As many of you know, the primary reason for me starting the Pilot Liberator blog was to develop and promote an ongoing, fact-based awareness that would stimulate conversations surrounding the aviation and airline industries and their massive influences on a professional piloting career, aside from all of the infrequent news stories on national television (i.e. Dateline, 20/20, etc) and industry articles that aren't typically viewed outside of the aviation industry.
Earlier this month, an exceptional series of articles focused upon pilot training reform, and the pilot shortage at large, were written and released by Forbes aviation writer, Karen Creedy, and her perspective was nothing short of spot on and enlightening. I consider myself extremely well-read and informed regarding the intricacies and of the highly complex aviation and airline industries in the United States, and I make an effort on a daily basis to dig up the best articles, news and information strewn across the web regarding the airlines and the pilot shortage, both good and bad. Amidst all of the propaganda and write ups that are often lacking facts, basis and spin, Kathryn Creedy and Forbes summarized and covered a VERY difficult and intricate topic, especially in how the pilot shortage has come to be in the US, where it is today and the forces (unions, airlines and lobbyists) that are shaping it, and, most importantly, where the piloting career could / should be headed in 2016 and beyond. Ironically, for the past several months, I have been 'soul searching' for a good spot to begin a comprehensive review and blog series surrounding this critical aspect of the airline industry, but Kathryn Creedy (@kcreedy) certainly beat me to it and, quite honestly, ran circles around what I would have had the time and resources to produce on my own. With that being said, I implore all of you to read each one of the articles in the 'Pilot Training Reform' series below in great detail. Each is incredibly concise and informative for anyone that works in or around the aviation and airline industries. A mountain of information is chopped down to the essentials for industry veterans and newbies to digest and hopefully act upon. I hope that you enjoy these articles as much as I have. Bravo to Kathryn on her exceptional work. Remember, pilot lives do matter. Spread the word (and information). (Articles were released in the following sequence, between February 4th - 10th, 2016) Part I: Pilot Training Requires Regulatory Overhaul To Improve Safety Part II: Pilot Training Reform: The Race To The Bottom Involves Major Carriers Part III: Pilot Training Reform: Powerful Political Interests Blocking Changes; Unions Share Blame Part IV: Pilot Training Reform: Colgan Short Circuited Normal Regulatory Process Part V: Pilot Training Reform: Singling Out Regional Industry Never Works
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Many of you that may be considering a career in the airline industry often struggle to find a reliable source for the varying salaries, sign-on bonuses and benefits being offered to new hire pilots at the majority of regional carriers.
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Author:The Pilot Liberator is a former corporate pilot (Part 135 & 91) and a current ATP-rated airline pilot (Part 121) for a well-known carrier in the United States. Archives:
March 2018
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