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US pilots jump ship; love Emirates
I had no idea US pilots were leaving the country in droves. I guess it makes sense. All the bankruptcies in the US airline business, pay cuts, frozen pensions, eroded job security and increases in monthly flight hours are not exactly benefits of the job.
This Time article, titled International Departures, describes the mood among pilots working in the US as not exactly filled with motivation. Many US pilots have already switched to working for international carriers, where they can still be treated like "upper-level managers, with something they feel has long been missing in the US: respect."
Dubai-based Emirates, for example, expects to hire 540 pilots this year. Half the applicants are Americans, compared with just 7% of its current pilots. Over the past four years, over 100 US pilots have been lured by Emirates and their generous benefits package, including over 40 days of vacation and guaranteed annual raises.
I wonder what Kent will say about this trend. Any insights?
Filed under: Asia, North America, United Arab, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Kathryn Hill Apr 11th 2008 6:22PM
I haven't flown Emirates yet, but am looking forward to trying them out. Main reason? I'm deaf, and they are currently the only airline offering closed captioning on their in-flight movies. I blogged about this here: http://www.stonedeafpilots.com/?p=89
iva.skoch Apr 11th 2008 6:26PM
Thanks Kathryn. I enjoyed your post. I had no idea that nobody else offers it. Good for Emirates!
shirley chaplin Apr 12th 2008 5:37PM
I have flown emirates and it is first class all the way, they look after you so well and the service is par excellent
Chuck Taller Jr Apr 11th 2008 8:15PM
As an ex-military pilot, ex-USA pilot, I now work for the Indonesian Government - More money, better hours, a better place to live (Singapore)....the USofA is in the crapper folks. I wouldn't fly on one of their airlines - not really that safe. Their is quite a few of us old fly boys over here, and I have friends who are in the emerates. Anywhere but the USofA....
Frank A. Apr 11th 2008 8:47PM
Good for you Chuck. Now stay there.
marybeth Apr 11th 2008 8:50PM
What? Can this really be?
NancyY Apr 12th 2008 3:23AM
Chuck -
This is no surprise to me. I have a buddy who had been a pilot in the Vietnam War, and he was relieved of his duties as a pilot when he turned 60. Last I heard, he was working for an airline out of India. He's sharp as a tack, in good shape, etc. and very responsible. Perhaps one of the reasons the U.S. is losing pilots, is because they are turning 60 or older!
-N
patrick Apr 11th 2008 11:07PM
For a man of means Flying the skies of Garuda,
you are going to have to spell your future company
Emirates before you can island hop and eat fried roaches
stnsmok Apr 11th 2008 9:12PM
I for one respect our airline pilots and think they deserve anything other than the grief that US airlines give them. They took care of our people and were screwed for their efforts. I am glad I am through with flying on America's planes, knowing the way they too have been mistreated by lowlifes that act like polititions. They get everything that they want up front and take care of only themselves except to keep money coming in so it looks like they are doing their jobs. We have seen the result. They are the cold hearted fools that accept the loss of an airplane every 5 to 7 years and mark it off as the cost of doing business. As can be seen by the way they take care of the planes that they probably won't let their families climb aboard. Good luck pilots and thanks for doing a great job during all of the hours that I flew years ago. Have a great life from now on.
Frank J. Austin Apr 11th 2008 11:36PM
A respectable US Air Carrier probably wouldn't hire you, huh Chuck ? Either that, or your DME wouldn't issue you the required certificate ?
Brian Addis Apr 11th 2008 8:59PM
I've been teaching enrty level pilots for 40 years. New aviation college students have declined since 2003. This is just the beginning. No one wants to do it anymore; too many better ways to make a living. The U.S. is hiring 12,000 pilots per year but only making 4,000 pilots work ready each year. Soon we will need to get our pilots from other nations.
Lynn Apr 12th 2008 6:01PM
Dear Chuck,
Thank God you are flying for another country now. From your sentence structure and spelling it appears that you are illiterate.
Jeff Apr 11th 2008 9:04PM
My little brother left continental airlines for United Airways he doubled his pay!!!
gene galka Apr 11th 2008 10:40PM
Jeff, sorry. You just won't get that lie to fly on this thread. I have flown for CAL for 25 yrs and can promise you your "little brother" doesn't earn more than I currently do! In fact United pilots WANT CAL to buy them some they can have a job in the future. There company is one of the worst managed in the industry.
Mike Apr 11th 2008 9:07PM
Good for those Pilots that want to better their lives. I do not blame them at all. As far as badmouthing this country keep in mind we have a government that can tell you which Major League Baseball player takes drugs but have NO answers for fuel prices.
jim Apr 11th 2008 10:58PM
we have the answer, the problem is the LIB DEM IDIOTS won;t let us drill oUR OWN oil and build refineries so we are held hostage by those who want to CUT OUR THROATS!!! with all the recent findings of oil HERE IN THE US, we could be swimming in oil, but oh no, the STUPID LIB DEMS WON'T LET US DRILL FOR IT!!! what is it going to take, 5 dollar a gallon gas before we KICK THESE DEMS OUT???!!!!
WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO WAKE UP??!!
Jeff Apr 12th 2008 4:20AM
Well said Mike
Mimi Apr 11th 2008 9:12PM
Other reasons for our pilots going abroad are to get their hours built up (many of the foreign airlines do not require as many flight hours as US airlines) and the forced retirement at age 60. My uncle started flying for Saudi royalty after he was forced to retire his US airline job when he turned 60. He's raking it in now too.
Bob Apr 12th 2008 12:15AM
That's not true... the company that I work for, which is one of the largest in the US is recruiting pilots with less than 500 hours total time... right out of flight school. Someone in the Government, FAA must have taken notice... My crew and I have had 3 FAA line checks in the last 45 days with a specific reason of checking for inexperience crews.
lordgrumpy1 Apr 11th 2008 9:17PM
Good riddance! I spent 20 years in the USAF sitting in the flight deck, and if their is one thing I've learned....."some pilots act like they are gods gift to aviation and should be treated a such". I saw way too many of them just waiting for their terms to run out so they could use all their tax payer earned skills to rake in the big dough with some airline. Well, hate to tell ya fellas, but pilots are just another frickin' employee. Your just another cog in the wheel, stop acting like your the hub. Your not upper level managers, your a bunch of over paid mid levels. The fact of the matter is, US airline corporations have finally wised up to pilots and how their overpaid status is seriously helping to suck the life blood out of the airline industry. Sure, OPEC is certainly helping to pummel the industry. But as in any business, overhead is nothing but a negative on the bottom line. In today's business world, you have to cut those negatives. So lets face it, when you have a bunch of glorified 6 digit employees, the axe falls hardest where it hurts the most. The days of the Pan Am clipper have passed boys and girls, deal with it! Go on over and fly for the rich boys, just do us a favor....stay there! Because you and I both know, in those areas of the world, they just look down on you as another paid employee, and thats what you are.