As special interests in Washington, Brussels, and Luxembourg persist in lamenting a global pilot shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration has released verifiable data clearly indicating the United States is producing record numbers of pilots. The last 12-months have seen the FAA certify a total of 10,191 new Airline Transport Pilots (ATP). In August 2023 alone, upwards of 1,200 new ATPs were vetted and written gleaming new tickets—the largest monthly number in history.
The NTSB has released its preliminary report on a 20 August 2023 incident in which a Boeing 737-890, registration N516AS, then acting as Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 sustained serious damage when its left main landing-gear collapsed after an otherwise normal landing on Runway 20R at Santa Ana, California’s John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA). The 112 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft were evacuated to an SNA taxiway via mobile stairs. No injuries were reported. The incident-flight was operated under Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to SNA.
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