CAE, Inc.’s talent forecast suggests that a robust 1.3 million civil aviation roles must be filled by the end of 2023. The demand swells even more dramatically throughout the decade with a need for over a million new commercial aviation professionals emerging. Clearly, the aviation sector is flying high after weathering several years of turbulence. Notably, the industry faces a significant pilot shortage, with a forecast of 34,000 pilot vacancies looming by 2025. This challenge is spurring airlines to think innovatively, implementing strategies such as establishing training schools, providing scholarships, and enhancing pilot remuneration to attract and retain talent.
Opening of Flight Schools
Increasing the talent pool of pilots by establishing a flight school is nothing new. Last year, United Airlines (UA) become the only major American carrier to possess its own flight training school. The United Aviate Academy’s goal is to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030. Scott Kirby who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UA said that their ‘pilots are the best in the industry and have set a high standard of excellence.’ Therefore, recruiting and training more people are the right thing to do making them an even better airline. Delta Air Lines also opened its Propel Flight Academy in Florida to train aspiring pilots. Together with its partner, Skyborne Aviation, the school features ultra-modern facilities and instruction support from experienced Delta pilots. The CEO of Skyborne, Lee Woodward said that the school is ‘going to be the flagship partner training academy in the world.’
Becoming a pilot requires a significant commitment of time, effort, and resources. It involves flight training to cover various aspects of flying including maneuvers, navigation, emergency procedures, and more. One of the basic requirements in an aviation career is a foundational understanding of chemistry including concepts like bond angles. While determining bond angles is not directly relevant in the day-to-day activities of pilots, it can help them understand the properties of aviation fuels and their combustion processes. Knowledge of how different fuels burn can assist pilots in emergency situations or when troubleshooting engine issues. It can also help them interpret weather reports and understand phenomena such as cloud formation, turbulence, and icing.
Availability of Scholarships
There is nothing cheap about the cost of pilot training. The good news is there is a wide range of financial assistance available to deserving students from full cost and percentage to a one off and annual payment of pilot training. Airlines have also beefed up their offers to encourage people to take up an aviation career. For example, SkyWest Airlines’ SkyWest Pilot Pathway program offers a direct path for outstanding pilots to work with the airline. Cadets can receive up to $12,500 tuition advance and another $5,000 upon successful completion of SkyWest IOE.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air launched the Ascend Pilot Academy to entice future pilots and financially support them. Boeing recently announced that it is providing $950,000 in pilot training scholarships to ‘grow and diversify’ the pool of commercial pilots. In addition, there are several military scholarships that can be used to cover flight training. One such funding is through the United States Air Force USAF ROTC Scholarship. Flight training can also be financed under the Marine Officer NROTC or the Navy ROTC scholarship.
Increases in Pilot Pay
High demand in travel and aviation manpower shortage improved the bargaining power of unions in the industry to negotiate salaries and benefits. American Airlines pilots recently approved a contract that will increase payments including benefits by more than 46%. Deals reached by pilots at Delta Airlines and United Airlines earlier this year are also similar. All in all, pilots have negotiated substantial raises and other gains such enhanced protection against eleventh-hour schedule changes, improved life insurance, and retirement benefits. The president of the Allied Pilots Association Capt. Ed Sicher stated that the negotiated contract is the ‘first step toward restoring the wages, benefits, and work rules that were lost during the past two decades while our profession was under continuous assault.’
Air travel has rebounded in the US and the world. To cope with the pilot shortage, airlines are getting creative by opening their own flight academies, boosting salaries, and offering financing.