Business Week: Yes, There’s a Pilot Shortage: Salaries Start at $21,000

[CoffeeIcePapers]

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-11/yes-theres-a-pilot-shortage-salaries-start-at-21-000

This thing is picking up some steam. From a comment:

$21,000 per year for a pilot? Holy cow. The airlines have nobody to blame but themselves. I hope it gets a lot worse for them. Then maybe they'll pay the CEO less and the pilots more.

Truly, I am so SHOCKED knowing this fact. Holy smoke, I definitely protest on all avenues all I know how against this terrible fact. Shocked.. shocked... completely shocked!!!

I don't want a pilot who is being paid only $21K flying my plane

 

[derg]

As if they look for the highest paid pilots when they go to Orbitz. *giggle*

 

[CFI A&P]

Do you think that journalist is aware of the no-show new hire class that occurred last year?

 

[ozziecat35]

Do you think that journalist is aware of the no-show new hire class that occurred last year?

I feel like someone should let him know...

 

[Murdoughnut]

Got a Gawker bump...

http://gawker.com/airline-pilots-get-paid-crap-1521393608

 

[mshunter]

Say this over and over and over to yourself.

THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CARE!

If they cared what people made, they wouldn't go to Walmart. They wouldn't use Orbitz, and Priceline, and Kayak, and... Well, you get the point. They just don't care.

 

[pete2800]

Say this over and over and over to yourself.

THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CARE!

If they cared what people made, they wouldn't go to Walmart. They wouldn't use Orbitz, and Priceline, and Kayak, and... Well, you get the point. They just don't care.

I agree with you that the public absolutely doesn't care, but your Walmart comparison isn't quite right.... If the guy at Walmart is incompetent and bags your groceries wrong, you don't die.

Fear is a great motivator.

 

[jgheggie]

Fear is a great motivator.

So is money

 

[Murdoughnut]

Say this over and over and over to yourself.

THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CARE!

If they cared what people made, they wouldn't go to Walmart. They wouldn't use Orbitz, and Priceline, and Kayak, and... Well, you get the point. They just don't care.

I just paid more for a ticket on Southwest that includes a connection to fly up to Grand Rapids than the direct flight that was available on Allegiant at a better time.

 

[cmhumphr]

I'm pretty sure those EX-CON guys in that photo are making a decent wage. They just look like that because of contract issues. They should have used the pictures of the RAH pilot group when they picketed Indy. Much more accurate picture.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

I agree with you that the public absolutely doesn't care, but your Walmart comparison isn't quite right.... If the guy at Walmart is incompetent and bags your groceries wrong, you don't die.

Fear is a great motivator.

Not dying at work is priority 1.

 

[Max Power]

I think the other side of the coin is that we don't make enough as a society to care. The eroded buying power we are stuck with plus the increased cost of everything means less money for fun. And we want to get the most for what little we have to spend, so we are forced to shop only for price. Well, not only for price, but the best value. And since most of the airlines have taken all the value out of flying by stripping it down to a seat and a Coke for your fare, there's no value left to shop for, so price it is.

 

[Max Power]

Not dying at work is priority 1.

Well, maybe we should change our priorities then. Who's willing to take one for the team?!

 

[atracnitrix]

Do you think that journalist is aware of the no-show new hire class that occurred last year?

Care to elaborate? I've been under a rock lately.

 

[CoffeeIcePapers]

I'm pretty sure those EX-CON guys in that photo are making a decent wage. They just look like that because of contract issues. They should have used the pictures of the RAH pilot group when they picketed Indy. Much more accurate picture.

These guys have a pretty big set up outside of prison. @uofmcp1201 used to be part of the gang.

 

[CFI A&P]

Care to elaborate? I've been under a rock lately.

Someone here will have the exact details, but one if not two of the regionals had an entire class of new hires not show up. Flat out no call no show, stood them up like a prom date. Did the interview for practice, accepted a class date and then did not go.

 

[mshunter]

I just paid more for a ticket on Southwest that includes a connection to fly up to Grand Rapids than the direct flight that was available on Allegiant at a better time.

Poor comparison. An allegiant FO makes double what a regional FO makes, and the timing works better for you.

 

[mshunter]

I agree with you that the public absolutely doesn't care, but your Walmart comparison isn't quite right.... If the guy at Walmart is incompetent and bags your groceries wrong, you don't die.

Fear is a great motivator.

The public doesn't care.

 

[ChasenSFO]

The public doesn't care.

Dude, it's so easy to get the public to care about anything. All it takes is viral media. I want to fly 121 at least few years, if I make it outside of flying and the industry hasn't already changed for the better, I'll scare the crap out of the public. Either way, they do care. They don't want to die.

 

[mshunter]

Dude, it's so easy to get the public to care about anything. All it takes is viral media. I want to fly 121 at least few years, if I make it outside of flying and the industry hasn't already changed for the better, I'll scare the crap out of the public. Either way, they do care. They don't want to die.

If you think they care enough to see to it a regional pilot makes a livable wage, I have some beach front property in New Mexico I'd like to sell you. Planes aren't falling out of the sky because of low wages.