Pilots wanted...but we won't pay

[medfly]

http://www.myaviationpage.com/articles.php?action=viewarticle&articleID=3

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Same tired story.

I guarantee you pay will never go up dramatically; just COLA increases and maybe a bit more.

 

[fam62c]

Same tired story.

I guarantee you pay will never go up dramatically; just COLA increases and maybe a bit more.

In any other industry high demand and low supply would result in substantial increases in salary but this never seems to happen in aviation. For now they just keep lowering the experience requirements to get new pilots. Who knows, maybe someday we really will run out of pilots in the USA but it doesn't seem to ever happen. If you paid engineers and accountants what we pay pilots there wouldn't be any engineers or accountants.......why is aviation so different?

 

[CX880]

Sooner or later pay will go up. Even if they start recruiting colleges and making pilots on their own, people aren't stupid enough to pay a lot of money for a career where you'll have no quality of life and be gone from home 70% of the year and make less than a bus driver. They won't even be able to fill their "pilot academy" classes.

 

[apache]

Sooner or later pay will go up. Even if they start recruiting colleges and making pilots on their own, people aren't stupid enough to pay a lot of money for a career where you'll have no quality of life and be gone from home 70% of the year and make less than a bus driver. They won't even be able to fill their "pilot academy" classes.

I think that you underestimate the lure of the shiny jet and the pleas of the young riddle kids for their parents to pick up the tab.

 

[acaTerry]

Looks like good ole' Terry was right....supply and demand is NOT the problem. The industry has gotten used to airplane whores and expects to sustain that mentality one way or the other. Funny thing is that even CFIs are in shortage now. Finally....payback time for those of you willing to demand it. Contract dates are ticking....

 

[spg2bmd]

You are right apache. We have, and will continue to have to deal with guys and gals coming in to the business that will do the job for whatever is offered to them, no questions asked. I believe, however, that they will eventually come around and see the lighter side of things. Then, the circle will continue to advance. Perhaps we can do our best to educate them once they are here. And mentor them if possible while they are on their way.

 

[Mr Wu]

We will see ab initio and flight crew licensing within 10 years.

 

[Papps]

The U.S aviation industry is a house of cards, it depends entirely on an excess of young pilots who will work for nothing, or even pay for the right seat.

Pilots are subsidising an industry that can't figure out how to make money in a free market.

Pilots are also pitted against the flying public because there is a myth that pilots work 1/2 a month, get to travel to exotic locations and party with pretty young flight attendants, and make tons of money for the privilege.

The best line i ever heard from a passenger "You can't afford to pay an airline pilot to work 2 weeks a month and make $300,000". I was wearing 3 regional bars at the time.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Two words: TRUST FUND

Those who have the resources will always be available to take the job, regardless of compensation.

 

[Max Q]

Most of the guys I knew over the years that went on to PFT or fly for nothing were age 30+, low-time, and most had families back home. So I'm not sure what all this "young pilots working for nothing" garbage is.

On a related note, 90% of my new hire class was between the ages of 27-55. If that doesn't represent at least the majority of classes these days, I would like to hear otherwise. So again, the whole "damn youngins" thing is getting tired.

-Brett

 

[apache]

Most of the guys I knew over the years that went on to PFT or fly for nothing were age 30+, low-time, and most had families back home. So I'm not sure what all this "young pilots working for nothing" garbage is.

On a related note, 90% of my new hire class was between the ages of 27-55. If that doesn't represent at least the majority of classes these days, I would like to hear otherwise. So again, the whole "damn youngins" thing is getting tired.

-Brett

Good point. There are a lot of lateral moves taking place and certain companies hire more of the stereotypical young pilots than other companies. Some time ago, I talked to a young man who was bound and determined to take a job at Hojets. He was unconcerned about the reputation of the company, the pay, and the fact that he was behaving like a scab. All he wanted was what he wanted without regard to the consequences. Unfortunately, this is the future. BTW, I heard that he going for upgrade in a few months when he turns 23. He started at Hojets at 500 TT. To call this vocation a profession would be an untruth these days.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Actually, the supply/demand issue is having an effect on pay and bennies, just not at the regional level. I know there are some 3000 hour plus pilots starting at regionals now but I'd think most try the fracs with double and triple the pay and bennies to start.

I've actually met more than one person in the last few years who decided to give up pursuing a career flying as they couldn't see the payoff. One had completed the commercial, another an instrument and I can't recall on the third.

Accountants and Engineers would never take jobs for 23k a year because they never grew up dreaming of posting debits and credits or whatever it is Engineers engage in. People dream about being pilots from very young ages.

That ASA contract was a sign that management at regionals probably will not try and compete with fractionals and charters for pilots but will accept 500 hour wonders coming out of training. They just better hope the supply doesn't really dry up.

Mr. I.