According to aviation analysts, U.S. airlines are struggling to hire pilots

According to aviation analysts, U.S. airlines are struggling to hire pilots, and they predict that by 2030, there could be a shortage of 30,000 pilots.

Bob Miller, an aviation expert with over 20 years of experience in teaching people to fly, noted that there is a growing demand for more flights, but also a need for increased safety, which has resulted in longer training periods for aspiring pilots.

While Miller is uncertain about how to resolve the issue, he believes that the shortage of pilots will continue to worsen. The Federal Aviation Administration Act was passed in 2010 following a plane crash that claimed nearly 50 lives.

The legislation raised the standard for pilot training requirements, including the 1,500 hour training rule, to enhance air travel safety. Miller acknowledged that safety is a priority, but noted that more safety requirements translate to longer training periods and higher costs for becoming a pilot.

Miller also mentioned that it could take up to seven years to complete the 1,500 hour training requirement. As a result, the industry is facing a significant pilot shortage, with an estimated 30,000 pilots needed by the end of 2030. Airlines like Southwest have had to reduce flights due to a lack of flight crews.

Meanwhile, the airline SkyWest has requested to bypass training requirements, prompting members of Congress and the families of Flight 3407 to testify at a hearing in Washington.