The Airline Pilot Shortage - Best Advice for Aspiring Airline Pilots

The airline pilot shortage is a dynamic that has been talked about for the last couple decades. A myriad of factors including mandatory retirements and industry downturn have led us to the moment we are in now. Today we are in the largest hiring boom that the aviation industry has had and will ever see. Contained in this video is the best piece of advice you will receive if you want to become and airline pilot someday.

[achmedbincouscous]

One thing I'd add from the perspective of someone 3 decades into this:
This is a unique time in the history of the industry. Historically, there has been a pilot surplus, not a pilot shortage.
If you make it from a C172 to a 737 or A320 in 2 or 3 years, you've won the f***ing lottery. The Captains you'll be flying with almost certainly had a far, far longer path to a major airline job.
Keep that in mind when you're out on the line. Be humble, be appreciative. Be eager to learn.
A Captain who needed 3 or 4 type ratings and 5000PIC Part 121, or spent years deployed or as a StanEval pilot just to get called for an interview 20 years ago may not have a lot of sympathy about your rough 9 months flying Cessnas at ATP.
Be cognizant of how fortunate you are to be there with that level of experience. Because it usually isn't like that. (And likely won't be like that for a lot longer)

[tomflynn]

I got my PPL in August but I am making sure that I am totally secure in my cybersecurity career before moving forward. I honestly don’t recommend anyone to become a pilot unless they have experience/credentials in another trade/career field. You could have all the seniority in the world, but something like Covid could absolutely wreck you if you didn’t want to take the vaccine.

[omernaaman]

great content as usual!!!! keep up the great work, the video was very interesting, and the presentation was fantastic as always.

[HNRichard]

I was anxious of whether or not I would go to a flight school, since I heard about this news back in 2022. Now I’m determined to go to a flight school and even if I started from zero experience and there’s a chance I would not attain my certification in time, at least I’ve tried my best and I still have my degree to fall back on. also if it all works out in the end, I wouldnt be regretful for the rest of my life of not having to take on this opportunity. Best of luck to everyone who’s in the same situation as myself!

[stevedgrossman]

Wow, just happened on here by chance, Tristan is HANDSOME!

[timothypropst]

ATP has always been 1500 hrs. What the FAA changed was the requirement to have an ATP to sit in the right seat. Prior to that the FAA only required a comm/inst Multi license to sit in the right seat and gain experience toward that 1500 hours.

[familyvlogs]

Thanks for posting, I'm interested in becoming a pilot and wondering if college would be a good fit? Are furloughs always about seniority, or would me having a degree help in that manner? If not, is there any point to getting a degree at all? Thanks!

[scottgeiger]

Hey Tristan.. Great content as always. My understanding (correct me if I’m wrong) is that the shortage now reflects captains, and not first officers. I’m am also told the regionals have slowed down their hiring of first officers substantially. Do you think this is correct? I try to follow this stuff closely as my son is working on his IFR rating at ERAU and hopes to eventually fly for the airlines or do cargo. Also, what are you thoughts on the cadet programs and is there one you think is best? Thanks!!

[michaelbarker]

I would love a topic on what you would recommend for someone who's completely green, to get their foot through the door and get their airline path started. I'm in love with planes and would really like to do a career change. Thank you so much!

[ryanmcgovern]

Great video! My dream is to fly for Aer Lingus or Qantas as I have a dual citizenship, I feel the big airlines need to promote more funded training as the cost of a CPL is insane for those fresh out of high school or secondary school, I'm currently training towards my PPL and I’m loving every bit but the crazy costs are slowing myself and others in my position which will also hurt airlines hiring

[diax]

Hello Tristian, thank you for your insight. Last year I finished my ATPL with about 220 hours while working on a full time job and since then I've been searching for pilot hirings without a Type Rating in Europe. Surprisingly, I only was able to apply to 3 airlines that fulfilled that criteria and nobody gave me any feedback. Still waiting 🤔 I didn't consider myself to become a flight intructor because I'm still employed working full time. Any advice on that situation? Thanks

[dominickhead]

I am currently a student pilot with about 7-8 months left before I’m completely licensed (cfI, CFII, ppl, commercial) with single engine and multi engine hours (prop) I want to work for the airlines, am I on the right track? I go to school American Flyers kpmp

[lyric]

I am a cadet at L3 Harris nearing completion of my PPL. I’m hoping to be reach CFI by the end of the year and continue grinding my hours. However, I noticed that most airlines prefer a Bachelor’s degree. I want to maximize my chances of getting hired, but I don’t know how long it would take me to get my 1500 hours and a Bachelor’s degree.

[latiknow]

I am 37 years old, and currently, I work in the healthcare field and make a decent wage to put in savings and invest. However, it was never my dream. I keep going back to make a change and start my pilot career.

My question is, is it a good decision to become an airline pilot with zero experience at my age? Even thought I make nice decent money with only working 40 hours a week?

[polopalacios]

Currently finished my Instrument Rating and about to start my Commercial. It’s been pretty rough with my availability because I have a full time job and fly/study on my weekends. Any advice on how maybe I can get through it quicker and how to get the necessary hours to apply at the airlines? I still don’t know if I’m going the instructor route. Haven’t decided yet.

[scottycatman]

I'm a CPL with about 330 hours hoping to get my instructor tickets early next year. I fear I'm going to miss the bus, though, I hear rumblings that hiring is slowing fast.

[kristensorensen]

This guy is wrong! The ATP was always 1, 500 hours. The commercial license was and still is 250 hours. No one today works as an airline pilot without the ATP. There was a time when the copilot only needed a commercial license.

[SL-oxfo]

What's your opinion on flight school loans? Are they worth it if it means progressing to the airlines faster, even with the high interest rates? Thanks!

[Owensully]

What are your opinions on ATP flight school? I have heard mixed things but they seem very attractive to me

[john-jkni]

Thank you Tristian, I do have a question though. I'm a 16 year old who's going for his PPL at the moment, if I keep on pushing toward the airline goal, it's still quite possible I could squeeze myself right into the airlines before the shortage ends or other variable factors in economics happen that could inhibit me from reaching my goal?