the fact that the number of qualified applicants is almost always double or triple the number of openings, at least. Moreover, are you counting these job "openings" once or multiple times? I suppose I could count the same job opening seven thousand times and say I have seven thousand openings (I again credit another member for calling Kit's "pilot shortage" Enron-style accounting.).

OK, Kit, I realize that I haven't been looking for many aviation jobs during the last nine years. But, times now are virtually the same as back then. I know those times well. You were pushing the SOS back then, too. Once more, it's getting old and tired.

To clarify a point, there is always hiring. People leave jobs. Pilots retire from the airlines. But, to mislead people with your sophistries, Kit, is disingenuous at best.

 

[Publishers]

talent

I know you have talent, but the invention of words to describe a man of calibre. Awesomaticata.

 

[LearLove]

Enigma, Bobby and others you guys are right on.

No doudt some airlines are hiring but not with the spin that Kit put on it. I think its wrong. I bought airins stuff when I was a CFI and used the directory to send resumes out but the rest was crap or common knowledge. Bottom line is:

THE BEST RESOURCE WE HAVE AGAINST THS IS US. WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE FOR FREE. ANYTHING YOU WANT JUST ASK. NEED AND ADDRESS JUST ASK, NEED INTERVIEW GOUGE JUST ASK, PAY SCALE JUST ASK, AND ON AND ON ..........although some time you get BS or wrong info but if you have some knowledge of the industry or have been around for awhile you can weed the junk out.

besides if hiring ever does ruturn like it was or even close I think it will mostly be internet bases apps. on the airlines own web site neglecting the need for KITs info.

One thing in defence of Kit is that I do like his magazine, ALPC. Although I think itsalittle steep 40 bucks for 12 issues I play it off against Pro Pilot for free. Kind of like two magazines for 20 bucks/year.

Finally thanks to the web people who provide this sit and the others who contribute so KIT doesn't take my 150 per year and I can blow it on beer.

 

[bobbysamd]

Kit's materials

I bought airins stuff when I was a CFI and used the directory to send resumes out but the rest was crap or common knowledge . . . .

True. When I decided to change careers I joined FAPA. Kit's materials provided addresses to companies and provided the basics on how to apply for jobs. I had no clue about either, so, in that regard, they were helpful and valuable. That was fifteen years ago, before the internet made this information easy to find and more current.

I looked forward to receiving my monthly copy of Piloting Careers magazine, which was changed to Career Pilot. I used Kit's advertisers to find a school for my type rating and I acquired or purchased books that Kit recommended. I also cribbed off of Kit's forms to design my resume. I saw no need to purchase Kit's resume service when I was just as capable of producing my form myself.

Just the same, Kit, to generate business by way of a sophistry is wrong. You should be ashamed of yourself. Now, drop the "pilot shortage" sophism and promote your services positively.

 

[Publishers]

Different

Bobby is right as usual. Some people are willing and take the time and effort to look all this stuff up and others would rather pay Kit or someone else to do the work and buy it.

It is not a matter of right or wrong. As I said earlier, I think Kit is probably right when he says that some 6000 will be hired this year and in some cases like SWA, they could be legitimately new jobs. Certainly the fractionals have continued to hire depending on how you count them in the occassion.

What is not accounted for is the net number. Jobs losts versus gained. We have debated the nature of what is and is not a shortage. There are good points and bad about the database services. There is no gun to your head, you are a consumer and they may or may not be for you.

As somneone who has and does employ people, I would use them to post positions.

 

[enigma]

Re: Different

[B .................................................................................................................There are good points and bad about the database services. There is no gun to your head, you are a consumer and they may or may not be for you.

As somneone who has and does employ people, I would use them to post positions. [/B]

I don't think that there is a lot of legitimate disagreement about the possible value of his database service.

Mr. Darbys self-serving, misleading, promotion is what irks me, and others if I do say so myself. I don't know if his "expert" status with the media has gone to his head, or if he is truly a pimp for his advertisers and airline management. I hope that he is just egotistical and likes to see his name in print. Unfortunately, my conclusion is that he is one of the most negative influences on the career as there has ever been.

Later,
8Ns

 

[Publishers]

Name

Enigma,

Well you are certainly correct about the last part. He likes to see and apparently hear his name as they answer the phone Kit Darby's Air Inc.

For that we cannot shoot him. Mying ost of the critics of people on these boards who do TV is somewhat justified but not, for we do not get to select what goes on the air.

The other day, I was asked to comment on the new email system that they are trying for ATC instructions. At the end, they asked my about air marshals. I had prepared for one, not for the other and sure enough 18 seconds of comments out of 4 minutes made it to the air and all was on the marshals.


On the other hand, Kit is not doing this for advertisers or airlines, it is for him.

 

[FL000]

Whoops...I thought this would be a link to another article from The Onion.