tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post6413173572981519691..comments2024-03-24T05:42:24.847-05:00Comments on Taking Wing: About That Pilot Shortage...Sam Weigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-11989304859805739822009-03-05T23:36:00.000-06:002009-03-05T23:36:00.000-06:00I am so glad I found this blog. I am in the middle...I am so glad I found this blog. I am in the middle of a career change. (I was laid off recently.) I was wondering which direction to take. My passion has always been flying but I wasnt sure what was the future. I to had heard about the "shortage" in pilots and was even told by a recruiter for a school that this time next year the shortage will be in full swing. I enjoyed your view on the situation and will consider in my future decision.<BR/>Thank you,<BR/>Tony CAutism Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17124220292519240822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-89776940807433391602009-02-14T14:23:00.000-06:002009-02-14T14:23:00.000-06:00I am curious why your charts care not consistantly...I am curious why your charts care not consistantly numbered. The graphs would be a much better visual representation if the numbers were the same on both sides. It seems as though the graphs are altered to visually support your position. I would like to see the unskued graphs. Good job with the writing though!<BR/>BlakeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-74059665804310475112009-01-07T09:38:00.000-06:002009-01-07T09:38:00.000-06:00Yes, this is a great post. Thanks for your conside...Yes, this is a great post. Thanks for your considerate and thoughtful way of explaining things. Insights never fit in a short rants or headlines of cheap newspapers, but few people nevertheless take the time to read a good and somewhat lengthy explanation let alone write one.<BR/><BR/>May the new year be one of great luck for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-49928950716025290582009-01-01T13:33:00.000-06:002009-01-01T13:33:00.000-06:00Hi Sam,Let me join the choir of praise and thank y...Hi Sam,<BR/><BR/>Let me join the choir of praise and thank you for yet another awesome post. Keep them coming!<BR/><BR/>I know you have quite a few fans here in Australia, so if you end up getting a job downunder or just visiting let us all know! Pilot shortage is very real here, or at least was 6 months ago according to industry publications.<BR/><BR/>Julien.Julienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981068637782241298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-1120177081795508812008-12-31T00:41:00.000-06:002008-12-31T00:41:00.000-06:00Sam,I've got your blog on my favorites list. I'm ...Sam,<BR/>I've got your blog on my favorites list. I'm a 23 year-old CFII and air traffic control applicant. Just wanted to send my compliments your way on your excellent writing. I firmly believe you'd make an excellent aviation magazine columnist. You've certainly got what it takes, and I know I'm definitely not the only one out there who enjoys reading your posts. I hope someday you'll get to make some extra bucks writing for a magazine.<BR/><BR/>GeneGenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10623579026271657033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-12754873105840477662008-12-29T05:43:00.000-06:002008-12-29T05:43:00.000-06:00Excellent work, Sam! I am always impressed by the ...Excellent work, Sam! I am always impressed by the thorough research you put into your posts. Whenever I have a potential pilot wanting to train talk to me, I always send them back to all your older posts on the realities of hiring, training, etc. My husband did luck out in getting a job he loves with an airline he tolerates, with minimum training. He's got just under 300 pilots below him in seniority (of 1400) and we hope that we don't have to deal with a furlough this year. We're moving from DTW to ATL this week, and hope the move won't be in vain. We too have looked at some of the overseas carriers as an exit strategy, but again, hope we don't have to cross that bridge in 2009.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09741556399764341585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-86139067697726029372008-12-28T18:54:00.000-06:002008-12-28T18:54:00.000-06:00Tom - grad school is indeed one option if the glob...Tom - grad school is indeed one option if the global economy kills overseas flying opportunities. If there's any way I can continue to work as a pilot, though, I will - partially out of addiction to this stupid industry, and partially out of plain old' stubbornness.<BR/><BR/>I'd be looking at flying overseas as a temporary thing rather than as a permanent career move. My wife is willing to do the expat thing for a few years if necessary but is close enough to her family that she doesn't like the idea of permanently living thousands of miles away. I've been keeping my eye on various JungleBus contracts out there, many of which are lucrative and several of which are actually in China. I have a friend flying in China but would like to ask you some questions as well. Would you mind emailing me? PitchDownRightRudder *at* hotmail *dot* com. Thanks!Sam Weigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332414897030323612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10991135.post-21137151816667276652008-12-27T22:23:00.000-06:002008-12-27T22:23:00.000-06:00Sam,I thought your post was wonderfully articulate...Sam,<BR/>I thought your post was wonderfully articulate and informative. Have you considered graduate school? I only say that because analyzing information and presenting it suits you very well, and you clearly enjoy writing. While grad school means no flying and no significant income, if you went back for aeronautical engineering or business you might be able to get funding to pay for all of it. If you do get furloughed, you might want to consider taking a year off to do this if the foreign airlines don't work out.<BR/><BR/>And speaking of foreign airlines.. Where would be your first choice? I am an expat living in China right now and I know there are a lot of Americans and Europeans over here flying for the Chinese airlines and training their pilots, and it is also happening in India and quite extensively in the middle east like the UAE. Going from a RedCo junglejet to an Emirates 777 wouldn't be half bad :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com