The pilot shortage, which has been building for several years, has greatly inflated.
The aviation industry and global air travel have surged in the post-pandemic era. Airlines have expanded their fleets, extended their reach range, and added new routes to capture more business. The pressure has only intensified. Understandably, airlines want to make up for the Covid losses, but the shortage of pilots has led to cancellations and delays combined with global warming weather patterns, computer outages, and shortages of aircraft ready to fly safely.
Major airline companies are continuously in demand for travel needs and the shortage of pilots severely impacts this hurdle.
The increased demand for experienced, competent airline pilots comes just as the major airline pilot population in the United States is reaching the mandatory retirement age. Over half of the current commercial airline pilots are expected to retire in the next 15 years. Currently, the gap between supply and demand for qualified pilots is roughly 17,000 unfilled positions, which is about 15% of the airline pilot workforce. This enormous gap does not bode well for the safety of the traveling public. While there are maximums for how many hours a pilot can fly at one time, or over the course of a month, there is significant pressure on the industry.
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To become a Commercial Pilot, they must finish the 1,500 hours required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Enacted in 2012 by the FAA, “The 1,500-Hour Rule” requires first officers (copilots) in the commercial airline industry to do a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight training time in actual aircraft. This minimum number of hours has helped to make the skies over the United States one of the safest travel corridors in the world.
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Another hurdle is the high cost of getting an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. The cost of an Airline Transfer Pilot Certificate, accumulating the necessary hours, and flight training can prevent aspiring pilots from reaching their goals. It costs $99,000 to become a pilot if you’re starting with zero experience. If you already have your private pilot survey, the price may drop to $82,000. This is a huge impediment to a brand new, out-of-school pilot that would likely begin their career at a small regional carrier. Because of intense competition and the pressure to keep prices low, these pilots are paid a very low hourly rate, sometimes as low as $18 an hour! To make matters worse, they often work long hours under grueling and stressful conditions. Herndon Lawyer Doug Landau was off and saw Regional Airline Pilots perform flight inspections on their aircraft, assist the mechanic crew in repairs, and even pitch in to help the cabin crew ready the flight for takeoff. At these low wages, these factors make paying back the significant student loan debt almost impossible.
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Growing up, Lawyer Landau recalls that Major Commercial Airline Pilots were believed to be among the highest-paid professionals in the world. It may still be accurate, but it depends on the particular pilot’s career path. A pilot may spend many years working toward the cockpit of a major airline and might finally achieve the dream. However, there are no guarantees. The success of a pilot depends on seniority, the airline that they work for, and the routes that they fly.
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Because of the shortages of pilots in the global airline market, and the stiff competition for experienced captains, major airlines have had to pay for senior pilots. Two of the largest air carriers in the world, Delta and American Airlines, ratified multi-billion dollar contracts with their pilots. Senior Captains can make almost $600,000 annually. It is expected that many major airlines will follow suit, with most Senior Captains making half $1 million and First Officers over $300,000 annually. As for Regional Airlines, the scarcity of pilots and sectors forced even low-cost carriers to come up with a better pay scale to maintain flight schedules and aircraft fleets.
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Air traffic control directs the travel pathway for flights when onboarding and departure flights. Understaffing these controls can mean serious harm to passengers and flights.
Another issue in the skies is the concern about the Federal Aviation Administration understaffing on the air traffic controller front. As reported in the major news media, there’s a shortage of air traffic controllers all across the United States of America. This has been ongoing for several years and there is a shortfall of some 3000 controllers, according to the FAA. Like with commercial airline pilots, there is no quick solution to the problem. To become a fully certified air traffic controller in the United States, they must complete months of training with three years of on-the-job experience. A number of applicants drop out before they are able to complete the process. Furthermore, air traffic controllers are required to retire at age 56! The FAA is not inclined to hire anyone over 31 years of age, since they want candidates to complete a 25-year career minimum. It goes without saying that the understaffing is bad for air traffic and for the safety of the traveling public.
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The news is replete with near misses and close calls between Jets on US runways at over a half dozen airports. The New York Metropolitan Area Airports are so busy and understaffed that the FAA has asked the airlines to reduce summer air traffic. In fact, a critical radar facility in the New York Metropolitan Area is only 54% staffed. The problem with the shortage of experienced pilots in air traffic controllers has caught the attention of Congress. Both the airline industry and airline workers are looking to the legislature to come up with a feasible solution. One idea to reduce the pilot shortage is to change the retirement age. Increasing the mandatory retirement age from 65 years of age to 67 might extend quality Captain’s careers and reduce the pressure on the industry. Another solution is to change the 1500-hour rule to allow some of the hours to be accomplished by way of air flight simulators.
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However, regardless of the strategy employed, the safety of the public is paramount. Shortcuts are not the way to go. As airlines are getting back to profitability, perhaps taking care of airline pilots can open the door to the career path for people of modest means. This would also be a smart move for those who have significant education debt.
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If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of unsafe conduct onboarding aircraft, exiting the airport, on the runway, or in the terminal, and their questions about laws that apply, please contact us at 703–796–9055, or email frontdesk@landaulawshop.com.
