We all knew the pilot shortage was coming. Now it’s here with serious implications for airlines, the military and business aviation. Let’s be honest, being a professional pilot isn’t what it used to be. Once a well-respected professional, the airline pilot is often seen now as a glorified bus driver, “labor” or not seen at all, given recent safety requirements that keep them locked in the cockpit for most of the flight experience. Military pilots are overworked and underpaid, and corporate pilots face expensive barriers to entry as a result of heightened FAA requirements. We need new incentives to attract qualified people to the cockpit or we face reduced and more costly airline service, military shortages and a potential drop in overall safety levels in air travel.
Please read this article in Defense One about one aspect of this issue.
“Right now, we believe it is especially important to demonstrate to the pilot community that we are committed to fixing problems within our control. We cannot change the fact that the world remains dangerous for U.S. friends and allies, and that airpower, together with the joint force, is a tool of choice for bringing stability to so many parts of the world. And we should not lament the fact that our economy is creating great opportunities for many of our skilled people.
Instead, it is our job to remind them why their service matters and give them compelling reasons to stay.”