Comments on: Another flight school grounded; Langa Air out of business

By: Chip

Chip — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:55:14 +0000

King;
The sad new reality is do NOT give a flight school more money than you can afford to lose. COD, is the only safe way. I would never give a school more than a weeks worth of flight time now.

The entire aviation industry is headed for the mother of all crashes. In 15 years there will virtually be no pilots left.

By: King

King — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:56:16 +0000

I attended a flight school with 400 students in Fl and it shut down without any notice as well I feel your pain. Good luck to all of you

By: Chip

Chip — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:49:32 +0000

Rhall;
I can tell you from experience that a career in aviation will have set backs. Many set backs. I’m sorry things went bad at Langa, I hope you didn’t get burned too much financially.

Don’t give up on your dreams. I kept slugging away and I’m glad I did. That dosn’t mean you might not have to change course. I have and value each experience. Fly safe and keep it fun. chip

By: rhall

rhall — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:11:01 +0000

I agree chip even though I’m one of the langa students. I still think the future will hold jobs even when the current looks bleak. Mine bleaker than most. Do you think Kevin that the recession will last our whole lifetime? do you think Kevin that when they cut all these means of becoming a pilot, and the pilot well drys up they will stop needing pilots? When 9/11 happend the well got low and so did the minimums.

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:29:39 +0000

Kevin;
Did you know that the USA is only a small part of the world of aviation. Yes there is a shortage coming, that is why commuter airlines were hiring 190 hour pilots up until last year. Flight schools are failing because of no input. Military is no longer pumping out pilots, besides they have to take a huge pay cut to go to the lines.

NBAA is a very minor segment compared to the worlds need for pilots. That is why IATA pushed through age 65, that is why IATA is pushing through airline licesnses that require less flight time than a private (MPL).

RIGHT NOW, no doubt you can find a pilot, we are in a recession. what about 1,2,5 or 10 years from now? At my airline for example, even with age 65, within 10-12 years 90% of the pilots will be gone. 90%! Who will replace them. Go up the FAA site and look and the active commercial pilot licences issued in the last few years as compared to 10, 20 years ago.

A pilot shortage is coming. The fact you choose not to look past the current want adds dosn’t make it go away. No pilots in now, no qualified pilots later.

By: Kevin Hand

Kevin Hand — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:51:33 +0000

A pilot shortage is coming…Really?? You know, a very short time ago, the pundits were espousing a nationwide mechanic shortage and how Aviation in general will grind to a halt within the next year or so. That was about four years ago. Before making such a cavalier announcement such as this, maybe we should check the facts. Small Business Aviation, as a whole, is dying on the vine, my friend. Aircraft are being sold…or abandoned, Pilots are being laid off at an alarming rate, as are support personnel (mechanics,Line service,etc). Check the NBAA website, You can EASILY find a pilot to fly just about anything RIGHT NOW as well as a mechanic to maintain anything you may need to fly. A pilot shortage is no where near the Midwest…