Pilot Survey 2021 reveals impact of pandemic on global pilot community

The Pilot Survey 2021 – carried out by specialist aviation and pilot recruitment agency GOOSE with aviation publisher FlightGlobal – captures the devastating effect Covid-19 has had on airline pilots, with 30% describing themselves as currently unemployed, and a further 17% furloughed.

Image: Jon Flobrant

In addition, 6% say they are employed in aviation in a non-flying role. Another 4% are working, but in another industry. It leaves just 43% of pilots doing the job they trained for.

The poll of almost 2,600 flight crew paints a picture of a community devastated economically and psychologically by the pandemic.

Of those who identify as unemployed, two thirds say they are actively looking for a new position as a pilot. In normal times, a high number of job-seekers might indicate a buoyant jobs market. However, the opposite is the case. Only 3% are currently in an interview process, and more than eight in 10 say they would happily take a pay cut for a new cockpit opportunity.

The online report comes 12 months after a previous survey by GOOSE and FlightGlobal revealed that pilots – though admitting occasional challenges of stress and achieving a better work-life balance – were enjoying a strong global demand for their services.

The latest survey, carried out during October 2020, polled pilots flying in every region of the world. It also covers questions such as how valued pilots feel by their employer, whether pilots would recommend their career to young people, and when pilots think the recovery in the market will come.

According to Katie Mann, global recruitment sales manager for FlightGlobal, the report reveals the true impact of Covid-19 on the sector. “It is simply a shocking reality of the state of the aviation industry that more than half of the world’s pilots are not employed as pilots and flying as they have trained to do so,” she said.

“We can see the effect the pandemic has had on employed pilots too. Large numbers are feeling insecure about their jobs, an increased number are planning to look for new roles this year as well as many feeling less valued by their employers,“ said Mark Charman chief executive officer and founder of GOOSE Recruitment.