The pilot shortage is real. Don’t pay attention to the naysayers; the need for pilots is happening now, and demand is strong.
Pundits and pilots sometimes like to try and spin the reality. The Air Line Pilots Association, for example, says there is only a shortage of people willing to fly for such low wages. Forgetting its obvious bias as the country’s largest pilot union, the point is a bit irrelevant. Whatever the reason, pilots are needed. There is abundant evidence that if you want to fly airplanes for a living or work in other aviation positions, the jobs are there.
Start with the numbers. Boeing says we will need 558,000 airline pilots over the next 20 years, about 95,000 of those for the North American market. The manufacturer says North American airlines will buy almost 2,500 aircraft, and thousands of pilots will be retiring. As the airlines go, so goes the rest of the industry. That means there will be a need for corporate pilots, charter pilots, flight instructors, maintenance technicians, and support personnel.
For pilots, getting there will require a few key résumé points—in many cases an airline transport pilot certificate, and for the major airlines, a college degree. For those interested in getting the degree and certificates and ratings knocked out together, we bring you the annual aviation college directory, beginning on p. 46. This unique resource includes every known degree-granting aviation program in the country. Use it to plan your next move, whether it’s a school close to home or one across the country.
The directory is the centerpiece of our annual college edition. This year we’re focusing on three programs that offer something a little bit different. We feature a school that will wake up your feet, one that won’t drain your wallet, and a third that will have you talking like the big boys. Every program in the directory has its strengths. We hope Jill W. Tallman’s story, “Pick Me,” that begins on p. 40 will open your eyes to a few oft-neglected selling points.
To help give you get the lay of the workforce land, we have a story from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor Ken Byrnes. Byrnes’ story, “Seize the Day,” beginning on p. 34, concludes that there’s no time like the present to start a professional airline pilot career.
If you’re interested in working in aviation but don’t want to fly for the airlines, now still can be a great time. Sometimes, when all you care about is flying, it can be hard to narrow down your choices. This month’s “Technique” is a fun approach to get you headed down the right path. Check it out on p. 38.
That career you’ve been dreaming about since second grade is within reach. Yes, there’s an initial investment, and it’s a big one. But if you truly love to fly, there are jobs out there for you. Now it’s up to you to be pilot in command and navigate to them.
Email Editor Ian J. Twombly at [email protected]; Twitter: ijtwombly; and visit Flight Training on Facebook.
Whatever the reason, pilots are needed. There is abundant evidence that if you want to fly airplanes for a living or work in other aviation positions, the jobs are there.
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