Star Telegram article on low-time airline pilots

On 2007-11-26, Gatt wrote:
Now...call me kookie; I don't have an MBA or anything, but when the average
starting pilot makes less per year than the average Greyhound or city bus
driver, not to mention the average airline employee--when the pilot's salary
is less than that that of the 22-year-old child care provider watching their
kid--gee, I *just can't think of any reason* why they can't find qualified
pilots anymore.

The airlines complain too much. The reason they can pay new airline
pilots so little is precisely due to supply and demand. They say there
is a pilot shortage, but pilot shortage really means only 50 applicants
for each job, not 500. People who want to be airline pilots by and large
have a passion for flight, and will practically do it for free.

The only reason pilots for majors get paid lots is again, supply and
demand. Since the pool of available pilots once you get to the higher
end of the food chain is dramatically smaller than it is for the entry
level jobs, they are forced to pay a decent salary.

The reason that starting pilots in other countries typically get paid
more, is lacking such a large general aviation sector, the supply of
pilots genuinely is a lot tighter, so they have to pay more to attract
people into the business.

--
From the sunny Isle of Man.
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