Industry Officials Can't Agree on How To Fix the Pilot Shortage

Republic Airways' bid for lower ATP minimums fails to gain industry support, setting off interesting discussions.

Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 08:58 AM ET

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It's becoming difficult to fill pilot chairs on airline aircraft. Leaders differ on how to fix the problem. [File photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Republic Airways is petitioning the FAA to exempt its first officers from the 1,500-hour flight rule, citing pilot shortages affecting regional airlines and proposing an alternative training program.
Pilot unions (ALPA, APA) strongly oppose this exemption, arguing it would compromise aviation safety, which significantly improved after the 1,500-hour rule was implemented following a series of fatal accidents.
There's a fundamental disagreement on whether a pilot shortage truly exists, with unions attributing flight cancellations to airline mismanagement rather than the 1,500-hour rule and claiming a surplus of qualified pilots.
Despite the ongoing debate, industry leaders anticipate significant pilot wage inflation in the coming years due to the supply-demand imbalance, suggesting a potential "pay bonanza" for qualified pilots.

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Even with support from special interest groups such as the Regional Airlines Association, or other regionals, like Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways’ bid to gain exemption from the 1,500-hour rule might be an uphill battle—or short-lived. In fact, all the discussion around it suggests that the next few years of airline travel in the U.S. could be on shaky ground.

After all, regional airlines in the U.S. operate 41 percent of all scheduled flights in the U.S. While they say their inability to attract pilots has forced numerous cancellations, requests to be exempted from the 1,500-hour requirement are being brushed aside.