Airline pilot shortage coverage on NPR
12-27-2012, 06:29 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2011
Position: Not sure anymore
Posts: 206
As an instructor at my flight school it was indeed a bit difficult to get XC time during a regular lesson. Typical day I had 4 students. Each student was blocked at 1.5 hours of flight time with .5 allowed for prebrief and debrief. Fitting a XC in there would only delay the aircraft return for the next student as well as the start of my next two hour block. I tried to make it work, but I would usually end up sacrificing the quality of the lesson to get the time in my logboook. Instructors did it anyway, but usually involved a bit of creativity and flexibility on the students part as well a flexibility with aircraft availability.
12-27-2012, 06:29 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Looking Forward
Posts: 253
This was my favorite response in the comments...
"The pilots in this tragedy were unqualified, underpaid, and unprepared for the conditions they faced, and more than 50 people, including themselves, paid with their lives. Moreover, the company scheduled a plane that was known to be unsuitable for winter weather."
Those old Colgan regional jet prop thingys...
"The pilots in this tragedy were unqualified, underpaid, and unprepared for the conditions they faced, and more than 50 people, including themselves, paid with their lives. Moreover, the company scheduled a plane that was known to be unsuitable for winter weather."
Those old Colgan regional jet prop thingys...
12-27-2012, 08:00 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Position: Square root of the variance and average of the variation
Posts: 1,602
Try harder.
I freely admit that depending on where you are instructing and the aircraft you are instructing in, it can be tough within time constraints...but scenario-based training is all the rage these days and with a little effort mini-cross countries can be incorporated into lesson plans to practice skills, to the benefit of the client/student AND the instructor.
I freely admit that depending on where you are instructing and the aircraft you are instructing in, it can be tough within time constraints...but scenario-based training is all the rage these days and with a little effort mini-cross countries can be incorporated into lesson plans to practice skills, to the benefit of the client/student AND the instructor.
For instrument students it's not a factor as 90% of my training is cross country - I make them file and receive a clearance nearly every time. Really no real world benefit in shooting the same approaches to the same home airports all the time. I want them operating in the system not memorizing the home ILS.
Really not that difficult to get the XC time. Although I believe 1.5 hrs is unrealistic. I schedule all students for 2.5 to 3 hours. Quality over quantity.
12-27-2012, 08:10 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: 7er
Posts: 1,673
What airline starts at $15,000 a year. I made $26,000 my 1st year at a regional and that was back in 1997. Don't 2nd year FO's at most regionals make close to $40 at most regionals these days? Not saying it shouldn't be more but for a job not requiring a degree good luck making $40,000 if you are 20 years old and have no degree. If you wasted $150K at UND or ERAU than that is your own fault. There are much cheaper ways to do it.
12-27-2012, 08:41 AM
#17
Underpaid...
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Position: French-Canadian
Posts: 2,101
What airline starts at $15,000 a year. I made $26,000 my 1st year at a regional and that was back in 1997. Don't 2nd year FO's at most regionals make close to $40 at most regionals these days? Not saying it shouldn't be more but for a job not requiring a degree good luck making $40,000 if you are 20 years old and have no degree. If you wasted $150K at UND or ERAU than that is your own fault. There are much cheaper ways to do it.
With regards to your "good luck without a degree", explain to me what the purpose of a degree is? I all about education, have a four year degree and seeking a graduate degree but don't call someone who persues aviation training uneducated. These individuals have education and training in their field. One must spend hundreds of hours learning about different aspects of aviation and must pass exams as well as evaluations. Education is not just sitting in a class at a college. We live in a supply and deman economy, currently the pilot skill set is increasing in demand compared to the last decade and airlines will have increase compensation to attract new candidates lobby law makers into reducing restrictions to increase the candidate pool. But make no mistake, a pilot is an educated professional!
12-27-2012, 09:07 AM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Position: Assistant Button Pusher
Posts: 88
Great Lakes and Silver pay less than 20k 1st year and some other regionals don't pay during training or you have to provide you own accommodation and thus decreasing your earnings!
With regards to your "good luck without a degree", explain to me what the purpose of a degree is? I am all about education, have a four year degree and seeking a graduate degree but don't call someone who persues aviation training uneducated. These individuals have education and training in their field. One must spend hundreds of hours learning about different aspects of aviation and must pass exams as well as evaluations. Education is not just sitting in a class at a college. We live in a supply and deman economy, currently the pilot skill set is increasing in demand compared to the last decade and airlines will have increase compensation to attract new candidates lobby law makers into reducing restrictions to increase the candidate pool. But make no mistake, a pilot is an educated professional!
With regards to your "good luck without a degree", explain to me what the purpose of a degree is? I am all about education, have a four year degree and seeking a graduate degree but don't call someone who persues aviation training uneducated. These individuals have education and training in their field. One must spend hundreds of hours learning about different aspects of aviation and must pass exams as well as evaluations. Education is not just sitting in a class at a college. We live in a supply and deman economy, currently the pilot skill set is increasing in demand compared to the last decade and airlines will have increase compensation to attract new candidates lobby law makers into reducing restrictions to increase the candidate pool. But make no mistake, a pilot is an educated professional!
12-27-2012, 09:07 AM
#19
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2012
Posts: 38
I tend to completely disagree. You can make an XC without physically planning out an XC and what not. I.E. if you have an instrument student, track som V-airways, do some orientation around intersections, hey look a localizer, lets track this, how convenient we're +50 away from the departure airport, let's land. Then return home. On the way back, call EFAS, FSS, Center, etc... For a PVT or Comm student you can be creative. Think outside the box. Only exception I'll "take" as a rationalized excuse is if you're at a university.
12-27-2012, 09:09 AM
#20
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,107
What airline starts at $15,000 a year. I made $26,000 my 1st year at a regional and that was back in 1997. Don't 2nd year FO's at most regionals make close to $40 at most regionals these days? Not saying it shouldn't be more but for a job not requiring a degree good luck making $40,000 if you are 20 years old and have no degree. If you wasted $150K at UND or ERAU than that is your own fault. There are much cheaper ways to do it.
Most regionals pay $23/flight hour these days (which is about $11/hour for actual time worked, or $8 for small turboprops that do a lot of short legs).
Also if they base you at SFO, LGA, JFK, or other high cost areas you are invariably eating additional commuting costs since it's impractical to live in those areas on $20K/year unless you rent a tent from some illegal farm workers down by the river.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
