Airline Pilot Shortage?

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 12:03 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The airline pilot career path is evolving with commuter airlines now offering better compensation (raises, bonuses, guaranteed flow-throughs) and major airlines reducing entry barriers by removing college degree requirements and accelerating promotions to captain.
Despite initial high costs and historical management-employee conflicts, the author maintains that being an airline pilot is "the best job on the planet," citing the unique flying experience, professional colleagues, significant time off, and high pay.

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Thanks for your editorial, “Airline Pilot Shortage?” in the February 2023 issue. As a career aviator with over 50 years in the “Wild Blue,” both a corporate and airline kinda guy, I have some insight I’d like to share.

You are right that the road up to the Bigs through the commuters is or was long and often cumbersome, and really didn’t pay so well. But the commuters are giving Covid raises now, along with signing bonuses and sometimes a guaranteed flow-through to the Bigs.