U.S. Airlines Facing Pilot Shortage?

Getting into flight school became a bit harder after the September 11th terrorist attacks, especially when it was learned many of the al Qaeda hijackers learned from or practiced flying with the multitude of instructors in Florida. But now the airlines are leaning on these institution to hurry up and train pilots, as the industry could be facing shortage as pilots get too told work.

FOX News Radio’s Eben Brown reports from Miami in “Securing America”:

Securing America.

U.S. airlines are about to see many of their trained and trusted pilots turn 65, the mandatory retirement age. And they don’t have enough newbies ready to fly…

(Shakespeare) ”So, there is a pilot shortage. There is a need for more pilots. Even the commuters are hiring, oh gosh, 400 pilots a year, 50 pilots a month.”

Jan Shakespeare coordinates the Aviation Pilots Program for Broward College. She says the industry needs pilots, and government oversight helps to ensure only honest people are seeking the training.

(Shakespeare) ”Certainly if you’re an international student, you have to go through a TSA background check, and that can delay the initial start of your training a little bit. But, most of our student that we have in the program here at Broward College are domestic students and there’s been very few delays.”

In Miami, I’m Eben Brown, FOX News Radio.