Is it to late to become a pilot as of 2024? Is the hiring wave over?
Frank,
There has been and always will be a need for qualified pilots. If however the only reason you’re thinking of doing it is because you heard there’s a pilot shortage and getting hired is a given and is easy then yes you missed it and should seek another career.
Btw, being a professional pilot has never been easy nor has getting hired every been a given. It was simply easi-er for a while.
Adam
Frank,
Think of it as a simple shift down to a more reasonable pace. There will still be thousands of retirements across the industry in the next decade. Plus, if Boeing and airbus can iron out production issues more aircraft orders require more pilots. There will be jobs, just maybe not quite as easy of a handout. If that’s what you’re looking for though, I’d take a major pause…
Hannah
Frank,
I do think the hiring wave has slowed, but that in no way means that hiring grinds to a halt. There will always be pilots retiring and there will be a need to replace those pilots. As we return to normal, it means that qualifications matter again and that the quality of your education and flight time will be looked at. I for one think this is a good thing.
It is in no way too late.
Chris
Frank,
This hiring slowdown is a reflection of a multitude of levels from manufacturing to pilot surge that occurred back in 2022 and is catching up to airlines. If the parent companies like American, Delta, and United aren’t losing pilots (at an expedited rate), then they’re not going to pull from their pilot pool at the regional level like Envoy, Endeavor, GoJet. While it may shock everyone in the airline industry, give it and hiring will resume - maybe not at a rate like post covid, but it will resume.
I believe this means that Turbine Pilot-in-Command time and a credible portfolio/resume will be important again as airlines will be picky on their selection process for a little time.
Brady