Fact vs. Myth: Pilot Supply vs. Pilot Shortage

Reducing training requirements would be a colossal mistake

Safety regulations should never be used as a scapegoat for profit

The latest: Some airlines are threatening to cut service to small cities, arguing there is a "pilot shortage" and they don't have enough trained pilots to fly the routes. They suggest tough training standards implemented after the Colgan Air disaster in 2009 are slowing the pipeline of new pilots.

Why this is wrong: America isn't facing a pilot shortage. In fact, not only are there enough pilots to meet current U.S. airline hiring needs, there is a pilot surplus. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Aviation Administration, there are currently about 1.5 certified pilots for every one needed. 

The danger: Higher safety standards are working. Since new regulations were implemented in 2010, the United States has seen a 99.8 percent reduction in airline fatalities compared to the previous decade. Highly trained pilots help make commercial aviation the world’s safest mode of transportation.

What airlines say: Some airlines are manufacturing a “pilot shortage” and arguing to reduce training, weaken safety laws and hire inexperienced aviators for less pay.

They claim federal training requirements are slowing the pipeline of potential pilots.

What’s really going on: It’s all about profit. Operational decisions — like which cities to serve — are based on whether an airline can make enough money flying a route, not on the pipeline of pilots.

Dive deeper:

• The facts speak for themselves. The number of commercial airline pilot certificates issued from January through November 2022 once again exceeded analyst forecasts and airline demand for new aviators — and put the U.S. on pace to break pilot production records.
• Poor planning contributed to this ‘crisis’. Taxpayers helped rescue U.S. airlines from the brink of economic disaster during the pandemic, sending three financial lifelines totaling $63 billion over two years. These funds positioned the aviation industry to be ready for recovery but some planned better than others.
• Dubious requests. Some regional airlines increased their pilot workforce during the pandemic using these relief funds, yet within just a few months, tried to cut service to dozens of small cities or requested an exemption from current pilot training qualifications, asking that the hours requirement be cut in half.

The bottom line: Some regional airlines are trying to cut costs on the backs of the communities they serve while pointing the finger at pilot training. Learn more about what some regional airlines are doing here. 

Why does pilot training matter? Certification saves lives. 

The airlines cutting service to dozens of cities across the country are trying to lay the groundwork to weaken the most effective aviation safety law of this century: the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010.

• Airline fatalities used to be far higher. The 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 killed 50 people and spurred U.S. lawmakers to act by overhauling training requirements for airline pilots.
• The “1,500-hour rule.” Under the law, to earn an ATP certificate, pilots must meet a series of safety requirements including hours of flight time, rigorous training, and stringent qualification standards.

The bottom line: Regulations that have led to the industry’s exemplary safety record should never be eroded just to put more money in the pockets of airline executives. Learn more about why training matters here.

Maintaining a robust pilot pipeline

There are plenty of ways to keep attracting students to the industry through private and federal partnerships.

• Invest in students. We can help future pilots pay for expensive flight training, subsidize loans in conjunction with aviation colleges and universities, and provide substantial grants to expand aviation and flight degree programs.
• Increase awareness. We can ensure today’s emerging workforce is familiar with all the opportunities in our industry and that they receive the support and mentorship they need.
• Boost diversity. We can work to increase funding to hire pilot graduates from colleges and universities that serve underrepresented communities and provide grants to minority-serving educational institutions to start aviation programs.

The bottom line: By putting people — both pilots and passengers — over profit, the aviation industry can ensure a steady stream of highly qualified and trained future pilots for decades to come.

Pilots deserve a fair wage, and paying them proportionately to their training and experience will net airlines not just qualified candidates but also a robust pipeline of future aviators.