According to the president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia, Colin Rodgers, this problem has been threatening for a long time, as the number of aviation staff has fallen over the years as a result of the extortionate cost of training. Colin Rogers quoted that it costs around $100,000 for a young person to train to be a pilot.

Mr Rodgers said “After they’re trained on a small aircraft, if they want a career in the industry they begin with a small airline flying light aircraft in remote areas. They build up their hours and move on to one of the major regional airlines serving big towns”. The next stage of training is to fly for Australia’s regional airlines which operate in Australia’s major towns and cities. Many training pilots fly for foreign international airlines, for example Cathay Pacific and Emirates, which add to Australia’s pilot shortage.

Rodgers stated that Politian’s need to address the problem; so far it has been a low priority issue, but clearly pilot training needs to be sorted out. Flights are being cancelled, regional air services are being diminished and many passengers have to make do with fewer flights as a result of aviation staff shortages.

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