Several factors will be contributing to an upcoming pilot shortage:
- In the summer of 2013, newly hired pilots will be required to have 1,500 hours of prior flight experience—six times the current minimum
- Upcoming (2014) Federal Safety Rule fatigue laws decrease flight time
- Senior pilots hitting mandatory retirement at 65
- Tight airline budgets, costs cut
So the question is is the so-called upcoming pilot shortage a trumped-up scare tactic by the airlines to get themselves wiggle room in the face of regulations they’ve had years to prepare to comply with?
