Comments on: Stand-by for the Mother of All Airline Pilot Shortages! http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/ American Airlines in Burma 1942 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:55:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Healthcare, Doctors and the pilot shortage | Project 7 Alpha TEST http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Healthcare, Doctors and the pilot shortage | Project 7 Alpha TEST Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:28:46 +0000 http://www.project7alpha.com/?p=683#comment-348 [...] a significant investment in time and money. Both will be facing shortages in the near future of “qualified” applicants and practicing Professionals because they have or will become the focal point of [...] [...] a significant investment in time and money. Both will be facing shortages in the near future of “qualified” applicants and practicing Professionals because they have or will become the focal point of [...]

]]> By: Chip http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Chip Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:06:21 +0000 http://www.project7alpha.com/?p=683#comment-254 Rick; I think we have reached a water-shed. Many things have changed in the last 20 years. 1. Airline pilots make less than military pilots now. 2. Hell for that matter they make less, a captain, than an air traffic controllers. 3. The cost to become an airline pilot in the same 20 years has gone up 10-20 fold. 4. Quality of life non-existent. 5. Retirement, stolen. 6. Fun? Daily harrassment at security, everyone looking to violate you etc. etc. GONE! So bottom line financially: not worth it. Retiremnt: DEFINATELY not worth it. FUN: Non-existant. Personally my biggest regret after almost 30 years of flying was coming into the airline industry. It was a mistake, I should have taken the test pilot job I was offered. But now that I'm here I have no choice but to try and make it better. As for the future? I think the un-intended consequence of the ATA's assault on the profession since 1978 is that they will have to double even triple salaries/benefits to get anyone to apply. And even if that comes to fruition; I wish I took that test job. Rick;
I think we have reached a water-shed. Many things have changed in the last 20 years.
1. Airline pilots make less than military pilots now.
2. Hell for that matter they make less, a captain, than an air traffic controllers.
3. The cost to become an airline pilot in the same 20 years has gone up 10-20 fold.
4. Quality of life non-existent.
5. Retirement, stolen.
6. Fun? Daily harrassment at security, everyone looking to violate you etc. etc. GONE!

So bottom line financially: not worth it.
Retiremnt: DEFINATELY not worth it.
FUN: Non-existant.

Personally my biggest regret after almost 30 years of flying was coming into the airline industry. It was a mistake, I should have taken the test pilot job I was offered. But now that I’m here I have no choice but to try and make it better.

As for the future? I think the un-intended consequence of the ATA’s assault on the profession since 1978 is that they will have to double even triple salaries/benefits to get anyone to apply. And even if that comes to fruition; I wish I took that test job.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Rick Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:55:41 +0000 http://www.project7alpha.com/?p=683#comment-253 OMG I suppose I just realized the answer to comment #1...private charter experience...part 145. Sorry for the dumb question. OMG I suppose I just realized the answer to comment #1…private charter experience…part 145. Sorry for the dumb question.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Rick Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:52:34 +0000 http://www.project7alpha.com/?p=683#comment-252 Also, this will present airlines a huge opportunity to raise pricing because they'll have to cut back their schedules. Unanticipated consequence...but then market forces will come back into play again. Also, this will present airlines a huge opportunity to raise pricing because they’ll have to cut back their schedules. Unanticipated consequence…but then market forces will come back into play again.

]]> By: Rick http://project7alpha.com/2009/07/stand-by-mother-airline-pilot/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Rick Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:50:37 +0000 http://www.project7alpha.com/?p=683#comment-251 So how would a pilot get his 1500 hours high performance time without an airline sponsoring him? I'm missing something here. Isn't that an impossible barrier for the average aspiring commercial pilot? This subject fascinates me, both because I'm a frequent flyer and a private pilot. Even the students at the big universities would have trouble getting to this milestone. Does flying FEDEX or UPS get somebody there? So how would a pilot get his 1500 hours high performance time without an airline sponsoring him? I’m missing something here. Isn’t that an impossible barrier for the average aspiring commercial pilot? This subject fascinates me, both because I’m a frequent flyer and a private pilot. Even the students at the big universities would have trouble getting to this milestone. Does flying FEDEX or UPS get somebody there?

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