ALPA proves there is no pilot shortage.

[atpcliff]

Anecdotal evidence: A guy at my airline was hired by DAL/AA/UAL...so two of the three are getting a noshow call. Another guy from my airline left UAL after Indic for DAL. You've heard how airline "x" has 10k resumes? A lot of guys apply at multiple places. If u apply at 5 carriers, and one of them hires 100 guys, then u lose 500 resumes out of the system. I read about a flt instructor who had 5 classdates at the regionals...

 

[pilotyip]

During the 80's Newt and the boys along with St Ronnie did away with some labor laws. One which required companies to give preference to furloughed Or Un-employed pilots. Another which required preferential hiring for ex-military guys. These were both done away with because companies like Delta didn't want to have to risk hiring riff-raff or ex-enlisted military guys. Of course they still want political consideration and govt contracts.

Wasn't this part of de-reg, that if an airline failed due to de-reg the failed airlire's pilots would have to be hired by a surviving airline. But when EAL went down the unions at the other carriers said no way. (as told by a number of ex EAL non-scab piltos). It is called looking out for the brother hood I believe. But each preson gets to define what the brotherhood is defiend as, to include oply one person.

 

[bafanguy]

You've heard how airline "x" has 10k resumes? A lot of guys apply at multiple places.

Makes sense to me. In fact, I'd guess most people apply at multiple places. I'm glad to see people having as many options as possible.

Of course, with choices come consequences...some of them quite far down the road. Many of them require a crystal ball but a guy with offers from AA, UAL and DL has a real "uptown" problem. :beer:

 

[jynxyjericho]

Thanks.

I can definately say there are new hires going through the sims so it appears they are running classes. Checkairmen rumor mongering says they need 1500 in next 12 months, but thats check airmen for you.

 

[centralpilot]

Why is Atlas Air having problems getting enough pilots?

Are they now? Strange how many good people I know who haven't heard a peep from them.

 

[MAJICJOHNSON]

ATpCliff. Are you Kit Darby? Don't let more young kids get stuck into Debt for $21k

ATPCliff: (I respect and welcome your comments. I want to thank you for your encouragement. I have read many of your posts and I truly enjoyed them. But, I was trying to shed light on new joiners to this industry. All of the old people know the game. like in the Movie TOG GuN "Maverick if you screw up just this much I will having you flying rubber dog ******************** out of Hong Kong" Those were the days. Nowadays I love my HKG layovers. They are the best layovers. And the rubber dog ******************** probably weighted less and was less toxic than the crap we fly out of there.)


Stop! stop! Ok. You and your friends are very fortunate. I congratulate you! I think that is amazing. But, I posted this article to shed light on this career.


How many pilots want to encourage there children into this career now?
How many would chose the same career again if they had the chance?
How many gave so much and got so little?
How many got totally hosed?

I mean really? It sucks. I paid only like $22 an hour for a Cessna 152 when I started out. Captains at the majors were pulling down $300K at that time too. You guessed it I am almost 40 and it was the the mid to late 90's. Don't get my wrong I was very lucky as well. I have been all over the world and I have flown some pretty amazing airplanes with some really amazing people. But, we need to tell the truth about this career. It's not worth the risk of getting into debt for the chance to fly and make $21000. Something needs to change and fast. Please anyone else care to join in? I am writing this on my iPad. So, don't expect to much. I only like to type 3-5 characters at a time and it shows. I just flew all night too.

Ok. Granted people are getting hired that is a fact. But, it is a huge gamble for zero stability or security. No the airlines at not desperate. You must work your ass off and be very lucky. This job ain't for wimps. I mean most of the old timers I have flown with we're real men and woman. But, where are they now? Good retirement? No. Good family life? Not really kind of hard when you are never around. Best part if your company goes out of business tough cookies start from the bottom again at another carrier. But you better get hired real quick airlines don't hire guys that aren't current and type rated.



But, what I do not understand is all of the propaganda.Look at all of the ads showing some kid in a pilot outfit smiling and playing pilot boy in the cockpit. (I mean sitting by himself in the cockpit of some jet looking so enthused and proud of himself) It is a scam!!!


Want to a pilot? All the airlines are hiring. Just think you will be a pilot in 12 short months. Just pay to get your licenses $55,000. Don't have the money. No problem your Uncle Sam will loan it to you. Just sign here. It's easy and only takes like 6 months. Then get your 4 year degree another $52,000. Then get your hours flying banners or flight instructing at $12 an hour. Then you will get hired at a real cool job flying a CRJ for $21000.00 not even enough to eat and pay the interest on your $107,000 dollar investment. But, wait any day now the majors will call you. Then you get to fly with the big dogs. But first you must buy the 737 type rating it's only $12,000. Etc. etc. I would not recommend anyone to take on those kinds of odds to fly an airplane for a living. Things need to change. We can all start today. No, I am not trying to turn you guys into being socialists or union members. Relax. I just think we need to remember how the old timers acted when we began this career. They acted liked professionals and they valued themselves. Not everyone can be a pilot. We are the true 1%.

Next time your are in the terminal scarfing down your chili dog on your :29 minute break of a 6 leg day. And some kid asks you if they should be a pilot tell them the truth. Don't let get stuck into $107,000 of debt only to make $21000 per year.

Remember what Captain Sully did when he had all the whole worlds attention. He didn't sell out and try and to get rich. No. He spoke about how pitiful the regional and commuter industry was and how the pay was so low.

There is no pilot shortage when they are paying guys $21k. Period.

Thank you!

 

[pilotyip]

ATPCliff:
There is no pilot shortage when they are paying guys $21k. Period. Thank you!

ditto, we could fix the problem with money on the bottom. Some of the bottom feeders in the on-demand are learning this lesson. There is no shortage on the upper end yet. They all are skimming the same astronaut candidates off the top of their resume piles, when these guys are gone it will be anyone's guess what will be the next level of hiring criteria . Will the college degree become a nice to have? Will TJ PIC? who knows.

 

[General Lee]

ditto, we could fix the problem with money on the bottom. Some of the bottom feeders in the on-demand are learning this lesson. There is no shortage on the upper end yet. They all are skimming the same astronaut candidates off the top of their resume piles, when these guys are gone it will be anyone's guess what will be the next level of hiring criteria . Will the college degree become a nice to have? Will TJ PIC? who knows.

50 seat RJs don't make money for their legacy partners. How many 50 seaters are still out there? High gas prices make it impossible. Legacy scope clauses limit the number of 70/76 seaters. So far the plan has been adding 717s or 319s (DL and AA) to cover 70/76 seat routes, and have those planes cover outgoing 50 seater routes. That means fewer regional jobs, along with fewer pilots coming into the pipeline anyway from the bottom.

Mainline management doesn't seem to want to invest in higher pay when half of the Regional industry is shrinking anyway due to the parking of uneconomical 50 seaters. Expressjet apparently will park around 150 ERJs this year and next. That should say something right there.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I can definately say there are new hires going through the sims so it appears they are running classes. Checkairmen rumor mongering says they need 1500 in next 12 months, but thats check airmen for you.

Looks like Expressjet parking 150+ ERJ over the next two years may provide some of those pilots unfortunately.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[jmreii]

ditto, we could fix the problem with money on the bottom. Some of the bottom feeders in the on-demand are learning this lesson. There is no shortage on the upper end yet. They all are skimming the same astronaut candidates off the top of their resume piles, when these guys are gone it will be anyone's guess what will be the next level of hiring criteria . Will the college degree become a nice to have? Will TJ PIC? who knows.

The US airline/aviation industry is no different then any other industry in the US in which their only concern is making money over the next 30 days instead of the next 30 months or years.