Pilot shortage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pilot shortage - Research Paper Example The United States needs to make major changes in the airline industry and pilot certification programs now, to protect the industry from the devastating effects of this shortage, and to ensure the continued stability of airline travel both nationally, and internationally for years to come. A pilot, also known as an aviator, is the person in control of an aircraft during flight. In terms of the safety of the flight, pilots are the most vital single component, because they are responsible for the aircraft during travel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial aircraft are required to have two pilots in the cockpit during Air Carrier operations, and to ensure there is someone who can take control during an emergency. For the last decades, the shortage of people entering the field of aviation has been growing, creating a notable shortage of pilots. There are a number of reasons that there are not enough pilots to currently meet America’s need for air travel including: increased rate of pilot retirement, decreased qualified individuals entering the field of aviation, increased restrictions and requirements, and increased demand for air travel services. As a result, the pilot shortage has been a growing problem in United States aviation industry, and if not solved carefully, it is a deficit that could lead to many serious problems. However, with efforts from all parts of aviation industry, pilot shortage is not a no-solution problem. A pilot shortage is the inadequacy or insufficiency of people qualified to actively and directly operate the â€Å"directional flight controls of an aircraft while it is in flight† (Wikipedia, 2015). Culturally, it refers to a situation where America currently, or any country, has very few aviators currently employed, creating a situation where there are not enough