In your opinion...

91-3A

91-3A

Well-Known Member
I know this is a wide-open door, but I was wondering what everyone's opinions would be on the topic of jobs. When do you think the market will open back up? Do you think it will be another mini-peak like the one a couple years ago? All this is cyclic, for sure, and we will have the opportunity to be big-boy pilots if that's what we truly want, but I am looking for industry insider AND all-around gut-feeling inputs.

My status is as such: started flying in 93 when I was in the military but didn't get my Private. I let the dream fizzle until 06 when I went to Spartan and got through my Commercial. Went across the road and got my CFII/CFI then later my MEI, and racked up nearly 1350 hrs/350 multi working for them. Now I am in limbo. I moved to Florida and immediately got a job as a FI, but there were no students. I have kept that job on the side and picked up a line crew job in the mean time, hoping for the golden ticket to walk thru the door. Just this week, after being hired in Feb, I had my first lesson with a student. I have an intro this Friday and maybe an IFS student (Navy contract, just getting the student into a plane and past the solo x-country then they get to go fly single-engine turbo-prop T-34's) next week. I'm happy where I am, just waiting on the skies to part and people like Doug (hehe) to give up a left seat so we can do something with the 70K we spent in schooling.

Just wanting to hear opinions on the job market, see where some others are sitting, see if anyone else is getting daily calls from SallieMae and OSLA and Key Bank....:rolleyes::banghead::D:bandit:
 
WAG - limited hiring beginning at the end of this year, "normal" levels of hiring next year but not the craziness in hiring of the past few.
 
Well, since you asked, my opinion is that the industry will start turning around once all the bottom feeders who got into for the money finally stop going to those PFJ programs.

There was a big shortage of pilots, and flight schools were promising a cushy job with big money to anybody with a pulse and 50k. So people that never had any interest in flying start flocking to schools to get their piece of the pie, all the while pushing out people who never really cared about the money, just had the dream to fly.

Now thats great for people that have deep pockets and can afford to live off of nothing, or actually pay to sit in a seat. But for normal folk, all the entry level jobs dry up and we get stuck with no way to advance. Why would a company actually pay somebody a decent salary when theres a kid with a rich uncle that'll pay the company to let them work for them.

The best thing that can happen right now is for those people to run out of money, or realize it wasnt quite the gravy train they thought it was, and let the people who actually give a damn start flying planes again.
 
cmill said:
Well, since you asked, my opinion is that the industry will start turning around once all the bottom feeders who got into for the money finally stop going to those PFJ programs.

There was a big shortage of pilots, and flight schools were promising a cushy job with big money to anybody with a pulse and 50k. So people that never had any interest in flying start flocking to schools to get their piece of the pie, all the while pushing out people who never really cared about the money, just had the dream to fly.

Now thats great for people that have deep pockets and can afford to live off of nothing, or actually pay to sit in a seat. But for normal folk, all the entry level jobs dry up and we get stuck with no way to advance. Why would a company actually pay somebody a decent salary when theres a kid with a rich uncle that'll pay the company to let them work for them.

The best thing that can happen right now is for those people to run out of money, or realize it wasnt quite the gravy train they thought it was, and let the people who actually give a damn start flying planes again.
Click to expand...


Nice post. :yeahthat:
 
I think it may be a little different when hiring picks up. Loans for flight training will not be as plentiful as once before, so I think this will reduce the number of folks coming into the industry. I also think that a lot of people will throw in the towel and pursue other careers. Another variable is the 65 rule...what that will do is unknown. How about another one? The military is putting out less and less pilots and with the advent of the UAV, the numbers will continue to decline. There are soooo many variables out there and no crystal ball, so it's hard for people to make decisions on "what to do". If you have patience, then I would say hang out...it may never be the hiring-palooza it was last summer, but I think it will be "healthy" within about a year or so. Just my opinion, of course!

As for Dough retiring anytime soon, you can forget that...he is still a LOWLY first officer....;) Of course I am pretty sure he could upgrade if he wanted, but why give up the cush international life style for the constant turn and burns of the Mad Dog back state side?!?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top