Viddler

This Episode Features A Presentation By Captain Paul Rice, Air Line Pilots Association (Part 4 Of A Series)

We've been hearing about it for years... a pilot shortage... a critical one, at that. For many in the aviation community, it sounded like good news... at least if you were on the bottom rungs of the pilot hiring ladder and working desperately to climb your way up. However; after engaging in discussions thorough the industry over the last year and in attending a particularly pointed (and very well-organized) presentation at the FAA Forecast Conference some months ago, ANN and Aero-TV are left with the troubling impression that aviation has a BIG problem on its hands.

The session devoted to discussing the Pilot Supply was, as indicated earlier, exceptionally produced and wholly on target. The session was presented by Moderator Peter J. Wolfe, Executive Director, Professional Aviation Board of Certification (PABC), and augmented by presentations delivered by Kit Darby, President, AIR, Inc, Captain Paul Rice, First Vice President, Air Line Pilots Association, International, Ron Levy, University Aviation Association, John Dixon, Director of Pilot Recruitment for American Eagle.

The third presentation was presented by Captain Paul Rice of ALPA... who, of course, bring their own type of expertise and concerns to this discussion. Rice discussed the 'Historic' Career Paths taken by many newer airline pilots, which basically breaks down into two segments -- Military v. Civilian. Rice also chatted about the current state of Entry Level Pilot Positions in terms of the Equipment Types being flown by 'Express' Carriers versus the 2 and 3 Pilot Crews at 'Network' Carriers. He further extrapolated the issues among Network Carriers and Express Carriers to define where the Pilot Shortage is, at present, and where it is likely to be some five years hence.

In examining Express Carrier operation and the influx of new First Officers, Rice discusse