It’s Summer Flying and Hiring Season

With blue spring skies in the window, you’re looking forward to the fine flying weather ahead. But maybe it’s also a time to think about your flying a little bit differently. Most of us had a generally enjoyable period of dating when we were young, and then grew up and got married. How about thinking of flying that way — not just as a casual pleasure or a support for some other activity, but as a permanent relationship? There’s a huge shortage of professional pilots today.  Airlines furloughed a lot of their senior pilots and cut back on hiring during the pandemic; now they’re desperately seeking new pilots. Flight cancellations due to lack of personnel are making headlines. There has never been a better time to start a career in flying, and the earlier you start, the greater your eventual seniority will be. There’s a lot to be said for flying professionally. For one thing, it’s flying — something you love to do. It brings with it a steady stream of new places, new acquaintances, new challenges, and new accomplishments. At the same time, it’s a career that comes with a lot of professional pride and respect. So many people rely on the skills and decisions of pilots! You have to admit — the best seats on any airplane are the two in the front. Apart from the personal satisfaction and enjoyment of a flying career, it makes good financial sense. One study found that although the median annual salary of doctors is higher than that of line pilots (while that of lawyers, you may be surprised to learn, is lower), the ratio of lifetime earnings to the initial investment in training is much higher for pilots. For us, this topic has special resonance. Of course, we’re in the business of pilot training. But it means more to us than that. We’ve loved aviation most of our lives, and we feel deeply how damaging it is for air transportation to be held back by a lack of highly trained professional pilots.  We want to see aviation thrive, and for that to happen it’s important for lots of people to realize what a great career path it is. If you’re working on a certificate now or are just dreaming about getting your private pilot certificate, think about the possibilities for yourself. If you know a young person who’s looking at the bewildering array of paths that life offers, put in a good word for aviation. It’s a great time to get into professional flying. The demand for pilots is strong, the pay is good, the future is secure, and barriers of gender and race are in the distant past. And King Schools is there to help smooth your way.