Simple Logic

Warning to Airlines: Flight Instructor Shortage Could Create Long-Term Problems

Your scenario about pilot hiring in emerging countries happens everyday in the USA. Many regional airlines hire pilots fresh out of flight school with less than 500 hours. These same pilots upgrade to Captain when they reach 1500 hours total. The reason for this is simple: you get what you pay for. Pilots hired at regional airlines make less than $20,000 in their first year. The Captains make $35k in some cases. After 12-15 years with the airline, they can expect to make $80k with no retirement. If the experience levels of some of the crews at the regional airlines were posted in the cabin, I'm afraid passengers would be marching back off the airplane. I wouldn't put my family on that airplane flying at night in marginal weather into a special airport.

By the way, I worked 60 hours a week as a flight instructor and brought home $780 per month. Then made $12,000 my first year at a regional airline, $19,000 my second, $24,000 the third. I'm not talking about the good ol'days in the 50's, or 60's, or 70's........that was flight instructing at an internationally renowned aviation university in 1996 and getting hired by ASA in 1997.