A severe pilot shortage is forcing Northwestern Air Lease to cut flights just as travel was set to resume after more than two years of pandemic-related restrictions.

James Heidema, chief operating officer of the Fort-Smith based airline, described it as the worst shortage in recent memory.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e seen this before but never to this extent,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here has always been either an abundance of pilots or a shortage of pilots. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been with the company eight years and certainly weSA国际影视传媒檝e seen that roller coaster but weSA国际影视传媒檝e never gone as deep as weSA国际影视传媒檙e going this time.SA国际影视传媒�

NWAL has had to cut back flights in July and August and is asking passengers to book as early as possible to help ensure they get seats.

The airline usually offers about 21 flights a week to several destinations including Fort Smith, Edmonton, High Level and Yellowknife but is now operating only about half that, SA国际影视传媒渁nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 really unfortunate because people are travelling again now and we canSA国际影视传媒檛 take advantage of that,SA国际影视传媒� said Heidema.

There is a global shortage of qualified pilots, he said, prompting larger airlines to lure them away from smaller operations with promises of higher pay.

SA国际影视传媒淭he big guys are all scrambling. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a buyerSA国际影视传媒檚 market and the pilots are being seduced away with pretty extravagant offers.SA国际影视传媒�

The demand for pilots is so acute that some airlines are dropping requirements and cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner, which Heidema calls a SA国际影视传媒渟cary thing.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪ome airlines used to bring in pilots into their operation with 750 hours or 1500 hours,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ow some have lowered them down to 250 hours, which is, from our perspective, not the best decision.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 such a thirst,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淧eople want to travel around because Covid is over from most peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 perspective and they want to get out of dodge and fly.SA国际影视传媒�

Northern airlines hold a special appeal for some pilots, he said, which can help with recruitment.

In the North they can earn a good income while honing their skills at a company where flying is still done without the benefit of SA国际影视传媒済ate to gate autopilot.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 very attractive to pilots,SA国际影视传媒� said Heidema. SA国际影视传媒淭o keep their hands on the throttle, have control of the situation and they can get really good experience.SA国际影视传媒�

However, SA国际影视传媒渋n this market today, a lot of airlines are just writing an open cheque to get them,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 compete against that.SA国际影视传媒�

Especially problematic has been the shortage of captains, he said, two of whom recently left NWAL for jobs with airlines in the south.

The company has found replacements but it will take several months for them to be trained, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l come out of it. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l just have to weather it until we can get these guys back up to speed again and hope we donSA国际影视传媒檛 lose anybody else,SA国际影视传媒� said Heidema. SA国际影视传媒淭he company is well-funded and well-organized and weSA国际影视传媒檒l get through it but I feel badly for the customers. Their choices become even more limited.SA国际影视传媒�