GAO Report on the pilot shortage...

I don't think they'll change the 1,500 hour rule. Too much effort went into establishing that law, held up high by the families of Colgan 3407, and championed by a pretty powerful senator.

In the GAO report, page 33 lists all the possible options airline management can take:
  1. Increase recruiting efforts.
  2. Train workers for the job.
  3. Improve working conditions.
  4. Reduce the minimum qualifications for the job.
  5. Offer bonuses to new employees.
  6. Improve wages and fringe benefits.
  7. Contract out the work.
  8. Turn down work.
Seems to me they have plenty of ways to deal with this pilot shortage myth. The bottom line is, airlines don't want to spend money on pilots.
 
Flying Ninja said:
In the GAO report, page 33 lists all the possible options airline management can take:
  1. Increase recruiting efforts.
  2. Train workers for the job.
  3. Improve working conditions.
  4. Reduce the minimum qualifications for the job.
  5. Offer bonuses to new employees.
  6. Improve wages and fringe benefits.
  7. Contract out the work.
  8. Turn down work.
Seems to me they have plenty of ways to deal with this pilot shortage myth. The bottom line is, airlines don't want to spend money on pilots.
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+1! They had plenty of time to prepare. Instead they wanted to spend money on #LondonHousesForExecutives.... and ask Pilots for concessions #AA :) Sorry couldn't help it.


P.s. Anyone notice the 12% (or so) in pay cut the GAO report said pilots have lost in the last few years????

*****EDIT*** 9.5% average pay cut for the professional pilot 2000-2012******
 
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"Average professional pilot salaries went down 9.5% from 2000 to 2012, while the number of pilots employed went up 12%. Both trends are inconsistent with a shortage, the report said."
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Unless MPL comes along....
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Unless indeed.....or maybe let 'em fly to 70....I believe a prominent member of this forum mentioned the threat of cabotage awhile back. Wouldn't that be a solution? That would free up a bunch of US crews who use to fly transcon. Just let British Airways stop at JFK while flying between LAX and LHR. Some will fly LHR-LAX, some will deplane at JFK, and some will only ride from JFK-LAX.

Nothing will surprise me. It's a cluster.
 
Age 70 is a non-starter because ICAO doesn't allow for it. Cabotage is also completely unrealistic at this point in time. Only MPL has a real chance of coming to fruition anytime soon.
 
Flying Ninja said:
The bottom line is, airlines don't want to spend money on pilots.
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I think the real issue is that they can't and still be profitable. As I see it, the regionals negotiated low contracts from the legacy carriers and are now forced to live with a segmented pilot shortage because they simply can't bring in new talent at the price point of a few years ago. The next round of regional contract negotiations will be interesting...
 
hook_dupin said:
I think the real issue is that they can't and still be profitable. As I see it, the regionals negotiated low contracts from the legacy carriers and are now forced to live with a segmented pilot shortage because they simply can't bring in new talent at the price point of a few years ago. The next round of regional contract negotiations will be interesting...
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Soooooo...how is that not a shortage then? I think you guys that argue "it's not a shortage" are just talking semantics.

Are the regionals experiencing an unprecedented supply problem? Yes.

Can they fix it and remain in business? Not likely.

You can call it whatever you like, but whatever it is, it's unprecedented and big. Large airlines may well go out if business because of it.
 
Well since those companies only exist because of the most successful whipsaw in history (and ALPA's overwhelming failure of DFR with regard to scope), my opinion is that returning narrow body flying to the majors/legacies is better for both the industry and the pilots.

Might hurt short term, but a decade from now the industry and the profession will be stronger as a result.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Well since those companies only exist because of the most successful whipsaw in history (and ALPA's overwhelming failure of DFR with regard to scope), my opinion is that returning narrow body flying to the majors/legacies is better for both the industry and the pilots.

Might hurt short term, but a decade from now the industry and the profession will be stronger as a result.
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I'm not saying that is a bad idea, at all, but it won't create a 1 for 1 job opening. Instead of 5 jets going to Podunk, it will be 2. Maybe even one.

Problemo solved! No more shortage!
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
Soooooo...how is that not a shortage then? I think you guys that argue "it's not a shortage" are just talking semantics.

Are the regionals experiencing an unprecedented supply problem? Yes.

Can they fix it and remain in business? Not likely.

You can call it whatever you like, but whatever it is, it's unprecedented and big. Large airlines may well go out if business because of it.
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Exactly.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Well since those companies only exist because of the most successful whipsaw in history (and ALPA's overwhelming failure of DFR with regard to scope), my opinion is that returning narrow body flying to the majors/legacies is better for both the industry and the pilots.

Might hurt short term, but a decade from now the industry and the profession will be stronger as a result.
Click to expand...
I don't see that happening 100%. The big 3 management won't agree to let all the cows back into the barn. While Southernjets has initiated the return of narrow body flying back to mainline, it will not allow all of it to return. I heard that in several meetings from the top leadership and . The big 3 are spearheading the A4A and RAA's push to reduce the 1500 hrs rule. I agree that it all should go back to mainline, but there will still be a need for regional/commuter feed. That cat was let out of the bag with deregulation in 1978.
 
Boris Badenov said:
No one said there isn't a shortage, they said there isn't a pilot shortage. I grant you that there does appear to be a looming dumbass-shortage, judging by the ERAU enrollment numbers, etc. This shortage has yet to affect JC daily operations.
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I think you guys are just hung up on the word "shortage." I'm not sure what it would take for you to think there's a shortage if this doesn't count.
 
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