Pilot Shortage Adds to Regional Airlines' Woes

The life of an airline pilot lost its glamour a long time ago. The cost of flight training can top $100,000, and the entry-level pay at regional airlines, which handle roughly half of U.S. flights, for years hovered between $17,000 and $22,000 a year. The resulting nationwide pilot shortage is putting a squeeze on regionals, and ultimately some may not survive. A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found 11 of 12 regional airlines fell short of their hiring targets in the past year.

The shortage has deepened since last August, when federal regulations raised the number of hours in the air, to 1,500 from 250, that first officers—entry-level pilots—must have under their belts. That makes training even more expensive, as aviation graduates typically fall short of the new requirement. Some fledgling pilots take on debt, many work as flight instructors, and others abandon plans to fly for a passenger airline.