Finance and Financial Management Commons^™

Calculating The Cost Of Pilot Turnover, Kristine M. Kiernan

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Controlling costs is a critical ingredient in achieving profitability in the airline industry. Typically, labor costs are the second highest cost category for airlines. Some components of labor costs, such as pay and benefits, are easy to calculate. Turnover costs, however, are not easy to calculate, and are often underestimated. This paper builds a model for examining turnover costs for pilots in Part 135 carriers, and tests the model empirically in a Part 135 carrier. The model provides a framework to assist airlines in estimating turnover costs for pilots. The case study of a Part 135 cargo operator showed that …