Judge lets American Airlines toss out its pilots contract

[MOGuy424]

Isn't all of that stuff exactly what doctors did for decades to keep their profession in check?

I think the airlines realize the 1,500 hr rule is going to dry up SOME of the pilots which may make it more difficult for regionals to staff and keep wages low. Why else would they fight the law and why else would 9E be looking for $29/hr the first year? Stop letting the airlines lower the experience bar to whatever they want to get people in the door and they'll have to do something to attract people.

Well said.
Doctor, Lawyer, and Pilot. Dream jobs? Prestigious Jobs? What is the difference between them? To be a doctor or a lawyer you must be an acceptionally bright individual and have the accademic performance to even be considered for acceptance into such educational programs. Flight schools should employ the same high standards as these other professions.

"So you would like to attend our university flight school? Great! Let us see here. High school GPA, 2.1, hmm. No extra curricular activities, hmm. No volunteer work or humanity contributions, hmm. Well you see in order to attend our professional pilot program you would have needed at least a 3.0 gpa in high school and in your undergrad classes. I'm sorry but you just are not the caliber we look for in pilots."

I'm not saying it should be as difficult to become a pilot as a doctor, but I know I went to school with some individuals who just squeaked by so they could be an "AIRLINE PILOT" and get "laid" more because chicks dig pilots (bet they got a rude awakening). They prestige of becoming a pilot has not come from the fact that people can fly cheaper than ever before, it is because the industry standard has dropped ungodly as to who can become a pilot. Because of this, the market become saturated with applicants who were willing to do anything for that turbine multi. Maybe if the standard for education requirements and the quality to which pilot applicants were held to was never reduced to what it is now, our industry would not be in such dismay.

 

[jtrain609]

Well said.
Doctor, Lawyer, and Pilot. Dream jobs? Prestigious Jobs? What is the difference between them? To be a doctor or a lawyer you must be an acceptionally bright individual and have the accademic performance to even be considered for acceptance into such educational programs. Flight schools should employ the same high standards as these other professions.

I...erm...I'm pretty sure I have irrefutable proof that this isn't correct.

 

[jskibo]

What's the common denominator here? MONEY.....

Flight schools / universities let anyone in as its a money making thing

Airlines want reduced costs so they can make money (a little soda came out my nose as I chuckle at this one)

They can't squeeze the flying public as they tend to walk to the next cheaper one (or the one that looks cheaper until they check a bag)

Can't squeeze plane costs as the old ones tend to burn a wee bit more fuel

Can't skimp too much on maintenance as the Friends Against Aviation tend to show up.

What's left to squeeze? Labor.

In a not so distant life I ran Maintenance programs for the RSAF in Saudi. It used to be a real lucrative gig years ago and I could hire qualified folks all day long. You didn't like the rules, go home, I have 100 more applicants all equally or better qualified.

Then the low ball players got involved, each would underbid the other. Really crazy way to operate in a country that was willing to pony up whatever costs it took to bring in high caliber talent. As the contracts got undercut each time and passed to the next willing operator, the staff would turn over and staffing levels would drop. You would find new guys, but they were usually running from something (divorce, bills, taxes, etc....) and at a bit lesser capability.

In the end I was staffing AWACS and F15 Maintenance positions at a 71% fill rate, a 20% average yearly turnover with guys who could barely qualify to turn a wrench in some cases. Why? Because the RSAF began setting these low salary expectations in the contract. Mechanic base pay $24K - $26k, full up with bonus was $46k on average. Training pilots got a whole $75k. Most of the slots were unaccompanied, you share a villa in a compound with another guy and 3 of you drive yourselves an hour each way to work.

Sad as they used to be $90K+ jobs for guys with a HS Diploma and some military Maint training.......