Aviation employment initiatives & critical insight

Right now, passenger flights within Australia are reported to be down by as much as 80 per cent. No flights means limited opportunity for pilots to meet those ‘currency’ targets. At an educated guess we have 1,000 pilots who’ve been made redundant in 2020… the question, therefore, has to be: How do we retain experienced pilots from 2021 onwards without a dedicated initiative to help pilots maintain currency and therefore retain their skill within our borders?

“Despite the short-term decline in the number of active pilots due to the impact of COVID-19, the civil aviation industry is expected to require more than 260,000 new pilots over the next decade,” Canadian training provider CAE says.

If our local industry, governing bodies and government fail to find a method of ensuring pilot currency, the ability to retain their experience is unlikely at best. Overseas airlines are great at enticing our highly trained pilots, they may well fund licensing and relocation in order to scoop them up.

The AFAP, however, have anticipated this critical issue. They are in the early stages of collaborating with stakeholders, including simulation centres, operators, and government to create a ‘Job Ready’ pilot’s initiative aimed at preventing the obvious gap that will exist if we do not plan now to retain our experienced pilot talent pool.

You might be wondering; how can the pilot shortage still be a ‘thing’?

The ripple effect of expiring medicals and licences

Thankfully CASA quickly took steps to follow the guidelines from ICAO to provide regulatory relief for pilot licensing and medical renewals. That relief, however, is close to expiring. For some it already has (ICAO manages the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation).

The result of this regulatory embargo ending guarantees redundant Australian pilots will be ‘not current’ and therefore by law unable to fly.

Captain Louise Pole, QantasLink pilot and AFAP President says: “The longer a pilot is away from flying, the higher the cost and the longer the timeline to reactivate them to regulatory job ready status. In addition to the financial cost is the emotional cost. ‘Staying current’ is high on the list of a pilots capacity to feel connected to their chosen lifelong career.”

For more information on exemptions for pilots, please visit the CASA website:
CASA Covid-19 Exemptions

Industry recovery and growth is multi faceted. Advancing that recovery is not only down to the reopening of borders and passenger travel, it includes our ability to adequately and safely staff those reopened routes and prepare for the growth and expansion of our industry domestically and internationally.

Statistics suggest ‘that pilot shortage’ remains an issue

In recent years, many have advocated that the existing and projected pilot shortages were caused by a lack of investment in training. If we accept that is true even partially, we must accept that the when the industry reopens those figures will be exacerbated by the departure of those forced into non-flying roles, forced into early retirement or commencing secondary careers to secure long-term career prospects and income. Of those, how many will return?

You might be wondering; how can the pilot shortage still be a ‘thing’?

CAE, on 9 November, released it latest predications in the Pilot Demand Outlook 2020 report.

Nick Leontidis, CAE group president civil aviation training solutions, said, “Despite the short-term decline in the number of active pilots, analysis shows that the civil aviation industry will require more than 260,000 new pilots over the next decade. As air travel resumes progressively over the next several years, the industry will experience upward mandatory retirement and attrition rates. In fact, these combined challenges are expected to drive a demand for about 27,000 new pilots as of the end of 2021.”

The report also found that the Asia-Pacific region would require 91,000 new pilots over the next 10 years, the most of any region.

The AFAP asserts that the documented pilot shortage of recent years is still relevant: “Even as border restrictions are lifted our most recent survey showed nearly half of pilots have sought secondary employment outside the industry with as many as 11 per cent intending to leave the industry. The same survey indicated that 53 per cent of pilots would support the need for a way to remain current. Supporting a strong mandate for the AFAP to pursue a ‘Job Ready’ pilots program.”

The AFAP, under its president Captain Louise Pole’s signature, has made a submission to government outlining a detailed plan for a “Job Ready” pilot program and is seeking to co-ordinate support from pilots, airlines, operators, and government to ensure a healthy aviation sector in the post-pandemic normal; not only for the pilots it represents but the broader aviation community.

This sector underpins many other industries among those are tourism and mining, along with myriad smaller aviation stakeholders. Taking care of one will clearly mitigate the ripple effect on affiliated industries and communities.

AFAP Services Are Constantly Updated to Support The Changing Lives Of Pilots

Unemployed Pilots – AFAP Special Offer

The AFAP represents over 5000 professional pilots in Australia and provides a ‘home base’ for pilots to stay connected even if finding themselves on hold from their careers.

AFAP recommended post redundancy steps …

Peer Support – Member Assistance Program

Maintaining good mental health is vital for optimising your performance as a pilot. To respond to the needs of our members we have the AFAP-exclusive Member Assistance Program (MAP) as part of our suite of health and wellbeing benefits that make up our welfare portfolio.

The AFAP Virtual Crewroom – Stay Connected and Engaged

The AFAP Crewroom was developed to be a central resource for pilot members during Covid-19 to have their own place to stay connected, up to date and to remain engaged. It is an online platform that allows AFAP pilot members to log in and stay informed on local and Asia Pacific industry information. It has evolved into an ongoing ‘essential resource’ with plans to expand in line with the post pandemic recovery.

Women’s Network

In 2010 the AFAP Women’s Network was launched with the aim of providing a forum to identify and pursue industrial and professional issues relevant to our female pilot members. Our Network events provide an excellent opportunity for members to learn about inspiring women in our profession and to network with other female pilots from all corners of aviation. In the current aviation environment, the Women’s Network is providing vital peer support to our women members and helping them to face their unique challenges.

‘Job Ready’ Is Our Priority

The AFAP PILOT ‘Job Ready’ initiative is our priority right now. Ensuring our members are able, current and licenced to return to work as soon as roles become available is in our minds – urgent. Working towards engaging government and business stakeholders to ensure we do not lose our experienced pilot talent pool and providing the funding relief to continue to grow your careers. Watch this space.