Now more than ever

Flight instructors the forgotten link in the pilot foodchain

The looming pilot shortage is not an issue that is just going to fade into the background. As new aircraft arrive and new routes are announced, the inescapable fact is that there is a shortage of crews to keep pace with the expansion. Airlines are busily recruiting, advertising and conjuring cadet schemes in order to fill the shortfall before it reaches a terminal velocity. However, one must wonder – who is going to train the next generation?

Once upon a time, students were taught by career flight instructors, many of whom had served as military pilots. And when the time came for their flight tests, they were conducted by full time examiners employed by the regulator – The Department of Aviation, Civil Aviation Authority, or Department of Transport, depending on which era you lived. These Examiners of Airmen were also predominantly ex-military and the expression “hard but fair” comes to mind. From first flight to holding a licence, there was a wealth of experience on hand.