The regional airline industry has been receiving a lot of
attention lately following the release of new regulation which increases ATP
(Airline Transport Pilot) time requirements. The regulations now require a
pilot to log 1,500 hours (1,000 hours with a 4 year aviation degree) prior to
being able to apply for an ATP certificate. This has caused a pilot shortage in
the industry. There have already been reports of shortages by many regional
airlines. Envoy (operating as American Eagle) has already had a fleet reduction
as a result of pilot shortages while other regional operators continue to
discontinue routes and reduce operations. There are those that argue that the
pilot shortage does not have to do with a lack of pilots but a shortage in pay
(more people would become pilots if they increased starting wages at the
regional level). The wages of regional airlines are primarily controlled by mainline
partners (American controls the wages of their regional partners operating
under American Eagle including Envoy). I believe that both arguments play a
strong role in the increasing pilot shortage. The mandatory retirement age has
permitted regional pilots to flow through to mainline operations leaving the
regional industry with a lack of pilots (Jansen 2015). The new ATP requirements have reduced
(or delayed) the number of new pilots completing the training requirements
preventing the regional operations from hiring replacements. The low starting
wages have also contributed to the pilot shortage (Miller 2015). There are less people
willing to commit to expensive pilot training with starting wages so low for
pilots at the regional level (the pilots who do are now looking at other options
such as corporate operations).
These new regulations should cause the regional airlines to
be concerned with who they are hiring. An applicant who meets the minimum ATP
requirements is not always a good candidate. The new regulations have forced
regional airlines to hire anyone who meets these requirements while
disregarding other aspects. This could develop potentially dangerous situations
for regional airlines. A solution to this problem would be increasing applicant
selection standards.
The ALPA (Airline Pilot Association) protects pilots and is
currently attempting to increase wages at entry level regional pilot jobs in
the United States. The RAA (Regional Airline Association) protects the regional
airlines and is attempting to get the new ATP requirements reduced.
The definition of professionalism to me is holding yourself
to a set standard. Professionalism comes with proper training and supplemental experience
(as a pilot). The Continental accident came as a result of a lack of
professionalism on both an operational and management level. The pilot should
have called in rather than attempting to commute across the country and
complete the flight. The management within the company should have promoted a
better safety standard (rather than having a pilot complete a flight at all
cost). The management side could have also conducted additional safety measures
(that may have caught the pilot stall awareness deficiency). I believe that
starting wages at the regional level have contributed to this problem. Poor pay
results in a lack of professionalism because any individual who believes they
are not being compensated enough does not operate at a high standard that
promotes safety. I believe I will be able to conduct myself at a higher
standard through personal checklists (understanding personal limits will
promote professionalism and safety) and personal standards (not doing anything
that I believe compromises safety).
Having checklists both personal and company wide can be a very helpful tool. I agree with you that it promotes both safety as well as professionalism. I also agree with you about the poor pay results in less professionalism. Being better compensated makes for better and more professional pilots.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a very good point on selecting the pilots that meet the minimum standards my not be the best choice. I am not sure how to solve this problem as it may be difficult to search for the best candidate when there is a shortage of pilots due to retirements and low pay from the regionals.
ReplyDeletePersonal checks for maintaining professionalism are a great idea. Poor pay does unfortunately entice those who believe that is the pay they think they deserve, and can degrade professionalism.
ReplyDeleteI like that you put professionalism can come with training and experience. Usually when I think of a professional I think of an older person, not that younger people can’t be professional, but an older person has more life experience and has learned much.
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