Cubdriver

We seem to average one or more of these threads per week.

No, there is no real pilot shortage anywhere on US domestic soil. Regional airlines saw a return to normal staffing levels after the economic recovery in around 2011, but found that many of the pilots they had formerly employed were not there any more. They responded by ramping up recruiting and some made retractable bonuses and other offers without making lasting changes to pilot pay. Consequently, by definition there is no genuine pilot shortage because pay has not been substantially improved over historically depressed levels. It is a light or minor shortage of low cost labor only, which is and has been abundant here due to relatively low costs for flight training in the US. Like James says, there is actually a surplus or as I like to say, an excess of pilots, even now. Whether this will change in the future is debatable. The better market forecasters do not predict a pilot shortage in the next ten to twenty years.

RV5M

This is not true. The FAA is closely monitoring Mesa's training. They'd get the pounce if that many were failing. Didn't see anything like this in my own class or the those before and after mine.



Also can't be true. Read the man's trolls and jabs. The simple fact that he writes coherent sentences are proof enough that he's not dumb enough to have flunked Mesa's training.

Cubdriver

This absolutely can be true. Many airlines have dismal washout statistics and the FAA does not have any objection whatsoever. It is not a compliance or safety issue at this point, just a pain in the butt for those who happen to wash out mainly.

brianb

Yepper. Just look at TSA in the early 90s.

Xdashdriver

Have you ever worked in the training department at an airline? I suspect not because if had you would know that the FAA very much cares about the washout rate. A high washout rate indicates a problem with the training program, for which the FAA has oversight. Programs with high washout rates often have changes made to them to improve the program. I have seen this happen at Mesa firsthand more than once. This is particularly true when an operator starts flying a new airframe.

ClickClickBoom

Ask yourself the question, Why are there multiple airlines offering $5000.00 signing bonuses" and at least one going from 121 to 135?

scubabri

I'm still sitting behind a desk, so, no.

Cubdriver

And this is why a washout rate in excess of say, 10% is virtually unheard of in the regional US airline industry?

ClickClickBoom

Why would that be?

Cruz5350

I'm glad mgmt perceived the pilot group as not getting their vacation so instead they call in sick or fatigued. Real Nice