- More than half of American pilots are over age 50 with a mandatory retirement age for pilots at 65
- Lack of qualified candidates
- FAA's new mandate requires all newly hired pilots have at least 1,500 hours of flying experience
- New ATP requirements
- New rest requiremnts
- Low salaries & less benefits - Average regional pilot making $22,400 a year
- Lack of students due to high costs of training
- Increase in air travel
This has created a prefect storm and many companies will start to experience hardship if these topics are not addressed. Companies that are going to be suffering the most have not taken the necessary actions to combat the pilot shortage.
This could be a great opportunity for students that are currently working on their certificates to get a higher paid careers in the Aviation Industry.
Pilot Shortage - Rising costs
Pilot Shortage or a Salary Problem
Worst Pilot Shortage in Decades
I like how detailed you were on the reason behind the pilot shortage, but I feel like more detail needs to be put into why this affects you. If you cannot receive a job until 1500 how does it positively affect you?
ReplyDeleteI feel that things are really starting to hit the fan with the regional industry. Pilots are finally standing up to poverty level wages and airlines aren't getting away with paying pilots 1/4 or what a mainline pilot makes for the same job. Mainlines are going to start to absorb flying and smaller RJ's will be sidelined. It's a good time to be a pilot.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that these are all reasons for a possible pilot shortage. What's the solution? Is it mainly increasing that first year regional pay or is training cost more of an issue? Or both?
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you are saying. It is hard to think our future is bright and not going to be back breaking just to make a place in the industry. It is going to be a tough climate for the next decade. But I have hope we will be successful.
ReplyDeleteThe pilot shortage is going to be an immense issue going forward. Pay and cost of training must be changed to have any affect on the issue. Paying $80,000+ for an education and then starting at $25,000 a year does not attract talent.
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