Boeing predicted in 2012 a worldwide need for something like 600,000 commercial airline pilots, 679,000 maintenance technicians, and 814,000 cabin crew members by the year 2035. Airbus echoed the projection in essence agreeing to a flying and non flying personnel shortage and implemented a worldwide ab initio program. If true, flight training needs to crank up in the U.S. supported with programs like the GI Bill. I benefited by it as a Vietnam era veteran and in return I’ve helped, in a small way, promote New-Starts in Aviation. (Go to: Facebook.com/CVYAEP)
Airlines could afford to promote careers in aviation and invest on flying and non flying personnel training to meet the goal. I just don’t see how this demand can be met unless there is a subsidy.