skypilot35

People are working very hard to keep the cheap labor around.

Regional air carriers try to weaken rules for pilots - City & Region - The Buffalo News

video
http://www.c-span.org/video/?325637-...airline-safety

BrewCity

I'd like Mr. Black to produce one of these pilots that he claims works as a crop duster after college to build ATP minimums.

skypilot35

It's Ms. Black with a maiden name of Malarkey. I find that very fitting.

BSOuthisplace

"Faye Malarkey Black testified that airlines are seeing fewer qualified pilots applying for jobs because, in part, they have spent too much “unstructured” time trying to rush to attain the 1,500 hours. She said the requirement “favors candidates who have amassed 1,500 hours over candidates who have undertaken academic pathways through tier piloting career but not amassed the 1,500 hours.”"

From what I've experienced on the line and in the training center with new hires, I totally agree with this quote. It's at the point where, if you have 1500, you can get a job at pretty much any regional. I don't think the solution is to lower the standards however. Maybe the legacies need to think about completely restructuring the regional/mainline feed structure because even with a change in the requirements there are still not enough students in school now to cover the retirements.

chrisreedrules

I don't think changing the requirements will even have that big of an effect on the pilot supply in the short term. I instructed full time for almost 2 years... Of all the students I ever had, only ONE has gone on to be a CFI himself. ONE out of scores of student pilot I taught. You can't fill seats if you don't have any pilots going through training.

CBreezy

What about all those folks who did structured academic training and then taught in those same environments. I'd argue that most people who are doing airline training are doing just that.

srbpilot

airlines and greedy management are afraid that there will be less money in their pockets....so they are starting to cry...the first lesson that i learnt in aviation is that money moves aircraft forward...so doesn't look good.

BSOuthisplace

At my airline those people are few and far between amongst the new ranks. Perhaps this is because we fly old turboprops and most Riddle and UND grads are chasing the shiny jet.

bedrock

Sullenberger called the industry’s concerns “spin.” He said that more pilots would be entering the system if the industry paid better, noting the $16,400 salary of the primary pilot of Flight 3407.

I LOVE THIS GUY. He doesn't need to do this, he could retire to the south seas, but he cares about those coming up behind him, just as those ahead of him, helped him.

I would make this deal with the RAA, reduce mins to 1200 hrs, but then the regionals have to add that "structure" they want so badly. 100 hrs multi-instrument on their dime. What they really want is more "structure" and get the govt. to give loans for it.

CBreezy

What's their defense about lack of structure when they were hiring pilots with no less than 2000 hours awhile back?