Delta to retire 7600 pilots in next 15 years

[flyboyike]

i dont think there's even going to be 7500 new commercial pilots the next 15 years. And that's just delta vacancy numbers. They are screwed. They will have to raise pay and benefits.

Why not just continue to reduce capacity and raise ticket prices? People will buy whatever tickets are available. My point being that I see DL (and everyone else) going down that road rather than raising pay.

 

[Flyer1015]

Considering Delta minimums are 1200 total and 1000 turbine, absolute worse case scenario, Delta will hire non-female regional FOs.

 

[damnflyboy]

It's you're. You're. You are. Not your.

God d*mmit, I'm sick of idiots in front of me. Get the hell out of my seat.

Now that's funny.

 

[Rerouted]

I left the airlines to run a flight school...let me tell you...there are not a whole lot of people who want to fly at an airline for aliving given the current state of affairs. We train mostly recreational pilots, there simply aren't many young folks who find the commercial pilot life to be something worth investing in.

As for outsourcing....to whom? Seriously, who will do it cheaper than American pilots? We are the India of the aviation field...that's why so many American pilots are flying for foreign carriers. The problem is simple; America is all about manipulating markets to make money. As a whole the country doesn't value the talent that keeps it going every day...we value whoever offers the opportunity for us to make the most money quickly. It's a sad state of affairs, but it will either have to change or people will have to start taking the bus. I see it every day - I tell young prospective pilots about the pay and lifestyle and they opt to just fly for fun if they can even afford that.

On the other hand, there are a lot of people like me out there...furloughed and found alternate work, left the field in dusgust, whatever...most of us would come back if the pay and the lifestyle were worth it. Will it ever be? Who knows. If supply and demand means anything, there might be hope, but when was the last time logic meant anything in commercial aviation?

 

[johnpeace]

On the other hand, there are a lot of people like me out there...furloughed and found alternate work, left the field in dusgust, whatever...most of us would come back if the pay and the lifestyle were worth it. Will it ever be? Who knows. If supply and demand means anything, there might be hope, but when was the last time logic meant anything in commercial aviation?

I have a love/hate relationship with it. I can't see myself commuting on the highway to work in an office and be home every night...that sounds awful. Also, what else am I going to do that has the potential to pay $100K/year for 14 days/month at work?

Then again...the mental and emotional toll is pretty severe...

 

[satpak77]

I have a love/hate relationship with it. I can't see myself commuting on the highway to work in an office and be home every night...that sounds awful. Also, what else am I going to do that has the potential to pay $100K/year for 14 days/month at work?

Then again...the mental and emotional toll is pretty severe...

is this "at work" as in "behind the wheel" or did you figure in commuting to work, crash pad expenses, etc ?

remember most normal jobs weekends are off so those folks are working 20 days a month. So we (professional pilots) work what ? 14 ? 16? 18 ? Big whoop. we are gone away from our wives/kids/families the whole time.

 

[ackattacker]

I have a love/hate relationship with it. I can't see myself commuting on the highway to work in an office and be home every night...that sounds awful. Also, what else am I going to do that has the potential to pay $100K/year for 14 days/month at work?

Then again...the mental and emotional toll is pretty severe...

I have a lot of friends who work desk jobs that make $100k or pretty close to it, and these folks are in their late 20's early 30's. They do stuff like systems engineering, procurement, senior grants management, biotech. Granted these aren't the type of job you just walk into with no experience, but I'd say overall it took a lot less time for these folks to land those jobs than it takes an airline pilot to land that $100k position. 6 years of college to get a Masters degree and then 3 to 4 years work experience and you're there. Then you have 30+ years ahead of you making that six figure salary. You get to spend nights at home with spouse and kids and have every weekend and holiday off.

When I was in my early 20's a job like that sounded like a death sentence. Now, it sounds pretty good.

 

[satpak77]

"the potential to pay XXXX" = Kit Darby

 

[sniper]

Considering Delta minimums are 1200 total and 1000 turbine, absolute worse case scenario, Delta will hire non-female regional FOs.

Did that last year

 

[jonjuan]

your clueless.

lololol........

 

[Flyer1015]

Did that last year

Yeah, maybe. I only know of two regional FOs who were hired, both were female. If there are male regional FOs hired at Delta, they had to be previous Delta intern and/or containted some "legacy" flavor in their blood line.

 

[cocknbull]

If Arnie Kraby and Delta were smart, they would consider re-interviewing candidates that were successful in the interview but had the rug pulled out from under them by the highly intelligent and suicidal shrinks that Delta contracts with to either ruin an individuals career dreams or make them come true.

Ummm....Arnie is smart and Delta is a company which to my knowledge can't be smart or stupid for that matter.

 

[Varmint]

Ummm....Arnie is smart and Delta is a company which to my knowledge can't be smart or stupid for that matter.

Yeah, that makes sense......thanks for the useful information.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Why does every smart azz post begin with

Ummmmm......?

 

[JettBoii]

Depressing.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Yeah, maybe. I only know of two regional FOs who were hired, both were female. If there are male regional FOs hired at Delta, they had to be previous Delta intern and/or containted some "legacy" flavor in their blood line.

Can't speak for all of them, but one of the FOs from ASA who was hired had a ton of contacts at Delta. Sometimes it is more about who you know. It's the way of the world, and probably always will be to some extent.

 

[General Lee]

Can't speak for all of them, but one of the FOs from ASA who was hired had a ton of contacts at Delta. Sometimes it is more about who you know. It's the way of the world, and probably always will be to some extent.

You still have to pass the checkrides and IOE. I know back in '96 that 5 newhires could not pass IOE on the 737-200 at Delta Express in MCO, and they were all ex-Military pilots. A few of them flew F16s, but had never flown 2 man crew airplanes, and couldn't figure it out. If you were offered that opportunity, would you take it? Of course you would. Go out there and meet important people and make a name for yourself. Not a bad idea.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[damnflyboy]

Can't speak for all of them, but one of the FOs from ASA who was hired had a ton of contacts at Delta. Sometimes it is more about who you know. It's the way of the world, and probably always will be to some extent.

The other one, not a single contact/letter.

 

[user912]

You still have to pass the checkrides and IOE. I know back in '96 that 5 newhires could not pass IOE on the 737-200 at Delta Express in MCO, and they were all ex-Military pilots. A few of them flew F16s, but had never flown 2 man crew airplanes, and couldn't figure it out. If you were offered that opportunity, would you take it? Of course you would. Go out there and meet important people and make a name for yourself. Not a bad idea.



Bye Bye---General Lee

Happens all the time
Although I think Military pilots benefit from more conditioning and attitude.
Makes up for some less experience. Good ol' boy network takes care of the rest.
Low Pay doesn't = crappy pilot

RJ pilots (from either seat) have been among my best co-pilots. T-prop regional pilots seem to have good instrument skills and military pilots... well, they're the best of all-just ask 'em and they'll tell ya.

 

[rod farva]

My buddy in the hiring pool (all 8 of them) just received a letter from the pilot hiring manager yesterday stating zero hiring until December 2013. His conditional job offer expires in August and he will have to re-interview, the whole process. 4% reduction in domestic flying. 8-10% reduction in Atlantic flying. 243 pilots on recall bypass who 90% have indicated they will return in December, which is the 10 year point from the initial 9/11 furlough. Around 800 are actively on mil leave and medical who will eventually return as well. Wish it was better news.