News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots?. Parent comment

Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by taneq on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @02:37AM (#11525243)
That's only half of the equation. They can't get more pilots by paying more, because the requirements to become a pilot are so arduous. According to the article, trainee pilots have to pony up ~$150k in training costs, as well as spend many years working in scarce non-commercial-carrier jobs. So in part, the solution would be to create more non-commercial-carrier pilot jobs, and/or for airlines to start sponsoring trainee pilots to make it more attractive (or even possible) for them to get qualified.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by x0x0 on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @02:57AM (#11525292)
The article mentions JetBlue is running a so-called ab initio program where they train pilots directly for the low sum of $125k! That's right -- pay $125k to (maybe) get a good job in 15 years.

As long as they charge 6 figures, there isn't a real pilot shortage. This is just the industry whining in the hope of finding a sucker (US taxpayers) to subsidize a training program for them.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by atemerev on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:14AM (#11525555)
There's only one other possible source: the ticket price.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by mseebach on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:36AM (#11525639)
Cancelling flights is pretty expensive. I would not be terribly surprised if the total cost in foregone revenue (both from the flights not flown and from the opportunity cost of the decreased inventory on the flight passengers are rebooked onto), aircraft parking fees, couriering lost luggage and in compensation/accommodation provided (whatever little that is) is in the thousands of dollars per flight.

In other words, all other things being equal, you can probably train a decent number of pilots from savings from not cancelling flights, without plucking tax payers or raising ticket prices.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by atemerev on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @05:24AM (#11525796)
Probably. And I am sure that airlines CFOs are keeping that in mind.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by mpweiher on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @03:08AM (#11525330)
Then train the pilots. The airlines have out-sourced the training costs to the pilots, and then expect them to (at least initially) work for a pittance. $25K starting salaries, weird seniority rules etc.

And then they wonder why no-one is biting...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by bayesian_horse on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:19AM (#11525573)
Enough people are biting to keep the system working.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by mseebach on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:27AM (#11525602)
And yet here ware discussing an article about how the system isn't working (anymore).
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by bayesian_horse on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @10:15AM (#11527084)
Oh, it's still working. It's just some people believe it may stop working.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by mathattack on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @11:55AM (#11527822)
Being a junior corporate lawyer is a miserable job. You need to study for 4 years of undergrad, pony up $150-200K for grad school, and then there's a >50% chance you wind up in a low paid job. Then if you do get one of the plum jobs, you are doing 60+ hours a week of grunt work buried under mounds of paperwork.

Why isn't there a shortage of corporate lawyers? Because they pay them very well.

The industry can figure out a way to get people through the system if they really want to. They can find a way to hire military pilots if they really want to.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by throwaway_exer on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @02:57AM (#11525291)
I've been watching this government-made crisis develop over the last 24 months.

Currently, you need 1,200 hours experience from a designated aviation college or 1,500 hours experience from GA.

I believe airlines will lobby Congress to halve the number of hours in the very near future as they get data on the massive pilot shortage.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by cr1895 on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @03:47AM (#11525472)
Wasn't this requisite level of experience upped by Congress not terribly long ago?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Plenty of Passengers, but Where Are the Pilots? by steffan on Tuesday April 19, 2016 @04:03AM (#11525524)
Yes. In the US, originally you could be a First Officer without holding the ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate. The ATP requires 1500 hours of flight time. Prior to the rule change, you would see regional airlines recruiting pilots with as low as 400 hours of total time (TT) for FO positions, allowing them to build the requisite hours to obtain their ATP.
[ Parent | on HN ]