NEW CFI GIVE THE AIRLINES A PASS? BY KEVIN GARRISON THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AIRLINE PILOT HIRING BOOM. Companies are actively recruiting pilots to the point that they are willing to train them from almost zero hours to an ATP. Ab-initio programs abound; it seems that all you must do today is notify the airline you want to fly for when you want to start your piloting job. The open secret that nobody is talking about is that the hiring boom won't last forever and will eventually result in layoffs and furloughs. Airline pilot hiring has always been a boom or bust situation: If you study it, you'll find that these hiring and furloughing waves are reasonably constant. While somewhat exciting and recently very lucrative, an airline piloting career has drawbacks. Airline pilot jobs come and go, but an experienced and qualified flight instructor can always find work. An airline pilot's career rests entirely on the economy and societal circumstances. You may be excited today about your prospects for a job, but you also must consider the recent pandemic and the complete shutdown of the industry that resulted in tens of thousands of pilot layoffs and forced retirements.