US airlines tap army helicopter pilots to ease shortage

Hundreds of US military helicopter pilots have taken attractive offers from domestic airlines trying ease a global pilot shortage. Airline pilots are one of the tightest labour markets in the US, created by years of slow hiring, a wave of pending retirements, and FAA rules that in 2013 increased the number of required training hours from 250 to 1,500. The industry's aggressive recruitment of military helicopter pilots is one of the most striking examples yet of the contortions required to quickly train new commercial aviators since the FAA increased the minimum flying requirement. The pilot shortage threatens the industry's growth just as travel demand booms. Ten US regional carriers are offering helicopter pilots US$50,000 to pay for commercial airplane training, and in some cases additional signing bonuses. <br/>