Professionalism in the Aviation Industry

There is much talk these days regarding the shortage of pilots in the United States. Some argue that there isn't a shortage of pilots, but that the low pay at most regional airlines is causing a lack of interest among younger adults. In my opinion, this is a redundant argument. The fact is that there are not enough new pilots entering the industry. To FIX the pilot shortage involves addressing the actual issue of why people don't want to become commercial pilots. The fact that there are "plenty of people that want to be pilots in the United States but they are unwilling to fly domestically because of low wages", means that there is a shortage of pilots. It doesn't matter that there may be a giant pool of prospective pilots, the fact remains that there are not enough new pilots entering the industry to keep up with current retirement rates. This may be a combination of the high cost of flight training, the long road to an entry level airline job since the 1500 hour ATP rule, and the low pay at most regionals. "Flight-training fees for a commercial aviation major total about $64,500 at the University of North Dakota, the largest public aviation program in the U.S. That figure excludes tuition and room and board, which can add as much as $105,400 for an out-of-state student." (Bloomberg 2016)

Regional airlines are feeling the pinch of the pilot shortage already. They have responded by increasing pay, and the R-ATP program at many university flight programs is helping too. "If you complete a degree in an aviation field from a qualified university, you can get a Restricted ATP certificate, or R-ATP, once you've accumulated as little as 1,000 hours of flight time and are at least 21 years old.
Unless you get your R-ATP, you need to be at least 23 years old and have a minimum of 1,500 hours of total flight time in order to qualify for the ATP." (Flyingmag 2015).  One additional step would be for some type of student loan assistance from the airlines themselves. Many new pilots are having to start paying back student loans right as they begin a low paying job at a regional airline, this makes money even tighter for new regional pilots. Not a great situation, new job, learning a massive amount of new information, all while stressing out about money.

Shifting focus to professionalism and what it means to me. I think in very simple terms, that being a professional means doing your best at everything you do, no matter how small the task, working well with others, and maintaining integrity, no matter the circumstances.

With respect to the documentary we watched in class, there was definitely a lack of professionalism shown by both the pilots and the management of Colgan Air.  The FO was sick and tired from travelling across the country for her duty shift. regardless of the cost of the hotel she would've had to pay for, she and the captain both should have called fatigue for her. Would this have changed anything? who knows.  The management showed a lack of professionalism by treating their pilots like machines, with no regard to paying them a living wage, or allowing them a "punishment" free way to call off sick before their first leg. 

I feel that the compensation structure of the regional in question had some part in the lack of professionalism shown in the documentary. I can understand being apathetic to work when you feel undervalued and overworked. However, I've been in a position where my pay was very low and my workload was high. I understood the arrangement, nothing was hidden from me, and I still did my best. It's not like a regional pilot goes in blind with no idea that they will receive low pay. The light at the end of the tunnel is the driving force behind being a professional and performing at a high level. 

Once in an airline type job, I plan on continuing my education in the aviation world by attending conferences, reading, and taking advantage of all of the resources provided by organizations like EAA and AOPA. I also plan on learning from the more experienced pilots and management at the company I work for. You can learn something from everyone, whether it is good, as in something you'd like to emulate, or bad, what you learn from others shapes the type of professional you will be. 

 Shrinking Pool of Future Pilots Keeps Major Airlines on Edge. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-29/shrinking-pool-of-future-pilots-keeps-major-airlines-on-edge

 Getting Your ATP Certificate. Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://www.flyingmag.com/training/getting-your-atp-certificate