5h
Many of us have long remarked that a family in aviation makes it two generations, and the third winds up as art students.
But there’s a whole new layer of complexities for the next generation of pilots. There are no entry level jobs to speak of, other than instructing. Night freight? Gone, because nobody flies canceled checks anymore. Corporate/charter? Those jobs are often taken by retired airline guys who have too many ex-wives, boats, airplanes, and other terrible choices to support with their 401k alone. The pool of applicants with 15,000+ hours makes applying with a wet commercial ticket to most flying jobs a joke.
Heck, you can’t even pump gas at the local FBO to build a network, as self serve pumps have wiped out that great aviation entry-level job.
Solutions? I got none. Just a bit of awareness that we are our own worst enemies at times. We keep sawing the bottom rungs off the ladder of progression as aviators and at the same time, we cry all the time about a shortage of pilots.
4h
Captain Garrison,
After a 40 year career in aviation I made a personal commitment to devote as much time as possible to promote aviation. Sharing the love of flight is a wonderful experience for myself as well as the individuals that ride in my airplane. The manager of our home airport was surprised to find that every employee at the FBO had gone for a ride in my Cessna. Nearly all of them have an interest in aviation so I continue to “push the button” and feed the fire…
Yukonav8r
3h
Don’t forget all of the TSA nonsense as well. How many big airports still have an observation area? At my home big airport the “ in the terminal” observation area was closed long ago and there is no outdoor observation area. Most of the small GA airports I have visited are almost ghost towns with little to no activity.
1 reply
3h
I fly with a number of FOs who say they got their start with a Young Eagle flight and I remain committed to doing as many as possible. But the airport is the domain of old men in cargo shorts and just a fraction actually fly. Their airplane might be out of annual for many years or they fear the expense or lack of mechanics if something breaks so they keep it on the ground. But we need airports where a kid can ride a mini bike or do something else that might attract their friends and it doesn’t have to be related to airplanes at all. It needs to be social so that their friends all progress together when the flying bug hits. They won’t fall in love with a clapped out 172 on the ramp, they’ll fall in love with the place that gave them freedom unavailable anywhere else.
2h
One other factor is that for many of today’s 20 year olds, flying 12 times a year is normal. (They will lecture you on green issues, while ignoring the two litres of Jet A a second, per engine each flight uses… but there you go.)
Many fly from airports where they never see the outside of an aeroplane, and for them the flight has all the magic of a crowded sub-way ride – window blinds down to make looking at the screen easier.
Difficult to get any enthusiasm from the experience.
1h
▶ pilotmww
With regards to the security theater: AVweb had an article in 2019 that pointed this out. It showed how a prison was more welcoming than the local airport.
AVweb : You’re Not Welcome Here.
