Where is that pilot shortage?

[ScottM]

United Airline told its pilots today that it intends to eliminate about 950 pilot jobs at summer's end, when the Chicago-based carrier will start grounding aircraft in large numbers.

United, the nation's second-largest carrier, intends to send furlough notices to about 1,450 pilots with the least seniority, including those already on military leave or others who aren't actively flying its aircraft.

The cuts represent about 12 percent of the total number of pilots employed by United, and amount to nearly 10 pilots for each of the 100 aircraft that the airline intends to retire as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chicago-united-pilot-layoffs-uaua-jun23,0,554576.story

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Not as bad as last time when we furloughed over 2000. And these are not all at once. Spread over several months, if not a year. Not to minimize it. It is a nasty situation and most of us will be doing it.

 

[ScottM]

Not as bad as last time when we furloughed over 2000. And these are not all at once. Spread over several months, if not a year. Not to minimize it. It is a nasty situation and most of us will be doing it.

Sad to see it happen. Did they not consider any retraining for those flying the phased out aircraft so that they did not have to lay off so many?

 

[Skip Miller]

...and having it done to you in slow motion really, really sucks. Been there, felt the vacuum. Although the slow motion layoff was from a corporate job, not aviation. I feel sorry for all those waiting for the other shoe to drop.

-Skip

 

[JohnR]

The pilot shortage is, and always has been, in the big flight schools. It's student pilots that are always in short supply.