Firelock76 "...I'm not sure I understand this completely: Are the US airlines facing a pilot shortage, or are everyone else's airlines facing a pilot shortage? I'm suppose here in the US the airlines'll steal 'em from the Air Force and the Navy just like they've done in the past. As a matter of fact I took a Delta flight a few years back and the way the pilot slammed it into the runway I figured he was an ex-F-14 jockey trying to hit the third wire..."
"...I'm not sure I understand this completely: Are the US airlines facing a pilot shortage, or are everyone else's airlines facing a pilot shortage?
I'm suppose here in the US the airlines'll steal 'em from the Air Force and the Navy just like they've done in the past. As a matter of fact I took a Delta flight a few years back and the way the pilot slammed it into the runway I figured he was an ex-F-14 jockey trying to hit the third wire..."
schlimm said: on Mon, Jan 7 2013 5:45 PM
"...The "let the military train our pilots" semi-subsidy for the airlines has been drying up b/c we have a much smaller AF and Navy the last 20 years or so. The majority of Delta pilots, for example, were ex-Navy, at least in the past. The shortage is worldwide because of globalization..."
Firelock76: Please check the last couple of sections in my Orig. Posting: referencing Pilots and the projections for futurn industry needs. and for Technicians as well.
As Schliimm stated, it is probably caused, in part, by the Airline's Global groth projections. As well as the downsizing of the military has contributed less to the pool of available trained pilots. Not to mention a boost (by FAA) in pilots "Hours" they have flown.
My main reason for posting this was to get a discussion going about how TRAVEL within and without North America was going to be effected. It seems to stand to reason we are a nation (and World) that has grown comfortable with our ability to go anywhere in the Country and World, Fast! If The Airline Industry must down size due to a lack of Flight Deck Crews, that Need to Travel will have to be met by some means.
The Scheduled Bus Industry has virtually quit servicing the need for cheap travel. The automobile has picked up a lot of that slack. BUt there are rumors of efforts to slow that travel down. Rising Taxes, Rising Fuel Costs, and noises about taxing mileages on POV's at some point in the future(?)
That brings us down to AMTRAK. A very viable alternative travel mode. The major problem is it's Funding Stream for Improving its swevice and equipment, to answer the increases in traffic projections.
Again, there, it is using private owned infrastructure to operate on. A subject we here on these Forums is the problems that AMTRAK is causing the 'Host Railroads", and the infringement on those railroads' capacity.
AMTRAK, seems to be forever embroiled in its own issues, keeping its fleet of old, and high-mileage equipment going. Not having funding to buy newer and more efficient equipment. Personnel turnover, as one after another manager seems to burn out and retire( or just leave) from their jobs, political appointyees who may or may not have any experience in running a railroad.
The big question in my mind is:
Does AMTRAK have a future or will it become a 'Fallen Flag', as well???
"The majority of Delta pilots were ex-Navy..." So THAT explains it! I KNEW I was right!
I wonder if he hit that third wire? Maybe I should have asked, but I guess the last thing an ex-Navy "hot stick" needs is some wise-ass ex-Marine tactical air controller snoopin' around the cockpit.
Semper Fi to all concerned.
The "let the military train our pilots" semi-subsidy for the airlines has been drying up b/c we have a much smaller AF and Navy the last 20 years or so. The majority of Delta pilots, for example, were ex-Navy, at least in the past. The shortage is worldwide because of globalization.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
I'm not sure I understand this completely: Are the US airlines facing a pilot shortage, or are everyone else's airlines facing a pilot shortage?
I'm suppose here in the US the airlines'll steal 'em from the Air Force and the Navy just like they've done in the past. As a matter of fact I took a Delta flight a few years back and the way the pilot slammed it into the runway I figured he was an ex-F-14 jockey trying to hit the third wire.
Wow! The supply of highly skilled, trained for free (to the airlines) pilots dried up some time back and now a lot of them are retiring (or already have. And the new supply from private aviation schools doesn't seem to be meeting demand. It seems to me the airlines will need to focus on flights over 500 miles in length (at a minimum), start dropping the short hauls entirely (including the already farmed out regionals) and the difference get picked up by a greatly expanded coordinated rail and bus service. Or maybe some folks will say, let them drive.
Must . . . not . . . comment . . . on . . . far . . . reaching . . . arguments . . . supporting . . . train . . . funding . . .
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Found this subject to be potentially interesting around here. With the vagaries of funding experienced by AMTRAK due to the Congressional funding issues it has experienced over the years.
A shortage in the Commercial Airline industry will certainly have a bearing on AMTRAK's future and its problems with the equipment pool around the country. Planes don't fly without Pilots ( just as Trains don't run without crews (yet?). The following links will provider a couple of interesting reads:
http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/14/airlines-face-worst-pilot-shortage-since-the-1960s/
"Airlines Face Worst Pilot Shortage in Decades"
FTA:'...As global economies expand and airlines take delivery of tens of thousands of new commercial jetliners over the next 20 years, the demand for personnel to fly and maintain those airplanes will be unprecedented.
The 2012 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook projects a need for approximately one million new commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians by 2031, including 460,000 new commercial airline pilots and 601,000 maintenance technicians..."
FTA:"...Pilot Outlook:"The Asia Pacific region continues to present the largest projected growth in pilot demand, with a requirement for 185,600 new pilots. China has the largest demand within the region, with a need for 71,300 pilots. Europe will require 100,900 pilots, North America 69,000, Latin America 42,000, the Middle East 36,100, Africa 14,500, and the CIS 11,900..."
FTA:"...Technician Outlook: "The need for maintenance personnel is expected to grow most rapidly in the Asia Pacific region, which will require 243,500 new technical personnel. China's requirement will be the largest, with an expected need for 99,400 technicians. Airlines in Europe will require 129,700, North America 92,500, the Middle East 53,700, Latin America 47,300, the CIS 18,100, and Africa 16,200..."
And the other side of this is a lack of an organized network of Bus Lines ( Greyhound and Trailways went away before the start of the 21st Century.. Their national presence is pretty much diluted these days, by comparison of its presence prior to its corporate ownership changes. National Trailways Bus System began to break apart in the late 1970'a when it was bought by Kemmons Wilson ( founder of Holiday Inns).
The presence of either company is most likely confined to major population centers and a National Organized service is now questionable all over and outside of the major population centers.
The point of this is: that we now lack outside of AMTRAK; a cohesive national transportation network, Relying now on private vehicles, and buses operated by small companies and individuals, without much coordination.
It seems that the Airline Industry is going to have a problematic future; particularly where Pilots and maintenance personnel are concerned.
One has to wonder if AMTRAK is going to be prepared to step in and provide a reasonable alternative, as the Airline Industry works out their future.,
IF these problems persist in the Airline Industry? Will AMTRAK be able to service the traveling public with enough Equipment, Trains, and Personnel?
Will the Federal Government be prepared with an AMTRAK funding/operational plans?What about the National Railroad Network..
.How are they (The Railroads) going to react to an increasing demand on their networks, ffor that valuable capacity?
Should be an interesting future, for RAIL TRAVELERS !!!
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