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
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
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that "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." With regional aircraft being deemed out of service, and there are no pilots to hire, do you happen to know how the regional airlines will reorganize? Is there a possibility that they will fade away in the next decade, and major airlines will have to absorb those responsibilities? I'm inclined to think that regional airlines will soon be a thing of the past, but I guess we will see what the future brings.
ReplyDeleteThat would be interesting to see if that where possible. I don't see that as a cure all for the industry to get rid of the regional airlines. Also there are regional airline companies currently buying new aircraft in large quantities.
ReplyDeleteThere are 2 reasons that the reginals are buying these new aircraft one would be that they are more efficient than thier current fleet. The second is that they still have a growing demand and not enough pilots to add more flights the only solution is get bigger planes and move more people with less planes.
DeleteAgreed.. I am familiar with the talk about regionals determining to acquire bigger planes to move more people per flight
DeleteEven if there are regional airlines currently purchasing new aircraft in large quantities, the problem then arises: who will fly them? How much will those pilots get paid? It is a vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% that there's never an excuse for a lack of professionalism, regardless of pay. I couldn't locate the article to use for this assignment but it was a rebuke of ALPA's low pay argument to the effect that ALPA protecting the pay of its members in the mainline carriers is detrimental to the pay of their members in the regionals.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right about your statement that pilots go over seas for a job! And this is because we are piled up with loans, family, offered a low income to start as F.O. and on the top of everything stuck in Cessna for 1500 hours. If this doesn't change, I will be no different than anyone else! I will look for a job over seas as well.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI don't believe there is anything wrong with someone going overseas to become a pilot for company over there. But my statement about pilots going overseas was in reference to an ALPA statement. What I stated was that "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."
DeleteI like how you pointed out how the retirement age was pushed back from 60 to 65. This leads one to believe that the pilot shortage has been looming for awhile and this was one way they postponed the issue.
ReplyDelete