Winter weather and holiday traffic jams aren’t the only things causing delays for air travelers. The current pilot shortage has hit regional airlines and their passengers particularly hard. What’s causing this shortage of qualified pilots? A few things:
- In 2013 the FAA increased first-officer qualification requirements — from 250 to 1,500 hours of flight time.
- Many pilots are reaching the mandatory retirement age (as many as 25% of the total pilot force are expected to retire within the next six years).
- Fewer students are entering and completing pilot training programs.
Many airline industry experts worry that dwindling pilot numbers will hamper air travel. The airlines, particularly the smaller regional airlines where most new pilots start their careers, are finding it increasingly difficult to fill their first-officer vacancies. The low salaries for these entry-level positions also discourage newcomers.
Where the pilot shortage hurts most
Although the FAA ruling to increase first-officer qualification requirements was designed to combat the alarming trend of deadly crashes, seemingly caused by inexperienced pilots, the change is impacting the aviation industry at all levels. Because it can take a pilot several years to accumulate the required 1,500 flight hours, new pilots find it difficult to qualify for even a regional job.
Small airports, especially, are suffering from the pilot shortage, as they must service 10,000 passengers a year to qualify for FAA infrastructure funding.
Pilot-shortage solutions
The aviation industry is investigating possible solutions to the pilot shortage. For example, NASA is exploring the possibility of single-pilot commercial flights. This solution would employ a copilot to monitor the flight from the ground and remote-assist when necessary.
Other researchers are looking into ways to reduce crew size, including studying innovative ground support technology, increasing automation on board airliners, and improving crew resource management and physiological monitoring.
Still, the hurdles of overcoming public fear, persuading politicians, retraining pilots to fly solo, and reconfiguring jetliners are high. Aviation key players will need to collaborate to overcome these barriers and find ways to bring more new pilots into the industry.
Contact L & L International if you need assistance in purchasing or selling a private jet.
You can reach our sales specialists today at sales@L-Lint.com, call us any time at +1.305.754.3313, or visit us online.