AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2021 - 8

PRESIDENT 'S POSITION
Onward
and upward
For aviation professionals, the future
is looking good
BY MARK BAKER / President and CEO
STILL GRAPPLING WITH the effects of the pandemic, the U.S. economy
and job market have been unpredictable, to say the least.
" Now hiring " and " help wanted " signs continue to hang in the
windows of businesses that are struggling to recover. But while
the demand is there, the workers don't seem to be.
Despite signs of recovery, there remains a record 10 million
job openings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This
labor shortage has affected every industry-including aviation.
Like many sectors, a lack of resources has been a significant
problem for some airlines, especially with the early retirements
of senior crewmembers in the wake of the pandemic. In a reversal
from the woes of 2020, airlines are now calling for a mass hiring
of pilots as the aerospace sector turns in a positive direction.
Over the summer, we saw a sudden surge in travel. Many
Americans, especially those newly vaccinated, were willing to
cash in on their very postponed vacations. In August, TSA numbers
hit another high with 2.2 million travelers passing through
security daily-the most since pre-pandemic levels.
And while the friendly skies haven't been too friendly to the
passenger, it's a different story for the crew up front. Pilots are
reaping the benefits of the economic recovery. Delta Air Lines
announced its plans to hire 1,000 new pilots by summer 2022,
while United said it will hire 1,500 pilots by next year and 3,000
by 2023. Meanwhile, American Airlines plans to hire 350 pilots
by year's end and 1,000 in 2022.
The same demand is there for business aviation, with Argus
TraqPak forecasting that private aviation may emerge from the
COVID era as much as 10 percent larger than it was before the
virus. In fact, June 2021 was the busiest month for private flights
since October 2007. Those stats are backed up by Textron Aviation's
second quarter results: The aircraft manufacturer delivered 44 jets,
up from 23 last year, and 33 turboprops, up from 15 in 2020.
There's a call for qualified aviation professionals across all
facets of the industry. Boeing's latest report showed a need for
763,000 pilots, 739,000 technicians, and 903,000 cabin crew
members from now until 2039. In commercial aviation alone, the
industry is projected to need at least 2.1 million new personnel in
the coming years. Many of these jobs will come with a nice paycheck.
In fact, making a living as a pilot ranked number 26 in U.S.
News and World Report's 100 Best Jobs of 2021.
8
AOPA PILOT / October 2021
While this demand is great news for current aerospace professionals,
those aspiring to a career still need a pathway. The
industry has work to do when it comes to recruiting younger
generations to aviation, to help fill this pipeline. Getting your
foot in the door is often the biggest obstacle to making a living
as a pilot, especially for those who don't come from legacy aviation
families.
First impressions are key. Airshows, fly-ins, discovery flights,
and community airport days are all great options to introducing
outsiders to aviation. Visiting career fairs like the one at EAA
AirVenture in Oshkosh is also a good way to make connections.
According to one recruiter at this year's career fair, interest from
young pilots asking about aviation careers was up an estimated
50 percent compared to 2019.
AOPA is also a great resource for aspiring pilots. We've got
a wealth of knowledge in our Pilot Information Center. The
specialists can answer questions on flight schools, medical certification,
and the process of getting started. We've also got
an incredible High School Aviation STEM curriculum, free to
schools, that introduces students to careers in aviation; our program
is in more than 300 schools across 36 states. And it includes
a diverse pool of students-20 percent of participants are female,
and 45 percent are people of color. I'm proud to see how much
the program has grown since its inception in 2015. This past year,
the AOPA Aviation STEM curriculum received two accreditations
from education research firm STEM.org-a huge honor.
At the same time, the very definition of aviation is evolving,
as the aerospace industry is entering a new era of emerging technologies.
From unmanned and supersonic flight to alternative
fuels, all signs point toward a bright future-one that will need
a new generation of professionals. Like any industry, uncertainty
is inherent but a career in aviation won't lead you astray. We all
love the sense of freedom each time we get out and fly-getting
paid to do it is just the icing
on the cake.
The demand is there.
We need to work together
to ensure that a great supply
of talent is also there.
mark@aopa.org
AOPA President
MARK BAKER is a
commercial pilot with
single- and multiengine land
and seaplane ratings and a
rotorcraft rating.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2021

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