American Airline Group announced that its flight capacity will be trimmed to up to 10 percent this third quarter and 9.5 percent for the entire year from pre pandemic levels. 1,175 flights in July and August have been cancelled as the airline group builds schedule “buffer” to avoid further service disruption and higher fares.
Photo Credit – American Airlines
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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told CNBC in an interview that the current outlook to the airline industry is that normal staffing level will not return until summer of 2023.
“We’re not going to get back to normal utilization and normal staffing levels until next summer,” said Kirby.
According to Kirby, United has 10 percent more pilots now per block compared in 2019. Kirby noted that the current status in London Heathrow International Airport is one among the challenges it is now facing. The UK hub recently released a notice to airlines to limit sales of outbound tickets until September this year as the former is facing staffing shortages and is still looking for ways to deal with the surge in demand.
“The system just can’t support our flying, and the customers and the airline are at risk,” Kirby said. “So what we’ve done is just pull our capacity back. All the costs are still there, because we’re prepared to be a much bigger airline. We have the people to be a bigger airline. But we’re going to be a smaller airline until the system can support it.”
Photo Credit – Associated Press
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US legislators led by Senator Lindsey Graham are proposing to increase pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 amidst the looming pilot shortage the country has ever had. The retirement age is one among many reasons why there is a pilot shortage.
According to Regional Airline Association, if pilots will retire at age 65, 13 percent of pilots will be out service within 5 years.
US Department of Transportation Secretary Captain Dan Gogel said that the current pilot retirement age is there due to safety reason. He instead said that it’s best to look for other ways to combat pilot shortage than putting safety at risk.
Video Credit – NBC News
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Ivy Tech Community College Columbus and Leadership in Flight Training (LIFT) Academy have announced a partnership to offer a Professional Flight Associate of Applied Science degree expected to begin in October 2022.
The program will combine 32 credit hours of Ivy Tech classroom time with nearly 260 flight hours, allowing individuals to pursue an Associate degree at the same time they complete flight training to prepare for a career in the airline industry. Through this partnership, students will also have an option to complete their flight instructor certifications.
“Our Professional Flight program has helped prepare students on their pathway to becoming a pilot since its inception five years ago,” said Dr. Steven Combs, Chancellor of the Ivy Tech Columbus service area. “LIFT Academy’s unique programming will connect our students with top-notch training and lead to potential employment. We welcome LIFT aboard as a partner to Ivy Tech Columbus Professional Flight.”
LIFT Academy, owned by Republic Airways in Indianapolis, is one of the largest flight schools in the nation, training approximately 300 students a year with one of the largest, newest and most technologically advanced fleets of training aircraft. Due to LIFT’s unique ownership structure with Republic Airways and strategic relationship with Cape Air, Ivy Tech students who successfully graduate from the program will receive an interview with Republic and have an exclusive opportunity to interview for initial pilot positions with Cape Air.
“As the first flight school of its kind in the nation with a direct pilot career pathway to Republic Airways, we’re proud to continue forming valuable strategic relationships, such as this with Ivy Tech, to bring aviation closer to a broader population, making a career as an airline pilot more attainable and accessible,” says Ed Bagden, LIFT Academy’s Director of Operations and Academic Programs.
About LIFT Academy
Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy is a U.S.-based commercial aviation pilot training school owned by Republic Airways. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, LIFT revolutionizes commercial aviation training, utilizing state-of-the-art, eco-friendly training technologies and systems to educate future aviators. Students receive instruction from experienced pilots, under FAA and industry standards, with the most advanced equipment and curriculum that combines flight, flight simulator, online and in-classroom training. LIFT Academy students train on a fleet of advanced new aircraft and flight simulators produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries, including the DA40 single-engine, the DA42 twin-engine aircraft and the DA20 single-engine, as well as Diamond Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD) built to achieve the most realistic cockpit simulation environment. LIFT offers its graduates a defined pathway to a pilot career at Republic Airways.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Source – LIFT Academy Press Release
Photo Credit – LIFT Academy
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Cape Air has employed various strategies to combat pilot shortage. According to Andre Bonney, Senior Vice President of Planning of Cape Air, the airline is paying for the training of its pilots and their accommodations in areas like Manistee. Cape Air is also hiring pilots even at the age of 65 especially those who do not want to retire yet from service. Further, the airline has also partnered with LIFT Academy of Republic Airways to help train students at cheaper rates.
Photo Credit – Cape Air
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