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Aviation Careers

Who wants to be an airline pilot?

Apparently not many according to a recent article posted on AVweb by a certain “Captain X” who reported that a substantial percentage of the newly hired airline pilots they get just aren’t excited like they used to be about their career prospects. Moreover, Captain X wrote that during the 2007 and 2008 hiring booms, people were climbing over each other to get an interview but now when they call ten people, only five bother to show up.  

Worst, those who bother to show up can’t pass a written test that is straight out of the FAA commercial pilot written and can’t seem to do much else (which Captain X went into considerable detail about…) Captain X then offered the following explanations that both he and his colleagues have come up with to explain the current and increasingly dire situation:

  1. The usual fallback explanation: The younger generation just has a sense of entitlement and don’t want to work as hard.
  2. The airline industry has driven or frightened away the best and the brightest.
  3. The upcoming 1500-hour / ATP minimum requirement for all airline pilots, which will go into effect in 2013, has scared everyone away.
  4. We process information differently because we are all wired and connected to the cloud now – meaning new training procedures are needed.
  5. Economic hard times is making it harder for instrument pilots to remain proficient on their own.
  6. No one is getting commercial pilots’ licenses anymore as FAA data shows that the numbers have plunged over the last three years.

However, Captain X did not mention the fact that regional airlines in the USA have earned somewhat of a bad reputation for both pilot pay and the quality of life for pilots plus there has been an explosion in the growth of airlines around the world – especially in the Middle East, China and SE Asia as the middle class in these areas continues to grow and travel more. In other words, perhaps pilots are finding greener pastures further afield.

Given that Captain X has voiced his views on the situation in the US, it would be interesting to hear what any UK or European pilots, especially airline pilots, think. In other words, is the situation the same in the UK and over on the continent (where the economy is fast on the way to crashing) or is this just an American problem?

Would being a CFI be a good career option?

Nicole, a student pilot, recently asked on the Ask a Flight Instructor site, about the potential career path for CFIs. Specifically, she asked:

Hi, I’m beginning my path as a student pilot and I would like to know if there’s is anything like a Flight Instructor career. I know most CFIs are only interested in building up hours to go to a better job, but can anyone live from being a flight instructor? Are there any good salaries or benefits?

James MacGregor CFI responded by commenting that one can make a good living by being a flight instructor and he suggested the book, Savy flight instructor, along with taking a few business and marketing classes at a local community college. James also pointed out that his last flight instructor gig paid him $50 a hour and he had an agreement with a few FBOs and private aircraft owners who did not fly that much and allowed him to use their aircraft at a discount. He also did some advertising on Craigslist, a few mailings, gave out 100+ business cards a month and put up posters or flyers in pilot lounges or tourist stops. However, James did point out that it took time to build up a client base.

Meanwhile, commenter Micah pointed out that to be a CFI, you will either end up working for a flight school as an employee or a contract employee or you will be self-employed where all other considerations such as benefits would be the same as if you owned your own business. However, Micah also added:

I don’t think you should expect very much from a CFI career (except to enjoy it) but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage a living from it (even though it will probably be a hard beginning).

Hence, we want to ask any of our readers who are CFIs, especially in the UK or Europe, about their CFI career path. In other words, would you recommend it? Moreover, have you tried to be a self-employed CFI?