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Pilot Shortage?

Has any one done the math on what would happen to the airlines’ costs if pilot wages were less stratified at the long end of seniority and fairer all around?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article questions the fairness and impact on airline costs and safety of the current pilot seniority system, which heavily stratifies wages between senior long-haul pilots and lower-paid, overworked commuter pilots.
  • A proposed compromise for third-class medical reform suggests allowing a pilot's family doctor to certify fitness, aiming to reduce expense and inconvenience for private pilots.
  • The importance of thoroughly understanding an aircraft's hydraulic systems and emergency procedures is highlighted through a reader's experience with a landing gear malfunction caused by a leak.
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Has any one done the math on what would happen to the airlines’ costs if pilot wages were less stratified at the long end of seniority and fairer all around?

If what I believe to be true actually is, a trans-oceanic pilot takes off once, lands once, knocks down serious coin and flies infrequently. Yet the commuter jocks take off and land three, four, five, or more times a day, need to scramble to get to their assignments (fatigued, like the crew in the Colgan/Buffalo crash, and domestic flights often are delayed because they haven’t shown up yet), get paid like paupers and have lousy work conditions. I’m thinking that, just maybe, the problem might be less corporate and more employee seniority?

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