Hundreds of US Pilots Head East - Or West - To Big Money, Less Hassle

ANN 04.01.07 SPECIAL EDITION: As has been reported over and over again by ANN, India, China, and Middle East aviation is booming, yet there are insufficient pilots to meet those countries' needs.

Enter US pilots, frustrated by pay cuts, aggravated by disappearing pensions, and perturbed by airline takeovers.

According to industry analysts, hundreds of US pilots are inquiring about international aviation opportunities. And that means while high-paying pilots may be leaving positions open in the US, a new class of entry-level pilots is left with insufficient numbers to meet the needs of airlines whose remaining pilots will be "movin' on up" the career ladder.

"When they say there is a pilot shortage, they aren't kidding," observed an ATA official. "There was a shortage before news about China and India made headlines, but now the industry is becoming fragile with the potential loss of hundreds of experienced professionals."

What is the draw for a pilot to literally move to, say, India? It's not just the money, but it's a bureaucracy that is no where near what the US has, said one pilot packing his family for the move. And the cost of living is amazing, he added. He currently lives around LAX, one of the most expensive places to live in the US.

What the future will be is anyone's guess. Airlines, analysts, forecasters, and aviation schools are working together to develop and implement a cohesive program to meet the need.

¡Hasta la vista, baby!

FMI: www.ibef.org/industry/aviation.aspx, www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/26/news/pilots.php, www.menareport.com/en/business,Transport/210549