SHORTAGE OF AIR PILOTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29469, 22 March 1961, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF AIR PILOTS

“Situation Appears To Be Worsening” (N.Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 21. Since February, when the Aviation Industry Association set up a study group to investigate a pilot shortage in the New Zealand aviation industry, the shortage appears to have worsened, says the secretary of the association (Mr W. J. Shanly) in a bulletin to members of the association. “Operating companies who may not yet be affected cannot afford to ignore the trend —expansion and retirements already appear to exceed gains from commercial pilot licence examinations—and with some aero clubs already denuded of instructors and the Wanganui Aero Club without an instrument-rated instructor it may be later than some operators think,” he says. The conference was satisfied that a shortage of aerial work pilots and experienced aero club instructors already existed and could spread into airlines. Mr Shanly says that a 25 per cent, reply to a questionnaire sent to operators shows a total pilot strength of 94 at the end of last year and an estimated total requirement of 145 in 1963. an increase of 54 per cent. Only a wide response to the questionnaire can determine whether this sample is representative. If it is, the fixture position will be a lot worse unless steps are taken. The autocrat of Russia possesses more power than any other man in the earth, but he cannot stop a sneeze.— Mark Twain.