Where Have All the Pilots Gone?

Michael Wildes

Friday, January 14, 2022 at 01:17 PM ET

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Empty cockpits are becoming more and more common, but why? [File Image: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are increasingly leaving the industry for better work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and a greater sense of value, a trend accelerated by the "Great Reshuffle" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pilot shortage is critically impacting regional airlines, forcing major carriers to ground planes and suspend routes, despite significant incentives offered by regional carriers to attract and retain pilots.
A broader decline in general interest in piloting as a career, indicated by a drop in student pilot certificates over the last decade, further exacerbates the pipeline problem for future pilots.
The aviation industry faces a projected need for 150,000 to 264,000 new pilots by 2030 due to retirements and anticipated travel growth, making the pilot shortage a defining challenge of the current decade.

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Editor’s note: This article is the first in a six-part series examining the aviation industry’s pilot shortage and what can be done about it.

Jan. 14: An overview of the issue | Jan. 17: How the military is dealing with its shortage | Jan. 18: Recruiting right from the flight schools | Jan. 19: How to get young people involved | Jan 20: The role of flight schools in creating pilots | Jan 21: Want to get your chops back? Here’s how.

Where Have All the Pilots Gone?

Key Takeaways:

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