It looks like the much-ballyhood pilot shortage is upon us. No wonder, given the state of the profession (low wages, destroyed retirements, too much work).

I remember when United was hiring zero-time pilots back in the late 1960s. The only thing that saved the airline industry then (in my opinion) was the early 1970s recession that halted pilot hiring.

The problem is that no matter how astounding the training program before they put someone in the right seat of an RJ, I doubt it covers much beyond being able to get the airplane down in VFR conditions if the person in the left seat became incapacitated.

The insurance companies must be talking to these airlines about this sort of thing. My guess is the airlines tell them that without these kind of minimums, they’ll shut down. It’s an ever-evolving risk management case study.

As long as the safety wall isn’t breached, the airlines will continue business as usual I bet.

So I guess we just keep our fingers crossed.

What would you say defines that bottom line in experience requirements in the US?
Insurance minimums, training costs or just the market? Maybe a combination of all three?