The Vietnam War was in full swing when I graduated high school. The economy was in the toilet and airlines were furloughing. There were countless military pilots looking for jobs. It was a terrible time to launch a professional pilot career.
Pilot Shortage Arrives
The Vietnam War was in full swing when I graduated high school. The economy was in the toilet and airlines were furloughing. There were countless military pilots looking for jobs. It was a terrible time to launch a professional pilot career.
Key Takeaways:
- After decades of unfulfilled predictions, a severe pilot shortage is finally materializing, driven by low student pilot starts, poor completion rates, low commercial pilot pay, and expensive ATP requirements.
- Evidence of the shortage includes regional airlines cancelling flights due to lack of pilots, job fairs offering attendance incentives, and a large regional airline seeking early contract termination for planes.
- This crisis threatens to shrink the general aviation market, leading to significantly higher prices for products and parts, reduced innovation, and fewer manufacturers, ultimately impacting all pilots.
- The author urges readers to actively promote aviation through initiatives like EAA Young Eagles, local airport events, and personal outreach to inspire new pilots and combat the looming consequences.
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