Become an airline pilot and see the world from your furlough

[MillCreek]

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/pilots-were-once-in-short-supply-now-theyre-losing-their-jobs/

It was only a few short years ago that there was much concern over an impending pilot shortage.  Now not so much.

[Boomhauer]

The roller coaster nature of being an airline pilot, after spending big bucks to get there is one of the reasons I’m glad I didn’t pursue it

[dogmush]

And in another few short years there will be a shortage again.

Commercial Air travel has cyclical ups and down, although this one is a pretty big down, and it doesn't respond well to expensive, long training time jobs like pilots.

Add to that the military is short on pilots and adding extra service obligations to our pilots to make them stay longer and a major source of trained pilots for the commercial sector is choked up a bit as well.

One of the real issues with the airline industry as it is run in the US with tight margins and a lot of competition is that the industry doesn't weather dips well.  My Dad still works Ops for Alaska Airlines and has been furloughed since April.  He's hoping they will offer one of those early retirement packages the article mentioned and he can just call it.  Alaska is looking at cutting abut a quarter of their workforce over the next 6-8 months.

[MillCreek]

I had read before of the costs that people incur to go to flight school or college and start accumulating flight time hours to be able to land an entry position.  I had no idea that you could easily spend in excess of $ 100 K and then not be able to find a job.  We laugh a lot here at people who spend that much in a 'useless' degree and then cannot find a job, so I guess we should add entry-level pilots to that list.

[K Frame]

A friend's son just graduated the University of Dubuque with the intention of becoming a commercial pilot. Really talented kid, very high marks in school, his instructors love him.

Now this *expletive deleted*it.

He's still got to get his time in as a certified flight instructor, after which he can start looking for jobs, but still... not good.

[RoadKingLarry]

Has the cargo side of commercial flying taken as big a hit as the passenger side?

[K Frame]

As big a hit?

No clue.

But it has taken a hit.

[Fly320s]

All jobs/careers have risks.  This Covid shutdown is worse than 9/11 was, but my company is already pulling planes out of storage.  We aren't furloughing any pilots until at least May 1st next year.

I think requiring a college degree for this career is unnecessary.  We have technical jobs, not general knowledge jobs.

Cargo flying isn't affected nearly as much.  I don't know the restrictions on international flying, but the Amazon, Ebay, Walmart, etc. shipping is up overall.

We will be mostly recovered by next year.  That's my guess anyway.   If we do recover as an industry, the pilot shortage will start again in 2 or 3 years.

[MillCreek]

So Fly320s, what was your entry as a commercial pilot?  Are you former military or did the civilian flight school/career ladder?

[Fly320s]

So Fly320s, what was your entry as a commercial pilot?  Are you former military or did the civilian flight school/career ladder?

All civilian. Got a degree because most airlines require a degree, but I have flown with several guys who don't have a degree.

Flight instructing, small commuters, regional carrier, finally major airline. Graduated college in '93, got hired at my current job in 2001.

[just Warren]

Surely, this is only a temporary problem?

[Fly320s]

Surely, this is only a temporary problem?

It is temporary, and don't call me Shirley.

[WLJ]

Has the cargo side of commercial flying taken as big a hit as the passenger side?

UPS airlines in Louisville is working at holiday levels with lots of overtime