The Pilot Survey 2022

Read The Pilot Survey Report​

Aviation has been one of the most significantly impacted sectors during the pandemic. Many aviation businesses are still having to work in survival mode. A stressful and pressurised situation has been heightened with many pilots living in fear of redundancy and furlough as well as many who have already had to confront this.

The pandemic has quickly made pilots face adaption to new ways of working, including reduced flying time, quarantine periods, face coverings and social distancing as well as being given more time to think and re-evaluate what is important to them in their careers.

It has not been the crisis alone that has made its impact on pilots. The pressure to stay current, to keep or return to flying, secure medicals and keep healthy both mentally and physically have all been significant.

Many pilots have lost jobs, taken large pay cuts, reduced their flying time and even been demoted in rank, all in order to keep flying.

It was essential that we speak with pilots again this year to delve deeper into the factors that have impacted them over the last 12 months and their plans on whether they will continue their careers as a pilot or simply leave the sector.

In our third year of collaborating, GOOSE Recruitment and FlightGlobal created The Pilot Survey 2022. We have compiled this unique report once again to establish and highlight trends from a pilot’s perspective. We will uncover trends in careers, reward, confidence, stress, and the attractiveness of the profession.

It covers areas such as: What impact has the last 12 months had on unemployment? Are unemployed pilots in holding pools? How long does it take to secure a new pilot job? How confident do pilots feel about returning to the cockpit? How many pilots have been double vaccinated and do they believe it should be compulsory to fly? Would they recommend their career to young people? When do they think the sector will return to pre-COVID levels? These are just a few of the questions that are so unique to the aviation sector and ones that only the pilots themselves will answer.

Read The Pilot Survey Report

To discuss any of the findings in the report, please contact Mark Charman, CEO & Founder or Samantha Nero, Associate Director of Executive Search and Aviation Recruitment.

For all media enquiries, please contact Nic Jones, Group Marketing Director.

Latest Insights

View All Insights
Why Passive Candidates Are the Key to Senior Hires in Aviation - Aviation Executive Search - GOOSE Recruitment
Why Passive Candidates Are the Key to Senior Hires in Aviation

Hiring senior aviation talent isn’t about posting a job and waiting for applications. The reality is that the very best leaders are rarely looking. They are already delivering results, leading team...

Build, Buy, Borrow, Bot - What is your Aviation Workforce Strategy? GOOSE Recruitment
Build, Buy, Borrow or Bot: What is your Aviation Workforce Strategy?

The aviation and airline sectors are undergoing one of their most significant shifts in decades. Decarbonisation, digitalisation, and demographic change are reshaping the way businesses operate and...

October 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment
October 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment

​Welcome to this month’s newsletter.In this edition, we explore the latest industry insights, from compensation trends and diversity initiatives to key events shaping the aviation landscape. Whethe...

Top 5 Human Skills for Aviation Careers in 2025
Top 5 Human Skills for Aviation Careers in 2025

​Human skills, often referred to as “soft skills,” have evolved significantly over the past decade, reflecting the unique demands of the aviation and airline industry. From cabin operations and gro...

September 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment
September 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment

​Welcome to this month’s newsletter.In this edition, we explore how AI is reshaping both CV writing and aviation operations. We’re also delighted to welcome a new member to the GOOSE Recruitment te...

Pay Equity in Aviation Aviation Salary Surveys - Aviation Benchmarking - GOOSE Recruitment
Pay Equity in Aviation

Internal versus external pay equity: two sides of the same coin?Pay equity is a core component of a fair and effective reward strategy. For aviation businesses, it plays an important role in attrac...

Strategic Compensation in Aviation - Aviation Salary Surveys - GOOSE Recruitment
Why strategic compensation is a priority in Aviation

Compensation is a central focus for aviation employers, influenced by evolving workforce expectations, market complexity, and increasing scrutiny from employees and stakeholders.​The aviation pay p...

How to Use AI to Improve Your CV - GOOSE Recruitment
How to Use AI to Improve Your CV

​AI is transforming the way we work, and that includes how we apply for jobs. Whether you are in Commercial Aviation, MRO & Technical Services, or Flight Crew, AI tools can help you enhance your CV...

August 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment - GOOSE Recruitment
August 2025 - This month in Aviation & Airline Recruitment

Welcome to your latest aviation recruitment update. This edition is full of expert insight, from smart strategies for attracting talent with a limited employer brand to what the UK public really wa...

How to Be Head-Huntable For Aviation Jobs - GOOSE Recruitment
How to Be Head-Huntable For Aviation Jobs

​If you’re aiming for senior roles in the aviation industry, chances are you won’t find your next opportunity on a job board. The most influential, high-impact roles, especially in leadership, are ...

Career Drift - How to Spot it and Correct Course - GOOSE Recruitment
Career Drift: How to Spot It and Correct Course

​In a demanding industry like aviation, it’s easy to keep your head down, get the job done, and assume that means you’re on track. But what if you’ve been so focused on delivering that you haven’t ...

How to attract aviation talent with a limited employer brand - GOOSE Recruitment
How to Attract Aviation Talent with a Limited Employer Brand

You don’t need to be a household name to attract top aviation talent. Some of the most compelling employers in the sector are the ones you’ve never heard of, yet. If you are a smaller operator, a n...