GAO Report on the pilot shortage...

PhilosopherPilot said:
So I'll stop saying there's a shortage of pilots. I'll just say there's a gap between the supply and demand curves if that makes you happy. But it means the same thing.
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I vote the next pilot shortage thread be titled "New Pilot Supply and Demand Gap Article"

Honestly though, great explanation. Basically defines why the lack of new hires is considered a 'shortage' in layman's terms. If I could like your post twice, I would.
 
Pichettet1 said:
I vote the next pilot shortage thread be titled "New Pilot Supply and Demand Gap Article"

Honestly though, great explanation. Basically defines why the lack of new hires is considered a 'shortage' in layman's terms. If I could like your post twice, I would.
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I wish I could claim it all, but I just spent the last 2 hours discussing this with my father-in-law who is a PhD mathematician and finance guy. I walked in his house, and the first thing he asked me was if I had read the GAO report.

At any rate, I told him about this argument shortage/not shortage, and he said it was a stupid argument since we are all saying the exact same thing. In lay terms, there's a shortage. In economic terms, there's a gap between the supply curve and the demand curve. You guys just have an emotional response to the word "shortage."
 
Richman said:
That's OK...a little birdie tells me there's a LEC Communications gig waiting for you in any time you want it...

Richman
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Flanders just recruited me as a minion for International, but I'll certainly give it serious consideration!
 
This "problem" is so much more than the word "shortage" that this thread should be 1,000,000 pages long to put it all down. A lot of people keep looking at the amount of certificates out there. That number is inaccurate because how many of those guys are retired or can no longer hold a medical. Then regionals can't staff their flying because they can't pay enough. Some guys are in cushy 91gigs and have no plans to leave. And some guys just refuse to work for a package of .6oz lightly salted peanuts. Whether you agree that there is a shortage of pilots or not, there is a BIG problem brewing in the industry right now. And it is going to get worse before it gets better.

Eidt to add: It just seems no one wants to acknowledge the elephant sitting in the room. With all the new rules and regs, something has to change. The storm is on the horizon. Be it a shortage or people just packing up and leaving before it hits. Big changes are coming. What they will be? You'd be foolish to bet on black right now.
 
mshunter said:
This "problem" is so much more than the word "shortage" that this thread should be 1,000,000 pages long to put it all down. A lot of people keep looking at the amount of certificates out there. That number is inaccurate because how many of those guys are retired or can no longer hold a medical. Then regionals can't staff their flying because they can't pay enough. Some guys are in cushy 91gigs and have no plans to leave. And some guys just refuse to work for a package of .6oz lightly salted peanuts. Whether you agree that there is a shortage of pilots or not, there is a BIG problem brewing in the industry right now. And it is going to get worse before it gets better.

Eidt to add: It just seems no one wants to acknowledge the elephant sitting in the room. With all the new rules and regs, something has to change. The storm is on the horizon. Be it a shortage or people just packing up and leaving before it hits. Big changes are coming. What they will be? You'd be foolish to bet on black right now.
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Agreed.
 
!

I take offense to the phrase " regionals can't staff their flying because they can't pay enough" Its been a managed race to the bottom and a business model style of "Mr Smithers" Gee's, I wonder why living someone else's former dream isn't enough?
 
Pancav8r said:
!

I take offense to the phrase " regionals can't staff their flying because they can't pay enough" Its been a managed race to the bottom and a business model style of "Mr Smithers" Gee's, I wonder why living someone else's former dream isn't enough?
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Oh yeah, it has been managed alright. The majors have whipsawed the regionals who then have whipsawed their pilots.
 
I read the GAO report. It covers a lot of bases. Some of the suggestions given to increase the supply of pilots have already been done by the HR departments at the regionals. (like going to career fairs, etc)

My belief is that money will fix the pilot shortage short term. If the regionals came out tomorrow and starting pay was $70,000 then they would fill the classes for now. There are pilots out there that would show up for $70,000. Those pilots are doing other jobs right now that pay much more that $20,000 a year. (like working at Taco Bell)

That would be a band aid fix and not a permanent one.

It's time for the airlines to start paying pilots the proper pay for what they do.

I'm hearing more and more of the public in absolute shock that first officers make $20,000 a year while airlines make billions of dollars a year in profits. Yes the airlines have the money to pay the pilots. This has absolutely nothing to do with the price of airline tickets.

If I read correctly, Delta made over 10 BILLION dollars in 2013. They are going to have a hard time in Congress trying to get anything changed when their Endeavor first officers are only making $24,000 per year. There is no excuse for any successful company having their workers at the poverty level.

I would be embarassed if I were the Delta CEO trying to explain that one.

Joe
 
JOEFRIDAY2 said:
If I read correctly, Delta made over 10 BILLION dollars in 2013. They are going to have a hard time in Congress trying to get anything changed when their Endeavor first officers are only making $24,000 per year. There is no excuse for any successful company having their workers at the poverty level.

I would be embarrassed if I were the Delta CEO trying to explain that one.

Joe
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Doesn't mean squat! They key word is "Delta" made 2.7 Billion dollars. How much money did Endeavor make in 2013? Delta has a decent pay scale for Delta pilots. Endeavor pilots are not Delta employees or pilots. Endeavor is a subsidiary and it's own company. Delta CEO doesn't have to explain a thing. That's on Ryan Gumm to explain. It's a very gray area. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. I was a Comair employee and I've been down the same road. It's futile trying to get courts and mediators to agree that Endeavor is the same company as Delta. Ask a Comair pilot and they'll tell you.
 
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