U.S. airlines face the most serious shortage of pilots in over forty years, according to the...

This news story has 4 comments:

Register or Login to rate comments »

WRB747 Comments (16)
 
We all knew this was coming and why did Delta offer me an early retirement package if the need is so acute. The experience increase from the FAA will have some effect but do you know how many young pilots out there that are working for crap with the regional lines. I bet the public would be surprised to know that they probably pay more for a meal than they contribute to the pilot on a flight. Even when I flew a 747 with 400 people on it I was get $0.60 per hour per passenger. Check ride and physical every six months and random drug and alcohol test, not that I mind that but maybe you should know about your doctor that way, or god forbid maybe a congressman should be held to this standard. Pilots love flying and would probably do it for free, but they jump through a lot of hoops to get to the top. I predict there won't be that much shortage. Vacuums usually get filled.
12 Nov 2012, 09:35 AM Reply Like

mrbill757 Comments (14)
 
If there is a shortage, the rest of the world will fill the void. Look for the airline industry to mirror the cruise industry. Next time you take a cruise check out how many Americans are on board. Cruise personnel work for peanuts since they are not regulated by the bureaucracy in Washington. No social security, disability benefits, vacation, personal days, EEOC, OSHA, retirement, HR to handle political correctness, etc. The airline industry including pilots will employ folks overseas who would be thrilled to make a third of what Americans make. Best of both worlds of the US airline industry. They won't have to worry about rules prohibiting foreign ownership while at the same time reducing their costs as if the airline were owned by an entity outside the US.
12 Nov 2012, 10:01 AM Reply Like

WRB747 Comments (16)
 
The problem with that argument is the FAA licenses required to fly in the US. The airlines have tried to employ foreign nationals as Flight Attendents and such but the unions have been able to stop them. No way foreign pilots fly here..
12 Nov 2012, 10:36 AM Reply Like

laddlindholm Comments (4)
 
just up the retirement age to 70+.
I was forced off the B747 in 2002 (age 60 rule) working for NWA. I waited too long and was too old for Int'l hiring, so I just retired to not look back. I had hoped for the 60 yo rule to have been approved and changed in the 90's, alas, the wisdom of the Unions and airline mgmt. was not to be.
I believe that the foreign carriers will seek mergers, if not acquisitions of US carriers and that should put an end to the short sightedness of some of the airline behavior. American is, in mho, the worst, when it comes to employee relations. Northwest was beginning to be at the for front of modern attitudes for relationship and integration of employee input. Delta has taken up as best they can with how an Airline can survive and prosper with input from employees.
Yes, hiring will be a problem. Lets hope it doesn't cause a problem in the coming years with desperate hiring and overload the training departments and put un-ready pilots in the air.
13 Nov 2012, 12:31 AM Reply Like