Commercial airline pilots’ declining professional standing and increasing precarious employment

Maxwell, Gary; Grant, Kirsteen

doi:10.1080/09585192.2018.1528473

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nevertheless, the turnover of pilots is under-researched. Some research has been conducted related to the airline employment relations (Fraher, 2017(Fraher, , 2019Turnbull, 2006, 2012;Maxwell and Grant, 2018;Warnock-Smith et al, 2020). Brannigan et al (2019) have conducted an extensive research on employment and working conditions of aircrews in the EU internal aviation market for the European Commission.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The factors influencing entry level airline pilot retention: An empirical study of Ryanair

Efthymiou

Usher²,

O’Connell

et al. 2021

Journal of Air Transport Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pilot retention has been a significant concern for airlines that find it difficult to recruit and maintain pilots who are classified as high skilled employees. The aim of this research is to determine the factors that influence pilot retention and investigate if these factors differ based on gender, age and level of commercial flying experience of pilots. A mixed methods approach was used. Quantitative information was collected via an online survey sent to 394 Ryanair pilots. Nine in-depth expert interviews were conducted. The pilots ranked, in order of importance, a number of retention-influencing factors spanning seven areas, identified with the help of interviewees and secondary research. The results of the survey indicate that the most important retention influencing factors are being based at home, working a fixed roster pattern for a financially stable airline, being paid a competitive salary and having job security. This research provides qualitative evidence that airlines can use to develop or update their financial and non-financial benefits packages and where necessary, amend work practices and maximise pilot motivation to stay.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The factors influencing entry level airline pilot retention: An empirical study of Ryanair

Efthymiou

Usher²,

O’Connell

et al. 2021

Journal of Air Transport Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We all want cheap tickets, and we all therefore contribute. Precarization is a process that has been going on for some time in the industry with declining professional standing and more insecure employment even for pilots (Maxwell and Grant, 2021). Employees have been under attack with consequences for terms and conditions and work organization (Taylor and Moore, 2015;Moore and Taylor, 2021;Curley and Royle, 2013;Wallace et al, 2006;Whiteleg, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Take-off, turbulence and turnaround

Forseth

2022

EDI

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the evolving nature of the work of cabin crew in a Scandinavian carrier in three eras, drawing on theories of gender and emotional labour.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on ethnographic data from fieldwork, interviews and documents.FindingsFrom being a feminized and temporary occupation for young, upper- and middle-class women in the 1970s, the occupation became a full-time job and with greater diversity of cabin crew. Today there are signs of the job becoming a precarious and temporary one of demanding and devalorized work in a polarized and class-divided labour market. Changing circumstances impact on the emotional labour requirement and terms and conditions at work.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is that the research design was not initially longitudinal in the sense that the author does not have exactly the same kind of data from each era. The author has, however, been involved in this field for two decades, used multiple methods and interacted with different stakeholders and drew on a unique data material.Practical implicationsThe development in aviation is contributing to new discriminatory practices, driving employee conditions downwards and changing the job demands. This development will have practical consequences for the lives and families of cabin crew.Social implicationsThe analysis illustrates how work ‘constructs' workers and contributes in creating jobs that are not sustainable for the employees. Intensification of work, insecurity and tougher working conditions also challenge key features in the Nordic model such as proper pay, decent work and a life-long employment. Much indicates that the profession is again becoming a temporary one of demanding work with poor working conditions in a polarized and class-divided labour market.Originality/valueThe research contributes to the literature on emotional labour, gender and the evolving nature of the work of cabin crew. The unique data material, the longitudinal aspect of the research and the focus on a single network carrier are good in charting changes over time.

show abstract

“…Leveraging this professionalism trait, airlines have placed expectations on their pilots to study, even though these pilots have been grounded without pay in many cases. As airline commercial pressure can increase precarious employment and lead to a decline in airline pilots’ professional standing ( Fraher, 2019 ; Fraher & Gabriel, 2014 ; Maxwell & Grant, 2021 ), a prolonged grounded period may lead to many pilots reconsidering their future in the industry. This trend may cause motivation to maintain skills to wane if airlines do not intervene.…”

Section: Skill Retention In Airline Pilots and The Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Self-Study in Addressing Competency Decline Among Airline Pilots During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective This study aimed to investigate the self-study methods used by pilots while grounded and their perception of competence decline and confidence upon their return to flying. Background Previously, long absences from flying were managed on a case-by-case basis. Thousands of pilots returning to flying as the pandemic eases have burdened airline training systems. Limited research has been conducted on the decline in skills of airline pilots while operationally absent from the cockpit. Few studies have considered this topic in the context of a pandemic. Method A questionnaire study was conducted with 234 airline pilots who were grounded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Uncertainty regarding sudden and indefinite periods of grounding made it challenging to maintain motivation to self-study. This matter was aggravated by the additional financial and personal stress caused by the state of the airline industry and the outcomes of the pandemic. The participants anticipated a decline in manual flying skills as the worst outcome after being absent from the flight deck. However, these pilots proved quick to recover these skills when they resumed flying. It took significantly more time for pilots to regain proficiency in applying knowledge, procedures and compliance with regulations, situation awareness and workload management. Conclusion The study proposes recommendations for pilots and airlines to harness essential self-study practices in competency areas identified to have significantly declined. Application The outcome of this paper guides airlines, pilots and regulators in better understanding how grounded pilots observe skill decline in a broader range of competencies.

show abstract

Commercial airline pilots’ declining professional standing and increasing precarious employment

Cited by 9 publications

References 48 publications

The factors influencing entry level airline pilot retention: An empirical study of Ryanair

The factors influencing entry level airline pilot retention: An empirical study of Ryanair

Take-off, turbulence and turnaround

The Role of Self-Study in Addressing Competency Decline Among Airline Pilots During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About