<p>Whether or not there is a pilot shortage at present seems to be a contentious issue. The claim that there is a shortage would seem to depend on which part of the world is being discussed, which is thoroughly understandable. Not every region of the world is likely to be struggling to find pilots all at the same time.</p>
<p><img alt="US pilot shortage" src="/getasset/906bec4b-744b-4e96-8e13-ac74c29e5de9/" /></p>
<p>One industry blog recently claimed that talk of a pilot shortage was media driven and even hashtagged the topic ‘fake news’. Sadly for employees of US regional carrier Trans States Airlines (TSA) the realities of a pilot shortage in that sector became all too real last week. The carrier’s parent company, Trans States Holdings (TSH), announced that it would be winding down TSA’s operations and put pilot acquisition problems as a major factor in the decision.</p>
<p>In a memo to staff from TSH’s chief executive officer, Rick Leach, said that a captain shortage at TSA meant that it would not be able to meet not just increased productivity targets but also its “current contractual flying obligations” to United Airlines. TSA has been operating a fleet of 46 Embraer ERJ 145s (according to Cirium) for the major under the United Express brand.</p>
<p>In fact, United had been looking to consolidate this part of its regional flying. Given TSA’s troubles and the fact that the other carrier operating the type – ExpressJet – has United as an investor, it was not a great surprise that United chose to transfer 36 of the TSA ERJ 145s to ExpressJet. With TSA’s wind-down, those transfers are expected to be completed by the year end.</p>
<p>TSH has two other operations, GoJet Airlines and Compass Airlines. Both suffered cuts last year when Delta decided not to renew their flying contracts – again, as part of a streamlining of its regional flying partnerships. However, GoJet has had a boost with new agreements with United to fly the CRJ550, a three-class aircraft based on the CRJ700 airframe, all of which will be converted from the old CRJ700 cabin configuration.</p>
<p>So far as the jobs situation for those directly affected by TSA’s closure, there may be some openings within the other two TSH-owned carriers, but it seems unlikely they will be able to take all Trans States Airlines flight crew.</p>
<p>At ExpressJet, the addition of the 36 former TSA ERJ 145s will take the carrier’s fleet of the type to more than 125, which will once again make it the largest ERJ 145 operator in the world. But as it does so, it will transfer its fleet of 25 E175s to SkyWest Airlines. This, of course, will affect ExpressJet pilots, some of whom might wish to keep flying the E175, but some of whom will transfer to the ERJs.</p>
<p>Thus, on the same day as the announcement of the TSA closure and fleet changes at ExpressJet, the latter announced that it is increasing its pilot bonus programme to offer up to $40,000 for qualified pilot captains upon completion of training with ExpressJet. The carrier says the programme “will include a $22,500 sign-on bonus and an additional $17,500 for all captain-qualified pilots joining the company – whether they have a type rating or not”.</p>
<p>It might seem as though there is the potential for a merry-go-round for the pilots and cabin crews of all the airlines involved and that, at some point, everyone in a job now ought to end up in a job when the merry-go-round stops, but such an outcome is highly unlikely. In fact, Trans States itself has been offering signing-on bonuses (the “highest regional First Officer signing bonus at up to $60,000,” according to a blog post on the TSA website) and still had shortages, so there is nothing to say ExpressJet will achieve the numbers it needs.</p>
<p>Somehow it is difficult to believe that all those involved – whether losing jobs, changing jobs or working tirelessly to fill their crew rosters – are calling the current scenario fake.</p>
<hr />
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<p><img alt="US pilot shortage" src="/getasset/906bec4b-744b-4e96-8e13-ac74c29e5de9/" /></p>
<p>One industry blog recently claimed that talk of a pilot shortage was media driven and even hashtagged the topic ‘fake news’. Sadly for employees of US regional carrier Trans States Airlines (TSA) the realities of a pilot shortage in that sector became all too real last week. The carrier’s parent company, Trans States Holdings (TSH), announced that it would be winding down TSA’s operations and put pilot acquisition problems as a major factor in the decision.</p>
<p>In a memo to staff from TSH’s chief executive officer, Rick Leach, said that a captain shortage at TSA meant that it would not be able to meet not just increased productivity targets but also its “current contractual flying obligations” to United Airlines. TSA has been operating a fleet of 46 Embraer ERJ 145s (according to Cirium) for the major under the United Express brand.</p>
<p>In fact, United had been looking to consolidate this part of its regional flying. Given TSA’s troubles and the fact that the other carrier operating the type – ExpressJet – has United as an investor, it was not a great surprise that United chose to transfer 36 of the TSA ERJ 145s to ExpressJet. With TSA’s wind-down, those transfers are expected to be completed by the year end.</p>
<p>TSH has two other operations, GoJet Airlines and Compass Airlines. Both suffered cuts last year when Delta decided not to renew their flying contracts – again, as part of a streamlining of its regional flying partnerships. However, GoJet has had a boost with new agreements with United to fly the CRJ550, a three-class aircraft based on the CRJ700 airframe, all of which will be converted from the old CRJ700 cabin configuration.</p>
<p>So far as the jobs situation for those directly affected by TSA’s closure, there may be some openings within the other two TSH-owned carriers, but it seems unlikely they will be able to take all Trans States Airlines flight crew.</p>
<p>At ExpressJet, the addition of the 36 former TSA ERJ 145s will take the carrier’s fleet of the type to more than 125, which will once again make it the largest ERJ 145 operator in the world. But as it does so, it will transfer its fleet of 25 E175s to SkyWest Airlines. This, of course, will affect ExpressJet pilots, some of whom might wish to keep flying the E175, but some of whom will transfer to the ERJs.</p>
<p>Thus, on the same day as the announcement of the TSA closure and fleet changes at ExpressJet, the latter announced that it is increasing its pilot bonus programme to offer up to $40,000 for qualified pilot captains upon completion of training with ExpressJet. The carrier says the programme “will include a $22,500 sign-on bonus and an additional $17,500 for all captain-qualified pilots joining the company – whether they have a type rating or not”.</p>
<p>It might seem as though there is the potential for a merry-go-round for the pilots and cabin crews of all the airlines involved and that, at some point, everyone in a job now ought to end up in a job when the merry-go-round stops, but such an outcome is highly unlikely. In fact, Trans States itself has been offering signing-on bonuses (the “highest regional First Officer signing bonus at up to $60,000,” according to a blog post on the TSA website) and still had shortages, so there is nothing to say ExpressJet will achieve the numbers it needs.</p>
<p>Somehow it is difficult to believe that all those involved – whether losing jobs, changing jobs or working tirelessly to fill their crew rosters – are calling the current scenario fake.</p>
<hr />
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