Pilot Shortage: Senior research Project

[bdhill1979]

For my Senior Research Project I have chosen to examine if there truly is a pilot shortage, if so why there is one, and why people have chosen to continue in this career, leave it, or not get into it in the first place.

I am still in the very early stages of this project so I haven't really come up with specific survey questions to ask, but I am looking for input to figure out what those should be.

I am looking for input from all sources: Private Pilot students to Senior airline captains; and even those that didn't even start training.


Why are you doing it?
Why did you start?
Why did you quit?
Why did you not start training?

[SeanD]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

For my Senior Research Project I have chosen to examine if there truly is a pilot shortage, if so why there is one, and why people have chosen to continue in this career, leave it, or not get into it in the first place.

I am still in the very early stages of this project so I haven't really come up with specific survey questions to ask, but I am looking for input to figure out what those should be.

I am looking for input from all sources: Private Pilot students to Senior airline captains; and even those that didn't even start training.


Why are you doing it?
Why did you start?
Why did you quit?
Why did you not start training?

Why are you doing it? For the love of flying. I cant imagine a better office to be in.
Why did you start? The old man was an airline pilot but I never had the interest when he was flying until I was 30 years old. One day I took a few aviation classes at the local community college and one offered a discovery flight and I was hooked.
Why did you quit? I never quit but have not remained current in seeking my PPL until recently. Im only mere hours from getting the PPL finished. Money was the main factor for the lack of consistent training. Its been 2 years.
Why did you not start training? I had other interest in my early 20s and flying was not one of them.


It seems there is some sort of shortage in the industry. Im not sure what has caused it. Perhaps the retirement of age 60 or the recalls and new hiring by the legacy carriers.

[Maurus]

Why are you doing it? To start, flying is fun. Also, I am good at it. It is good to know I will have a job I am good at and enjoy than hate and be terrible at.

Why did you start? As a kid i always enjoyed flying. I went up on the EAA discovery flight and really loved it. I started my PPL for fun. I was going to go to college to get an engineering degree and maybe fly as a salesman for a manufacturer or something. Now I am working on flight time with an end goal of joining with NetJets, and maybe getting a ANG pilot slot.

[ZapBrannigan]

Why are you doing it?
My degree is in Aviation Management. I can either fly airplanes or dig ditches. Unfortunately the aviation management degree does not prepare one for jobs outside of aviation very well.

Why did you start?
Started in high-school. Wasn't athletic enough to be successful in sports and flying as a hobby kept me out of trouble. Worked at a grocery store part time on weekdays and swept the hangar for the local FBO on the weekends to keep flying.

Why did you quit?
Didn't really "quit" per-say. I was one of the thousands of pilots furloughed after 09/11 who elected NOT to go back to the majors.

There were dozens of reasons why, but it came down to the fact that it was not the same job that I had been furloughed from. Pay, work-rules, retirement, health-care, lifestyle -- all had significantly degraded in the 6+ years I was on the street. When the recall letter came and I looked at the package as it exists currently, it was no longer an appealing job to spend the next 25 years doing.

Newbies to the industry would do well to talk to as many furloughed pilots as possible and ask them why they did -- or did not -- accept recall. The profession has changed and there is value in finding out why these aviators abandoned the very same career track that you are now pursuing (despite the fact that they were once again offered the so-called "brass ring").

[B767Driver]

Zap, what kind of retirement plan and disability insurance do corporate jobs provide?

[ZapBrannigan]

Depends on the corporation and on the package you negotiate at the time you are hired.

Without going into specifics I can tell you that the retirement I have at this company is a little better than the retirement I would have gone back to at US Airways. (The big difference being company contributions to 401K, Profit sharing, stock options and restricted stock units). I still do a little extra (Roth IRAs) outside of the company plan. It's the only way to make the numbers work.

As for disability, we have a pretty good plan. 90 days of salary continuance. After that, long term disability kicks in at 50% of your average monthly wage up to the plan maximum.

There are better packages out there with other Fortune 500 companies. I've talked to pilots at other corporations who have just phenominal packages -- some even include company cars. Just depends on the company, the airplane, etc.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

There are better packages out there with other Fortune 500 companies. I've talked to pilots at other corporations who have just phenominal packages -- some even include company cars. Just depends on the company, the airplane, etc.

Eh - so you agreed to do it for less than them, huh?

Noted.

[mtsu_av8er]

Why are you doing it?

For the love of it. I love flying, I love airplanes, and I love other pilots. I look forward to starting a trip as much as I look forward to going home.

Why did you start?

I knew that I wanted to fly airplanes since I was 4 years old. I clearly remember my first flight - it it my earliest memory. So, after I "grew up", I made it happen!

[B767Driver]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

As for disability, we have a pretty good plan. 90 days of salary continuance. After that, long term disability kicks in at 50% of your average monthly wage up to the plan maximum.

.

Is the disability based upon FAA medical issuance (or loss thereof) or Social Security definition of disability?

[KC Jake]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

For my Senior Research Project I have chosen to examine if there truly is a pilot shortage, if so why there is one, and why people have chosen to continue in this career, leave it, or not get into it in the first place.

I am still in the very early stages of this project so I haven't really come up with specific survey questions to ask, but I am looking for input to figure out what those should be.

I am looking for input from all sources: Private Pilot students to Senior airline captains; and even those that didn't even start training.

Why are you doing it?

I'm like most of the others, I do it because I love to fly. That might be kind of the problem. Since most of us love to fly, we can deal with lower pay just to keep doing it. It's sort of like a drug that pays you.

Why did you start?

My dad had his pilot's license when he was in his twenties, then he let it lapse and had to start over again as I was growing up. We used to go on family trips and he would fly us. Then we had a career day at my high school where a TWA pilot came in and talked about his "day/week in the life". After that, I took my discovery flight and like most, I was hooked.

Why did you quit?

I haven't quit. I'm still working on my ratings. I took a few extended breaks from when I got my PPL at 18 to now CMEL at 24. Being broke while away at college did that. I could only afford to fly to stay current.

Why did you not start training?

If I WERE to have not started training, I think the first reason would be because of the lack of stability in the industry. Second would be because of the rising costs of getting the ratings paired with the low initial pay. The last reason I would say would be family reasons (being away a lot, not wanting to move, costs of commuting, etc.). Luckily I have a supportive wife that has a steady, well-paying job.

[ajf005]

Why are you doing it?
Bills have to be paid, and this is the best way to pay them. Besides that, everyday is different and I enjoy the adventure. It's fun, I enjoy the challenge of navigating around weather, getting the plane configured after bad ATC vectors, interacting with different crews, problem solving etc...

Why did you start?
I have always liked airplanes and flying so when I got to college I figured I'd give it a shot since I didn't like anything else nearly as much. Turns out I made a good choice, I can't imagine having a 9-5 now.

Why did you quit?
Haven't quit yet, I lost a little motivation in college while doing the whole party scene which I regret a tiny bit but I wouldn't change it.

Why did you not start training?
I didn't start training earlier because during high school I was very involved in sports and other activities which took up most of my time away from school so even if I had started flying I don't think I could have flown enough to get anything accomplished.

[falconvalley]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Eh - so you agreed to do it for less than them, huh?

Noted.

LOL, nice...

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by falconvalley

LOL, nice...

The truth is the truth!!

[SIUAv8r]

Lloyd, how'd you get that pic in your avatar? I hope that was in the sim.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by SIUAv8r

Lloyd, how'd you get that pic in your avatar? I hope that was in the sim.

I was REALLY trying to make a crossing restriction!!

No, it was a sim picture. The sim's computer actually broke and we were just along for the ride!!

[SIUAv8r]

Fun stuff!

[ZapBrannigan]

It's a bit different than being part of a unionized group where there is a baseline from which to measure. But i'm willing to accept your criticism and write it off as ignorance.

[deek]

Why are you doing it? It looks like a career I can be proud of and that will give me lots of oppertunity to travel to eventually establish a decent QOL. Isn't part of the Rat Race.

Why did you start? I grew up on the approach end of an airport and every time i hear a jet engine I would look up in awe. I put myself through college working at a few FBOs fueling everything from commerical, cargo, charter and even fighter jets. Good money for a college gig.

Why did you quit? Still at my current job till done all my training, but flying a desk just isn't for me.

Why did you not start training? Earlier? Army, then College, paid off some credit card debt, now I'm starting.

FYI: I start my PPL training this weekend.

Good luck on the report.

[Piperflyer]

Why are you doing it? Something I always wanted to do, Its my job, and its still fun

Why did you start? To get my job going

Why did you quit? didnt

Why did you not start training? I almost got my tailwheel endorsement once, just no time and not enough money at the time to do it. Its something I want to do though.

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by bdhill1979

For my Senior Research Project I have chosen to examine if there truly is a pilot shortage,

I think a good starting place would be to research the current population of pilots, the population of actively flying pilots, the population of pilots who are able to fly for a living (AG ops included, commercial certificates) and then the number of jobs available.

Resources might include AOPA, AirInc., dot GOV websites (Dept of Labor)

if so why there is one,

comparing compensation, duty day, actual work day would be a good start IMHO. Evaluating training costs vs. 1st thru 5th year pay might also be a good place, and that can be broken down into regional, corporate, 135 cargo, flight instruction, and the other "time building" jobs like banner towing, jump pilot, etc.

and why people have chosen to continue in this career, leave it, or not get into it in the first place.

For this I would look at the latter half of a career, 10-20 year compensation comparing the same things as above

I am still in the very early stages of this project so I haven't really come up with specific survey questions to ask, but I am looking for input to figure out what those should be.

Why are you doing it?
Why did you start?
Why did you quit?
Why did you not start training?

Othe questions I would add are:

-What are/were you major obstacles?
-Was training as cost effective as presented (i.e.: if you go to college you pay $50k and you get a degree, when you trained - you were told that you could have xxx certs for $yyy, was that the actual case?
-Best/worst job and why?
-External pressures
-Internal pressures (spouse, family, bills)
-Risk assessment vs. pay (flying hard IMC for beans or severe clear jumper tossing for average pay)

Hope some of the answers in red help get you on your way...

[bdhill1979]

Thanks for all of the replies, this confirms a lot of what I thought, but you can't call it research if you just think it.

This pretty much helps me finish my working outline, more to follow.

[bdhill1979]

OK now I actually have to write a rough draft. I was wondering if I can get some responses that I can cite in the paper. If you don't want to answer publicly then please PM me.

The primary focus of this paper has shifted to pilot shortages at the airlines; I am looking for responses from those that have worked or are currently working at airlines; preferably from people that have been there more than a year or two; or better yet have moved on from their first airline job.

If you have taken pay cuts, how much (percentage wise) has your pay decreased in the last few years?

How has the quality of life increased/decreased in last few years?

How has your career outlook (seniority and upgrades and such) changed in the last few years?



I am looking specifically for insight someone that has been furloughed; particularly:
How did you feel about your career before being furloughed?

Were you able to find another job fairly quickly?

If offered to return did you accept, or reject and why?

Also I would love to get a response from someone that decided to leave the airline business altogether and what reasons effected that decision.

[caliginousface]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

It's a bit different than being part of a unionized group where there is a baseline from which to measure. But i'm willing to accept your criticism and write it off as ignorance.

OHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!


Can ya dig it?

[bdhill1979]

OK I have some good responses, but one more would round out the whole picture.

Is there anybody on here that was working for the airlines and got fed up with it and left aviation as a profession entirely?