Future pilot shortage...

[Jetjockey]

The problem isn't a lack of pilots, it's a lack of good paying jobs. There are thousands of pilots who just walked away from the industry. Furloughed American, United, NetJets, Midway, ATA, Aloha, Midwest, Independence, etc. Sure many got jobs, but many more just walked away from this industry.

The demand will dictate the pay must come up at the regional level to attract qualified candidates. I think raising the qualifications will create a demand for QUALIFIED pilots.

 

[pilotyip]

It's easy to say they'll just lower the standards but didn't Congress just enact legislation that requires ALL airline pilots to have an ATP?

don't they already have that with the advanced training that allows a reduction from the ATP requirements?

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

don't they already have that with the advanced training that allows a reduction from the ATP requirements?

Yes, the 1500hr and atp rule which doesn't even go into effect for another 2 years, is nothing more then smoke and mirrors to appease the public. There will be tons of exceptions in there, I believe 4 year colleges are exempt. If fact, the pilot factories are already setting up programs to qualify their the students for rule exemption. http://www.atpflightschool.com/aviation-college-degree/index.html

 

[wt219200]

Yes, the 1500hr and atp rule which doesn't even go into effect for another 2 years, is nothing more then smoke and mirrors to appease the public. There will be tons of exceptions in there, I believe 4 year colleges are exempt. If fact, the pilot factories are already setting up programs to qualify their the students for rule exemption. http://www.atpflightschool.com/aviation-college-degree/index.html

270 hours? This program better not qualify for the exemption. It goes against everything the families of Colgan 3407 are fighting for.

 

[cynic]

Flying an airplane is really easy and any bar tard with a credit card can go buy a license and get a job...

It wasn't always that way but with advances in technology that's just how it is. Lots of careers have gone by the way side, flying is one of them.

Live on less because you like sitting in an airplane or learn how to do something challenging!

 

[Captain Morgan]

Flying an airplane is really easy and any bar tard with a credit card can go buy a license and get a job...

It wasn't always that way but with advances in technology that's just how it is. Lots of careers have gone by the way side, flying is one of them.

Live on less because you like sitting in an airplane or learn how to do something challenging!

Sad but true!

When it was old steam gauges and you had to be careful not to nuke an engine on a regular basis while hand flying, you really had skill.

 

[Jetjockey]

Flying an airplane is really easy and any bar tard with a credit card can go buy a license and get a job...

It wasn't always that way but with advances in technology that's just how it is. Lots of careers have gone by the way side, flying is one of them.

Live on less because you like sitting in an airplane or learn how to do something challenging!

Advances in technology will never replace an experienced pilot. Try to dumb it down as much as you want. Sure, maybe the physical manipulation of the aircraft has gotten easier. Airspace is more complex than ever. Regulations and rules are constantly being changed and added. Aircraft systems are more complex.

I've noticed over the years, that while a pilot may be a good "stick" his knowledge, situational awareness, ability to plan ahead, company procedural compliance just plain suck. So there is WAY more than physically flying the machine. It takes dedication to be a truly good pilot, not just an aircraft manipulator. Ask yourself what kind of pilot you really are.

 

[CX880]

Their going to have to raise pay and benefits. The reason not many are getting their commercial licenses is because they see the disgruntled mainline guys that want to put a gun in their mouth. A 777 is a little less shiny when you're getting paid as much a a city bus driver.

 

[Jetjockey]

I think city bus drivers make more than most pilots, especially at the regional level. Anyone else think there is something wrong with this picture???

“Source: WTMJ

MILWAUKEE CITY BUS DRIVERS (salary only):
>>
>>
>> 136 Drivers made more than $70,000
>> 54 Drivers made more than $80,000
>> 18 Drivers made more than $90,000
>> 8 Drivers made more than $100,000
>> Top Driver made $117,000
>> (Source WTMJ)”

 

[wt219200]

Flying an airplane is really easy and any bar tard with a credit card can go buy a license and get a job...

It wasn't always that way but with advances in technology that's just how it is. Lots of careers have gone by the way side, flying is one of them.

Live on less because you like sitting in an airplane or learn how to do something challenging!

Have you flown single pilot 135 in crap weather? It's not all that easy.

 

[cynic]

Have you flown single pilot 135 in crap weather? It's not all that easy.

Actually.... yes! In a turbo seneca. And you are correct... it is more challenging than many other types of flying.

That said.. I stand by my statement that any tard with a credit card can get a commercial license and a job at a regional airline and if you want to make more money you'll need to learn to do something that takes more effort to get into.

Maybe we should make it harder to be a pilot... maybe unions should have more power and pilots should make more... maybe if a frog had wings....

I'm not saying what should be. I'm just pointing out what is the case.

 

[bri5150]

That said.. I stand by my statement that any tard with a credit card can get a commercial license and a job at a regional airline and if you want to make more money you'll need to learn to do something that takes more effort to get into.

That is absolutely wrong. I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to be a pilot, but it does take SOME spacial reasoning, hand eye coordination, physics knowledge, and communication skills. You do drive a car, right? Do you think everyone that is driving around you could fly an airplane? I bet about 50% of 20-40 year olds could have a chance at passing a commercial checkride. The rest of the population is even lower.

 

[wt219200]

Actually.... yes! In a turbo seneca. And you are correct... it is more challenging than many other types of flying.

That said.. I stand by my statement that any tard with a credit card can get a commercial license and a job at a regional airline and if you want to make more money you'll need to learn to do something that takes more effort to get into.

Maybe we should make it harder to be a pilot... maybe unions should have more power and pilots should make more... maybe if a frog had wings....

I'm not saying what should be. I'm just pointing out what is the case.

I don't disagree with you about making it harder to become a pilot. It should be.

You have ~1500 hours so only 300 hours of that could be 135 single pilot ops. I doubt you've seen the types of weather that someone that does it for a living has.

 

[Jetjockey]

Actually.... yes! In a turbo seneca. And you are correct... it is more challenging than many other types of flying.

That said.. I stand by my statement that any tard with a credit card can get a commercial license and a job at a regional airline and if you want to make more money you'll need to learn to do something that takes more effort to get into.

Maybe we should make it harder to be a pilot... maybe unions should have more power and pilots should make more... maybe if a frog had wings....

I'm not saying what should be. I'm just pointing out what is the case.

Comeback when you have flown something bigger than general aviation aircraft.

 

[paid4training]

And a bigger airplane is harder to fly? I disagree, compared to GA aircraft the automation and warning systems that the modern crew fly today is leap years ahead of GA pilots who have to try and find that little speck in the sky that's traffic coming towards them. Ever have a back fire or panel outage while at nite in a single engine aircraft? After the blood returns to your brain from your toes u first try to remember if you are paid up on your life insurance and then work the problem!!! I've flown with a c cell flashlight held between my ear and shoulder once or twice(eventually bought a headlamp) for 2 hrs flying back home from a nite flight?

 

[paid4training]

Oh yea, and I disagree with the terd statement!!!!!

 

[pilotyip]

Comeback when you have flown something bigger than general aviation aircraft.

big secret, jets are the easiest airplanes to fly, one lever, no shortage of power, no p-factor, someone else to do all the hard stuff like talking on the radio, and the bigger the better.

 

[cynic]

That is absolutely wrong. I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to be a pilot, but it does take SOME spacial reasoning, hand eye coordination, physics knowledge, and communication skills.

First off.... single pilot IFR in a twin piston turbo with no autopilot is WAY more difficult than flying around in an RJ or a citation. you guys are nuts!

Yes. It does take some coordination. So I'll amend my assertion and say '*almost* any bar tard with a credit card can get a commercial pilot's license and a job at a regional airline'

The free market has set my salary at close to 100K a year with 10 weeks of leave. That's because what I do is REALLY hard and not many people can do it.

Flying is more difficult than say... attending to a parking lot. But it is insufficiently hard to require decent pay in the free market.

Just is what it is....

 

[pilotyip]

Anyone with a certain level of skill and desire can learn to fly an airplane. It is the passion for the flying that makes it a great job, Fly because you like to

 

[waka]

That is absolutely wrong. I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to be a pilot, but it does take SOME spacial reasoning, hand eye coordination, physics knowledge, and communication skills. You do drive a car, right? Do you think everyone that is driving around you could fly an airplane? I bet about 50% of 20-40 year olds could have a chance at passing a commercial checkride. The rest of the population is even lower.

No. I agree with Cynic. I think that you're giving pilots too much credit. Sure, much of your list is true, but just not even close to the extent that you're suggesting. Only 50%? of 20 to 40 year olds can pass a checkride? It's way more than that. In my instructing days, I signed off many commercial candidates and didn't have one failure.....and it was under pt 61 at a mom and pop FBO.

Given the way our "knowledge" tests are designed, study is based more on passing the test versus actual application of knowledge. Heck, just look at all of the so-called study guides....just questions, answers and brief explanations of answers.

As for flight training, people can train to proficiency as long as they have money......lather, rinse, repeat and most will eventually learn to fly well enough to pass a checkride. As for the oral, instructors tend to design their prepping of the student for the oral part of the checkride to the specific examiner.

Upon obtaining a Private, Commercial, CFI, etc., a pilot doesn't know diddly squat. That's why these certificates are considered to be "licenses to learn."

It just isn't that difficult to obtain one's certificates.