Regional Airlines and Professionalism

     The pilot shortage dispute across the United States has been assessed by many different individuals in the aviation industry and evaluated by professionals outside the industry as well.  Regional airlines pilot starting pay is extremely low and it's inevitably a concern that cannot be ignored, but the pilot shortage is not a myth.  Majority of pilots in the United States are still in fact willing to fly domestically, and they are not departing the U.S. to go work for other companies.  The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) states that "thousands of U.S. pilots now fly for foreign airlines because those airlines' stability, pay, and benefits are much greater than those offered by U.S. airlines" (2014, February 4).  Rottler runs a counter to the subject and states that ALPA has determined their political communication through press releases that illustrate misconstrued information.  He goes on to mention that "regional airline pilots are not leaving the United States en masse to go work for companies like Emirates, Cathay Pacific, or Korean Air.  A prospective pilot or even a somewhat-established regional pilot does not meet the very high published minimum hour requirements set forth by these companies which include thousands of hours of flight time" (Rottler, 2014).  
     Regional Airlines have been affected the most regarding shortage for qualified pilots and its hitting the industry sooner than expected.  The shortage is circulating from the accumulation of pilot retirements and latest rules that require an increase in flight training for new pilots and more rest for existing aviators at passenger airlines.  Carey and Nicas makes mention to the fact that the problems are evident in recent announcements from two U.S. airlines at opposite ends of the spectrum.  Carey et al states that "Great Lakes Aviation Ltd., a 32-year-old carrier based in Cheyenne, Wyo., says it suspended flights to six small cities in the Upper Midwest on Saturday, due to the severe industrywide pilot shortage and its relative acute impact."  Carey et al further added that "United said regional-airline partners are beginning to have difficulty flying their schedules due to reduced new-pilot availability.  The shortage has forced United to reduce [regional-airline] flying in our most unprofitable markets, which unfortunately are out of Cleveland, Chief Executive Jeff Smisek said in an employee memo" (2014, February 3).  ALPA staff claims "some regional airlines have not adequately prepared for today's pilot hiring needs, which have been predictably compounded in the near term by pilot retirements and increased qualification requirements" (2014, April).                                                                                            
 
  Regional Airlines are hiring at a rapid rate by the quantities, more than ever before in the history of the industry in the United States.  Also, having sufficient preparation, doesn't change the fact that this shortage was going to happen anyways because of the age 65 rule.  Wright states "Lets be clear about one thing, it used to be age 60, but five years ago, a deal was made to allow the older pilots to continue flying as a concession for terminating their pension plans, there was no provision that allowed pilots to collect full Social Security at age 60."  Wright further adds that "It was a quid pro quo that simultaneously brought the United States in line with what other nations do and kicked a staffing problem down the road" (2012, November 15). 

     The new regulations were generated out of the fatal Colgan Air crash in 2009 that killed 50 people.  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) increased the training of pilots to a minimum of 1,500 hours (reduced minimums depending on the curriculum included in training).  In addition, the FAA enacted the anti-fatigue rule, that increased required rest periods for pilots that carry passengers.  Trejos states that "The new regulations, which don't apply to cargo pilots, require that pilots get at least 10 hours of rest between shifts.  Eight of those hours must involve uninterrupted sleep."  Tejos further adds "Pilots will be limited to flying eight or nine hours, depending in their start times.  They must also have 30 consecutive hours of rest each week, a 25% increase over previous requirements" (2014, January 3).  Given these new regulations, its coherent that the regional airlines may have some challenges with the delay with new pilot training requirements and adjusting to the pilot rotation affected by rest requirements by keeping scheduled flights well-timed.
     Regional Airlines may consider to carry on with their reorganizing, since the pilot shortage will only continue to brew and create challenges with hiring of new pilots.  Jansen states that "Kent Lovelace, chairman of the aviation department at the University of North Dakota, studied pilot retirements, surveys of potential pilots and projected a shortfall of 35,000 pilots in the next 20 years (2013, October 3).   
     Within this new generation of increased pilot training, it is essential for new aspiring pilots to cross-examine their options and really consider going with an accredited academic program which could potentially expedite training.


     The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Regional Airline Association (RAA) represents the regional airline industry.  ALPA represents most regional airline pilots and RAA represents North American regional airlines and the manufactures of products and services and management, supporting the regional airline industry.  


     1)  Professionalism is being able to effectively maintain bearing while creating an optimistic environment and setting the example through your actions for individuals to follow. 
  
     2)  Colgan Air leadership directly influenced the lack of professionalism throughout their airline organization.  Their leadership generated habits of letting things slide and performing shading tasks which created complacency that spread throughout the majority of their organization.  The negative routine that Colgan Air employees became accustom to reflects the captain that repeatedly failed check rides, the captain that instructed a first officer to alter weight and balance numbers to complete a flight, and management lacking in their ability to keep their pilots honest and applying the correct industry regulations in their operation.
  
      3)  The low first year pilot pay and/or compensation structure of a regional airline could be effecting morale within the pilots throughout the regional airlines which could have contributed to the lack of professionalism demonstrated in the documentary.  But I believe that there is no excuse to demonstrate any factor in lack of professionalism no matter what position you hold in any industry.               

     4)  To maintain and expand my level of professionalism I will demonstrate dependability and integrity while effectively utilizing my knowledge in the aviation industry.  In addition, I will take the initiative to access any additional training that could potentially enhance the company.  

    

References

ALPA Media.  (2014, February 4).  ALPA News.  ALPA refutes myth of U.S. pilot shortage.  Urges       congress to enact pro-aviation policies.  Retrieved from http://www.alpa.org/Portals/Alpa/PressRoom/PressReleases/2014/2-4-14_14.10.htm    

ALPA Staff.  (2014, April).  Air Line Pilot Association.  A pilot shortage?  Nope. It's all about the money.  Retrieved from http://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/magazine/2014/April2014_PilotShortage.pdf  

Carey, S & Nicas, J.  (2014, February 3)  The Wall Street Journal.  Airline-pilot shortage arrives ahead of schedule.  Pilot retirements and new rules on training and rest hurt more than expected.  Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304851104579361320202756500 

Jansen, B.  (2013, October 3).  Usa Today.  Airlines hire pilots as shortage looms.  Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2013/10/03/airline-pilots-shortage-american-jetblue-regional/2915363/

Rottler, M.   (2014, February 20)  AOPA opinion leaders:  Welcome to the pilot shortage.  Retrieved from http://blog.aopa.org/opinionleaders/2014/02/20/welcome-to-the-pilot-shortage/ 

Trejos, N.  (2014, January 3).  Usa Today.  New pilot fatigue rules go into effect this weekend.  Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2014/01/03/pilot-fatigue-mandatory-rest-new-faa-rules/4304417/  

Wright, C.  (2012, November 15).  Flight Training Blog.  The pilot shortage is gaining attention.  Retrieved from http://blog.aopa.org/flighttraining/?p=2108

  

Introduction

     Aviation has always been an interest of mine since I can remember.  That's a pretty common thing to hear and I'm sure it already sounds like a story you have heard before.  On a family trip at a young age, a little ways up-north Michigan in the summer of 1992, we stayed on an in-land lake with airplane rides being offered on a seaplane.  Of course thats what I did, and once we were airborne the pilot pointed out that it was a clear day and I remember not understanding completely why we could see the sky line of Detroit, since we were "up-north".  Even though the landing into the water pushed us forward like catching the wire on an aircraft carrier, that ride was one of the best things that I experienced to that day.  The landing didn't really bother me, I was ready for another.  Since then I reached out and attended to any air show that I could.

     When I joined the Marine Corps, I chose to be in the Aviation field to stay motivated with what I knew would be best for my interest as a Marine, and if I decided to move on.  I was placed in a FA-18C Hornet fighter jet unit on the west coast and deployed overseas a couple of times with that same unit.  On our most recent deployment, as a Sergeant of Marines, I trained 36 Marines completing more than 6,000 maintenance man-hours while simultaneously ensuring qualified Plane Captains were ready for combat operations.  This leadership directly resulted in the safe launch, and recovery accumulation of over 2,100 flight hours.  

     Today, I'm in training at Eastern Michigan University in the Aviation Flight Technology bachelor's degree program on track for a career to demonstrate exceptional performance as a professional aviator.  My goals are to complete my Commercial (ASEL) certificate with an Instrument Rating by the end of this summer.  Furthermore, I plan on immediately rolling into additional training and completing my CFI, CFII, and MEI.  Initially, I'm anticipating that I will put my Flight Instructor ratings to work as they are completed, to give an effort for new pilots and to work on flight hours.  I'm also genuinely interested in starting with a low time pilot career including cargo/freight, survey/aerial photography, aerial mapping, surveillance, fire management, medevac, and oil spill response.