Phil Anderson, a first officer with United Airlines (UAL.O), has turned down opportunities to be promoted to captain since he does not want the uncertain schedule that comes with the greater income that comes with the promotion.
Phil Anderson is one of several United employees who declined the promotion. Because of this, researchers and union officials have hypothesized that by the summer of 2019, fewer flights will be available to passengers due to a shortage of captains, who perform the same duties as chief pilots.
No one wants to be a junior captain syndrome” was created by a sector administrator to characterize this issue.
Former airline CEO Robert Mann, who now runs a consulting firm, claims that several smaller regional carriers have already been forced to reduce the frequency of their flights by as much as twenty percent due to staffing issues.
Despite the fact that more people are returning to travel, Mann warned that airlines like United would face the same problem if pilots refused to hold the captain’s seat.
United Airlines Struggles in Finding Captains
He said it was impossible to fly with two first officers. You will need a captain for this. Many airlines, not just United, struggle to find pilots who are eager to pursue career advancements.
More than 7,000 pilots at American Airlines (AAL.O) have opted not to pursue the option to become captains, according to information provided by the union.
Dennis Tajer, a representative for the union representing America’s pilots, claims that over the past seven years, the number of pilots who have declined promotions has at least doubled.
A first officer is a pilot who supports the captain in flying and navigating, however, the captain is ultimately in charge of and responsible for the safety of the aircraft.
Despite the fact that both occupations are union jobs, they are paid differently and fall under distinct classifications.
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Source: www.reuters.com