KLM has trouble finding pilots

Jeppesen · Post by **Jeppesen** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:10 pm

AMSTERDAM – Fewer young people are choosing to become pilots. The training costs of EUR 117,000 are too high and the profession is no longer "every boy's dream."

As a result, KLM is having trouble finding enough good pilots to man its fleet. The airline will need 1,000 new pilots in the coming nine years. It currently employs 2,500.

A KLM spokesperson said that different demands are set on pilots these days than in the past. They no longer only have to be able to fly, but must be able to be a manager on board the aircraft and know how to handle conflict situations.

Ten years ago KLM had its pick of applicants. Now the company has to actively seek out new recruits.

http://www.expatica.com/actual/article. ... y_id=39362

And I thought the pilot shortage was only noticeable in North America. Guess I better start working on getting my Spanish citizenship.....

on a side note...can you legally have 3 citizenships?

Four1oh · Post by **Four1oh** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:35 pm

isn't it a requirement that a KLM candidate speak dutch? perhaps that's the problem?

pic777 · Post by **pic777** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:42 am

There are plenty of pilots, but at the moment KLM only wants to take on pilots straight out of the 2 schools.
Training capacity is a problem at the moment also, especially on the 777, where nobody wants to be an instructor.
Last rumours are 500 pilots needed in 5 years, excl. retirements, so about 700 pilots. 2 extra a330's coming that will fly Denver and Dallas.
KLM would like to start a small company with biz jets, 8-12 pax to be flown by waitlinglist pilots and retirees.
Early phase out of MD11 and 744. (wonder how they would go about that since first lease is not up until 2012 and 2016 resp.) to be replaced by 777 and 787.
We'll see it when it happens.
And as for the 117000 euro's....just flew with a SO who had 140k debt...ouch!

Rotten Apple #1 · Post by **Rotten Apple #1** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:59 am

just flew with a SO who had 140k debt...ouch!

Time to consider a bankruptcy filing...poor b*st%rd...

invertedattitude · Post by **invertedattitude** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:24 am

Well is the 140K debt factoring in a house?

Rotten Apple #1 · Post by **Rotten Apple #1** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:38 am

ia., hadn't thought about it that way...good lateral thinking

pic777 · Post by **pic777** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:10 am

Only educational debt.

Snowgoose · Post by **Snowgoose** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:54 pm

I called KLM pilot recruiting not 5 months ago and they were not hiring anymore in 2007. They were full up until next year.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:50 pm

Ive flown KLM a few times and I am of Dutch ancestry. All I can say is that they have the hottest flight attendants that I have seen. Every time I asked for a root beer, the FA brought me a Heineken.

No exageration- she looked exactly like the blonde girl in snowgoose's avatar.

767 · Post by **767** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:17 pm

hey i wouldnt mind flying for klm... i can go see tiesto, ferry corsten, and other trance dj's everytime. hehe

Zatopec · Post by **Zatopec** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:08 pm

I wouldn't mind flying for KLM either. I was in Amsterdam last April, I'd move there tomorrow!

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:27 am

The future "pilot shortage" will look quite significant, unlike anything we've seen before in the past. Much of it will be driven by growth in Asia, where forcasts are for Chinese and Indian airlines to require 4000 new pilots every year in the foreseeable future. To give an idea of the scale of the situation, 4000 pilots is roughly the size of the pilot workforce at Lufthansa.

wxnut · Post by **wxnut** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 11:35 am

Overseas is the way to go - my flies the 330 for KLM right now. It's a great airline with many benefits and the life style in Amsterdam is potentially fantastic !

pic777 · Post by **pic777** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:23 pm

Prefer the lifestyle in BC