Salon :: Tech & Business

Ask the pilot: Facing a serious pilot shortage, airlines are hiring crew members with remarkably little experience. What does this mean for safety?

The first <a href="http://dir.salon.com/topics/airlines/">airline</a> I worked for was a small regional carrier named Northeast Express -- an affiliate of Northwest that flew under the "Airlink" banner. When I was hired, in the summer of 1990, my logbook contained just over 1,500 total flight hours. In addition to various instrument, multiengine and instructor ratings, I had a newly minted airline transport pilot certificate as well. I had been a flight instructor for the better part of four years, slowly building time in Cessnas, Pipers and other light, single-engine aircraft. <P>Such a résumé was, at the time, borderline competitive for an airline position. Thus I was equally thrilled and lucky when Northeast Express gave me the nod. My first assignment was hardly anything special -- first officer (copilot) on the Beech-99, an unpressurized 15-seater. Starting pay was about $850 per month. <p>...</p><img src="http://feeds.salon.com/~r/salon/tech/~4/196406428" height="1" width="1"/>

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