ALPA Refutes Pilot Shortage Narrative

Amidst deafening caterwauling to the contrary, ALPA—the world’s largest pilot union—has consistently and confidently refuted claims that the airline industry is in the incipient throes of death by pilot shortage.

On 11 August 2022, ALPA bolstered its position by citing data that establishes convincingly—if not incontrovertibly—that the ongoing racket being made about pilot shortages is more so an attempt by airlines to divert attention from their shabby performance and chronic mismanagement than it is an assertion of fact.

ALPA’s bold contention derives in part of newly updated FAA records chronicling the certification of 8,823 new commercial pilots in the last 12 months. The union further substantiated its claim that pilots—both experienced and entrant—exist in adequate numbers by presenting an analysis that showed major airlines currently employ more pilots, and do less flying than they did prior to the COVID madness.

ALPA’s Economic and Financial Analysis team looked specifically at the number of pilots currently employed by the seven largest all-passenger air-carriers with which the union has dealings. In short order, ALPA’s analysts determined that airlines—despite operating almost nine-percent fewer block-hours than they did prior to the pandemic—now employ 6.5% more pilots.

ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete stated: “Once again, the data demonstrates that the United States is producing a record number of pilots. However, there are still some in the industry that continue to mislead the public about pilot supply to cover up bad business decisions and their attempts to negatively impact aviation safety. Rather than focusing on trying to avoid proven aviation safety regulations, these airlines should instead follow ALPA’s lead and promote one level of safety across the industry. ALPA is prepared to work with any stakeholder to ensure we are attracting and retaining the best and the brightest to the piloting profession—and we are determined to make certain that any effort to shortcut safety fails.”

“The facts are clear,” DePete added. “There are more than enough qualified pilots available to fly for the right opportunity while continuing to protect the strong safety system that has made our nation the gold-standard of aviation.

FMI: www.alpa.org