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Regional Airlines Face Pilot Shortage Due To Low Wages, High Training Costs

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A U.S. Airways Airbus A320 airplane takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, September 23, 2013. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
A U.S. Airways Airbus A320 airplane takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, September 23, 2013. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

As the demand for air travel grows, U.S. regional airlines are facing a pilot shortage. These regional airlines, unlike the major carriers, operate small jets and turboprops and are often subcontractors to the major affiliates.

Patrick Smith is a commercial airline pilot and author of the book "Cockpit Confidential: Everything you Need to Know About Air Travel." He tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson about the reasons behind the shortage, and what the regional airlines can do to bring in more pilots.

Guest

Patrick Smith, commercial airline pilot. He also writes the "Ask the Pilot" blog and is the author of "Cockpit Confidential: Everything you Need to Know About Air Travel." He tweets @AskThePilot.

This segment aired on July 8, 2016.

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