The vulnerability of quasi-professional experts: A study of the changing character of US airline pilots’ work

Abstract

This article contributes to ‘sociology of professions’ theory through the study of changes that occurred in US airline pilots’ work. Findings reveal that airline pilots are quasi-professional experts who developed specialized skills based on talent and experience which allowed them to work autonomously and enjoy a correspondingly high sense of trust and prestige for which they were often well compensated. However, results of this study suggest high labour costs and weak professional communities leave quasi-professional experts vulnerable to managerial cost-cutting and work intensification agendas, particularly during periods of merger, downsizing and other forms of industry restructuring. Findings signal a deprofessionalization of some elite fields in which experts’ specialized skills become devalued and the industry-specific nature of their expertise reduces career options and job mobility. Although the present study identifies this trend in aviation, recent changes in a wide range of industries from healthcare to high-tech portend applicability in a variety of domains.

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

“…When the demand for aircraft began to grow again during the next economic upturn, Boeing was unable to re-hire these people and struggled to find appropriately skilled personnel to build its aircraft. Fraher (2019) suggests that the specialised skills of pilots enable them to work autonomously and that they enjoy a high sense of trust and prestige for which that are well rewarded. Morrell et al (2004) suggest that the modern employee does not act rationally to maximise utility, but is rather an actor who negotiates complex social scenarios with reference to habit, learned schemata, and values.…”

“…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.…”

“…Ryanair pilot strike in 2019). Fraher (2019) argues that pilot representation is often fragmented and usually increases the time required to reach labour agreements, increasing their frustration and leading them to strikes. On the other hand, should pilots move to another company they may lose their seniority privileges (e.g.…”

“…preferred rosters), but more importantly the core pilot skills cannot be transferred to another industry. Pilot marketability is high (Fraher, 2019), but based on Gorman and Sandefurs' (2011) views on expert knowledge workers, their career autonomy is restricted.…”

Commercial airline pilots’ declining professional standing and increasing precarious employment

“…The changing nature of pilots' employment in commercial airlines has been investigated in US studies (Fraher, 2014(Fraher, & 2016Fraher & Gabriel, 2014. It has also been studied, over 10 years ago, in the European low cost sector (Pate & Beaumont, 2006) and in the UK low cost sector (Bennett, 2006).…”