Register

Need for Pilots Should Not Take the Place of Passion

Keeping the fire burning is an important aspect of pursuing an airline pilot career.

Despite the growing need for more pilots, it is vital that airline companies don’t lower hiring standards—as has been accused—and put marginally qualified new hires in their cockpits by maybe thinking experience will 'fix' the problem. [iStock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article explores the "glorious obsession" with aviation, tracing its "Golden Era" from post-WWII accessibility to its decline due to rising costs and regulations.
  • It warns that the current pilot shortage attracts individuals motivated by salary and prestige rather than genuine aptitude, raising concerns about "fast-track" training programs, high dropout rates, and potentially compromised safety standards.
  • The author advocates for prioritizing genuine interest and thorough traditional training over quick-success schemes, emphasizing that inherent passion and aptitude are vital for safe and successful aviation careers.
See a mistake? Contact us.

A good friend—a well-known, longtime aviator and author of books and aviation columns (alas, for another magazine)—told me he had attempted to write something about the glorious obsession many of us have with airplanes and flying…often from childhood. But despite chewing on it for a long time, he finally gave up—saying it just wouldn’t “come together.”

Fearless when it comes to busting into places where other—often more competent—flyers and writers are reluctant to go, I decided to give it a try. After all, who has more firsthand knowledge of what happens when this very real, deep-rooted part of us is sabotaged by events such as a denied medical or insurance, a financial problem, or even something as weird as flying under a bridge? (And, no, I didn’t turn my transponder off!)

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE