|
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
For generations, the notion of becoming a commercial pilot has remained a pipe dream for the overwhelming majority, an unreachable ideal reserved only for a minute few. But how times have changed... nowadays, a global shortage of pilots to supply the rapid expansion of airlines means employers are desperately seeking qualified pilots to join their ranks.
The aviation and travel industries are booming, particularly in Australia, yet there are not enough pilots being trained to fill command seats. Plus, with the launch of the latest low-cost carrier, Tiger Airways, the demand for personnel locally is reaching critical levels.
“It’s the biggest change we’ve seen in our industry,” says Con Angelides, managing director of ConAir Aviation. Con has amassed over 17,000 flying hours during 36 years in aviation, but has never seen anything like the current scarcity of pilots.
“It’s a total change to our airline industry here and overseas,” he says. “With low cost carriers expanding so greatly, it is causing now and for the foreseeable future a huge pilot shortage, which needs to be addressed.”
It isn’t just the airlines that are affected – regional and charter operators are watching their pilots disappear daily into jobs with the majors both here and internationally. China and India in particular have proven to be big drains on local pilot numbers, with the booming economic growth in those regions spawning an endless thirst for aviation services.
Earlier this year, Peter Somerville, general manager of the Australian and International Pilots Association, said, “It is becoming increasingly difficult to find pilots and more difficult to train up a lot of pilots quickly.” He estimated that with the increased number of aircraft flying domestic routes in Australia, airlines have had to pay higher wages to retain pilots.
The average requirements for charter and airline pilots in terms of qualifications and experience has dropped enormously, and every week job advertisements are placed with diminishing entry standards. A job that a few years ago might have required a minimum standard of 4000 plus hours would only require 1000 hours total aeronautical experience today.
However, despite the sharp increase in demand, the training industry in Australia remains largely stagnant. Many schools cling to an outmoded model whereby students graduate with a single engine Commercial Pilot License (CPL), which gives them extremely limited opportunities to establish a career at the next level. The process can take years and the immediate challenge for the training industry is to bridge this gap between the dime-a-dozen fresh CPL and the multi-engine, instrument-rated highly employable charter pilot.
Enter National Aerospace Training...
|
|
|
|
|
|
