Pilot/Manpower Shortage in Business Aviation

Abstract

Of late, there has been much discussion about the pilot shortage in both commercial and business (professional) aviation. Some statistics show that neither the airlines nor the business community will have enough employees to fulfill their missions and that selection of qualified personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. And while pilot positions are the focus, this deficit also includes maintenance technicians and others currently working in the field. In our discussion of Business Aviation, we first need to examine HOW the industry got to its current state. Furthering the discussion we will explore what differentiates Business Aviation from Commercial (Airline) Aviation positions, and finally, what changes in culture the Business Aviation community needs to make in order to attract and hire the up and coming aviation professionals now being trained and educated in our universities and professional flight schools.

Author

• Menard, Donald Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Pilot shortage
• Business aviation
• Pilot hiring