NY Times looks at pilot decline
04-27-2007, 08:09 AM
#51
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: BE-20, RA390
Posts: 644
I could not in good concious advise anyone to pursue a career in aviation at the moment. I have been an aviation cheerleader for years, but I can't do it now.
For you airline people, bear in mind that I am not from an airline background. There may be some kind of hiring boom at present. However, I could not advise someone to gamble that there will be a job for them after they get their ratings. If there isn't, and they try to come to my world of corporate and charter, they will be told. "Come back when you have 1,500-2,000 hours with 500-1,000 multi PIC."
Where are they going to get that anymore???????
For you airline people, bear in mind that I am not from an airline background. There may be some kind of hiring boom at present. However, I could not advise someone to gamble that there will be a job for them after they get their ratings. If there isn't, and they try to come to my world of corporate and charter, they will be told. "Come back when you have 1,500-2,000 hours with 500-1,000 multi PIC."
Where are they going to get that anymore???????
04-27-2007, 08:09 AM
#52
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 61
04-27-2007, 08:10 AM
#53
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
No Harm
My problem is that recently I have been trying to sell my plane and as such I am now receiving aviation related publications from the places I have an ad. In the last 5 years I have worked diligently to expunge my house of anything aviation related so my children wouldn't get infected.
Unknown to me my 6 year old has been collecting them from the trash and told me that he likes the airplane pictures. In addition to my horror I also noticed that he like to play with toy airplanes.
If I banish him from all things aviation he will seek it out even more. What should I do?
SkyHigh
04-27-2007, 08:12 AM
#54
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
04-27-2007, 08:14 AM
#55
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 61
The number of hobby pilots is declining but career minded ones are on the rise.
Every year since the 1970's the percentage of commercial versus private pilots has climbed. The reason is that if you do wish to fly most realise that the only way to do it is through following a career. University programs and pilot factories have flourished over the years while home town FBO's are fading away. In 15 years virtually every student pilot will have professional intentions. The results are and will continued to be an increasingly flooded pilot market.
It is a fact that people will accept status and position over pay. After blowing 150K on a wasted college degree and flight training most will take any airline job just to save face with their old college friends and to show mom and dad that they are successful.
LoL
Wages will continue to decline. Work rules will get worse.
SkyHigh
Every year since the 1970's the percentage of commercial versus private pilots has climbed. The reason is that if you do wish to fly most realise that the only way to do it is through following a career. University programs and pilot factories have flourished over the years while home town FBO's are fading away. In 15 years virtually every student pilot will have professional intentions. The results are and will continued to be an increasingly flooded pilot market.
It is a fact that people will accept status and position over pay. After blowing 150K on a wasted college degree and flight training most will take any airline job just to save face with their old college friends and to show mom and dad that they are successful.
LoL Wages will continue to decline. Work rules will get worse.
SkyHigh
04-27-2007, 08:15 AM
#56
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
No harm done. I am happy for you and both of your children.
My problem is that recently I have been trying to sell my plane and as such I am now receiving aviation related publications from the places I have an ad. In the last 5 years I have worked diligently to expunge my house of anything aviation related so my children wouldn't get infected.
Unknown to me my 6 year old has been collecting them from the trash and told me that he likes the airplane pictures. In addition to my horror I also noticed that he like to play with toy airplanes.
If I banish him from all things aviation he will seek it out even more. What should I do?
SkyHigh
My problem is that recently I have been trying to sell my plane and as such I am now receiving aviation related publications from the places I have an ad. In the last 5 years I have worked diligently to expunge my house of anything aviation related so my children wouldn't get infected.
Unknown to me my 6 year old has been collecting them from the trash and told me that he likes the airplane pictures. In addition to my horror I also noticed that he like to play with toy airplanes.
If I banish him from all things aviation he will seek it out even more. What should I do?
SkyHigh
Thats sad.............................Sky we know you love airplanes and aviation, dont do it to yourself...........................
04-27-2007, 08:16 AM
#57
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 61
04-27-2007, 08:23 AM
#58
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: BE-20, RA390
Posts: 644
Stacks of Logbooks
Every year, approximately 2.5 times as many student pilot certificates are issued as private pilot certificates. This means for every 2.5 people who start flight training, only 1 will get his private. AOPA sights this as their biggest challenge, and that is why they have created project mentor.
A lot of people found out that flying was more like work than fun, and lost interest as they were looking for a hobby that was an escape, not a hobby that was like a job.
When you add the lifestyle of today, including the economic factors, this problem is only compounded.
04-27-2007, 08:35 AM
#59
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 45
When I worked at an FBO, I remember non-pilots just coming out to the airport to look around. The airport used to be a hang-out. People would leave work and then come to fly. I know rated pilots, one commercial, in my town that haven't been to the airport in years.
You people who live in Florida may find this hard to believe, but I can see flying has dropped off in a big time way over the last 15 years. It has become a rare sight to have a single engine flying near my house. Events that used to fill the ramp to capacity are now only a four airplane affair.
There are no "pilots in the pipeline" here either. If Bill BigBucks buys a C-90, he will have to hire Joe Millionair's King Air pilot, because there aren't 5 Baron pilots ready to make the leap like there were back in the day. I know of one pilot getting his commercial certificate in the past two years. People are going to the "academies", graduating with 500 total time, coming back with visions of flying a bizjet---only to be heartbroken. There are no corporate Baron jobs to build time with anymore, so they have to scratch around any way they can.
You people who live in Florida may find this hard to believe, but I can see flying has dropped off in a big time way over the last 15 years. It has become a rare sight to have a single engine flying near my house. Events that used to fill the ramp to capacity are now only a four airplane affair.
There are no "pilots in the pipeline" here either. If Bill BigBucks buys a C-90, he will have to hire Joe Millionair's King Air pilot, because there aren't 5 Baron pilots ready to make the leap like there were back in the day. I know of one pilot getting his commercial certificate in the past two years. People are going to the "academies", graduating with 500 total time, coming back with visions of flying a bizjet---only to be heartbroken. There are no corporate Baron jobs to build time with anymore, so they have to scratch around any way they can.
I agree with your point. I was fortunate enough to retire at age 40, have been flying for 20 plus years. I have been trying to get into corporate aviation at my local airport. I own a A36 and have spent a fortune on maintenance, fuel, insurance, etc. I have 1100 tt, 100 multi. I need a minumum of 200 hours multi to get in the right seat of a Kingair 200 that is operated by a local business, as dictated by their insurance company. I am faced with either going out and renting multi time at $200 per hour, $20,000. Or buying a twin, which would cost a fortune. Yet I can get on with a regional now, which is what I may do in order to get the training I need. I might even want to stay with the regionals. But your point is correct, there are not many ways for someone in my situation to gain multi experience without spending a fortune, in order to take a starting salary arround $20,000. This is why pilots are decreasing in numbers.
04-27-2007, 08:43 AM
#60
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: BE-20, RA390
Posts: 644
One hundered hours in a King Air F-90 to be a Part 91 SIC crewed with a professional pilot???
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
