ALPA Says Pilot Supply “Stable”
The Air Line Pilots Association has declared the U.S. pilot supply “stable” after two years of going against the grain and disputing the notion of an industry-wide shortage. In its latest comments on the topic, ALPA cites FAA statistics that show about 11,000 people earned ATP certificates in 2023. It also said the stats show pilot production is ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Some industry associations agree with ALPA noting that some airlines actually have a surplus of pilots. Regional airlines bore the brunt of the labor force issues but they’re now saying things are returning to normal. “There was a time when none of us could find first officers,” said Mesa Air CEO Jonathan Ornstein. “Now I mean, I think we have close to 2000 applicants for qualified first officers.”
G700 Certified
Gulfstream certified the G700, its biggest, longest-legged, and fastest business aircraft to date. The company noted that during a time of increased regulatory scrutiny on certifications, it completed the testing and paperwork faster than on any of its previous designs. “The G700 brings a new level of performance and cabin comfort to business aviation and is doing so while meeting the highest certification standards our industry has ever seen,” President Mark Burns said. The plane has a range of 7750 nautical miles at .85 Mach, meaning it can reach virtually any point on earth nonstop. It has a cabin altitude of 2840 feet at 41,000 feet. Gulfstream already has some aircraft finished and expects to deliver 50 this year.
