Flying Cheap - Professionalism in the Aviation Industry

*Address the state of the regional airline industry. There is a lot of "buzz" about the pilot shortage. Do you believe the pilot shortage is real and based upon projected retirements and the current number of new pilots entering the industry? Also, do you believe that the "pay increases" will solve the pilot shortage problem? Why or why not?

I truly believe that there is a pilot shortage. Ever since I started my journey into the aviation industry, I have heard that there is a major pilot shortage. The industry will suffer unless more people enter into this line of work. From my research about pilot shortages I have learned that air travel options could become limited and cause the airline industry to see major economic declines. This means that a flight to Florida you have taken every year for the last four years may no longer be there. It also means that business to business relations can suffer if their contract negotiators are unable to get to meetings because of delays or cancellation. This could also mean that prices may go up. No one wants any of this to happen! But as it stands right now, one of the world’s largest infrastructure is scrambling hard to function properly and safely with the knowledge that we have a pilot shortage. After reading an article by (Reed, D. 2017, August 08) put out by Forbes magazine it states that in a Boeing study the world airlines will need about 640,000 new pilots to enter the aviation industry over the next 20 years. About 42% of pilots flying in North America’s market will be retiring in the next ten years if they stay to the age of 65, others may choose to retire sooner. The U.S. demand will be around 120,000 new pilots starting now until 2036. This is about 5900 pilots a year, for the next twenty years. This article also stated that there has only been a handful of times that 5000 pilots have been hired in a single year with all U.S. combined carriers in the last 40 years. So, to achieve these numbers of new pilots consecutively for the next couple decades does not seem promising. This is going to be a serious challenge.

Another article written by (Kazin, M. 2017, 0ctober 22). Put out by FOXBusiness interviewed a pilot from a U.S airline, stated that the industry was trying to create a short-term solution to the pilot shortage with the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilot Act in 2007 to move the age of retirement from 60 to 65 years of age. This pilot Glenn Nevola showed concern saying that most of these pilots have hit this age and many others will soon be. He also stated that with his airline alone, nearly 800 pilots will be reaching this mandatory retirement age of 65 in the next few years. If we were to multiply one pilots account of pilot shortage by 5, 10 or even 20, these number go up fast. This is going to definitely cause extreme staffing problems throughout the industry.

Maybe if there was a greater call to action by our government about our pilot shortage problem and the need for pilots this may spark the interest to become a pilot and could really help the aviation industry. But because of the cost of training and the requirements that are set by the FAA young people do not have a draw towards the profession unless they have a passion for aviation. Is there a way to train the new pilots at a lower cost, that could be a mayor key to achieving the number of pilots needed to support the industry in the coming years?  I do feel that a salary increase can motive the younger pilots coming into the industry. Money always is a key factor in any situation and will help in the long run. But the issue that has not been discussed in my research about pilot shortage is the fact the industry did not do anything about the situation until it because out of control. Again, I say more money does help but for myself going into the industry as a young pilot I mush rather have a 15-25-year veteran next to me showing me the ropes, testing my abilities and sharing stories about their experiences along their career. It is terrifying to know that the captain next to me may only have a few hundred more hours than me.

*With the 1500-hour rule, regional airlines may be concerned with their hiring pool. Why? What do you see as possible solutions - both for aspiring pilots and for the regional airlines themselves?

I feel that regional airlines may be concerned with their hiring pool with the 1500-hour rule because it all comes down to experience. If there is a shortage of pilots to hire with 1500+ hours what will the airliners do? Will they have to move their First Officers up to Captain prematurely? I think a regional airline could offer so many different options to get a better hiring pool, like sign on bonuses. Bonuses for a longer time staying with the company. Maybe regional airlines could help finance people who want to become a pilot, help with their schooling. Make agreements with Universities to funnel new pilots into their direction.

Kazin, M. (2017, October 22). Is America’s airline industry headed for a major pilot shortage? Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/10/22/is-americas-airline-industry-headed-for-major-pilot-shortage.html 

Reed, D. (2017, August 08). Who’s Going To Fly The Plane? Forecasted Global Pilot Shortage Could Limit Future Air Travel Options. Retrieved January 19, 2018, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielreed/2017/08/08/whos-going-to-fly-the-plane-forcasted-global-pilot-shortage-could-limit-future-air-travel-options/

  * 1) Define professionalism in your own words.

Professionalism means so many things to me. First of all, you must be capable to do your job with the knowledge and safety of your industry. Having a strong educational background in a field of study with a hands-on experience and job training is key to professionalism. Striving to be an expert in your field. I also feel that professionalism is made up of reliability and good ethics. Your appearance should reflect the career and any dress regulations that a company complies with. I also feel that when you are a professional there is a higher level of accountability for the actions and decisions that you make.  

  * 2) List two ways in which lack of professionalism was demonstrated in this documentary. Remember: Both pilots and management can lack professionalism.

A major lack of professionalism that was demonstrated in this documentary that was alarming was that the Captain suggested and changed the passenger manifest from 3 adults to 3 children when the aircraft was overweight. This was an unsafe illegal load manifest, flying over gross. This showed a huge lack of ethics as a pilot. The safety of the passengers and crew should be the first priority. Another lack of professionalism that I saw in the documentary was the fact that both pilots were feeling sick and did not call in because of either because of the pressure to not call in or because the pilot did not want to lose pay. If the pilot is not feeling 100% to fly the aircraft they should not be doing so. 

  * 3) Do you feel that first year pilot pay and/or the compensation structure of a regional airline is a contributing factor in the lack of professionalism demonstrated in the documentary? Why or why not?

Unfortunately, I have to say that I think that the pilot pay and/or the compensation structure of a regional airline is a contributing factor in the lack of professionalism demonstrated in the documentary. I would like to say that it should not be a contributing factor but from what I was watching in the documentary, it clearly showed a high level of pressure that was being placed on the pilots by their superiors and peers. Also, their lack of salaries showed less then suitable living conditions for these pilots.  

  * 4) List two specific ways you plan on maintain and expand your level of professionalism once you are employed in the job that you listed in 1). These ways must be independent of the requirements of the job.

One specific way that I plan on maintaining and expanding my level of professionalism once employed is to find several mentors with a high level of integrity to learn from.  I also would like to continue my education to strive to become a notable expert in the field of aviation.