doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (03/17/86)
AOPA is calling for the FAA to use $20 million of the Airport and Airway
Trust Fund to finance a "National Pilot Training Program". They note
that over the past 15 years there have been major declines in pilot
training: Student pilot starts: down 30%, new Commercial Pilot licenses
down 58%, and new Instrument ratings down 49%.
AOPA claims that this is alarming because "the demand for professional
pilots in the rapidly expanding airline and commercial aviation markets
will soon put constraints on the growth of the air transportation
system."
This is the first I've heard of any "pilot shortage". I've got some
professional pilot friends who can't find flying jobs. Well, at least
ones that pay. What do you think, folks? Is this shortage for real?
And should we who *are* pilots be forced to subsidize the training of
potential job-market competitors through the Trust Fund?
--
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {elrond,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!dougharkins.henr@XEROX.COM (03/18/86)
I am not tuned in to commercial pilots, their supply vs demand, etc., but I have always thought that there is a surplus of pilots. As far as subsidizing pilot training, I think there are better ways to spend the money in the trust fund. I disagree with subsidies, in general, and favor everone paying his own way. I was really surprised that the AOPA favors this use of the funds. I hope this isn't the beginning of a shift in their emphasis from general aviation to commercial aviation. As for the declines in pilot training goes, that is no mystery to me! Just look at the costs of flying these days, either in terms of fuel or the cost of aircraft----its a no-brainer. Larry
marcum@sun.uucp (Alan Marcum) (03/19/86)
> AOPA is calling for the FAA to use $20 million of the Airport and Airway > Trust Fund to finance a "National Pilot Training Program". They note > that over the past 15 years there have been major declines in pilot > training... > > And should we who *are* pilots be forced to subsidize the training of > potential job-market competitors through the Trust Fund? > -- > Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {elrond,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug Well, that's an interesting one, Doug. One the one hand, the Trust Fund hasn't really been doing aviation much good lately, because of raids for the general coffers. On the other hand, I agree that it isn't quite what I had in mind for that fund. On the other hand, one might argue that $20M isn't all that much from the Trust Fund, given it's size (though on an absolute scale, gee, I could sure by a nice airplane with the interest on the interest on $20M!). On the other hand, maybe if we don't start here, we'll never get anything from it. On the other hand, if we start diluting the fund, and the purpose for the fund, it won't do us as much good as it could. On the other hand...... I think it's misuse of the fund, regardless of other arguments. Use the fund to improve AIRPORTS and AIRWAYS, maybe even to promote research on various aspects of flight. But for pilot training? Yes, it's expensive; so's college. If it's worth it, we'll find a way, besides government handouts. If the Trust Fund is supported by USER FEES, let the trust fund benefit the users who paid! -- Alan M. Marcum Sun Microsystems, Technical Consulting ...!{dual,ihnp4}!sun!nescorna!marcum Mountain View, California