GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Triad flight instructor is training pilots to soar over the state from his guest room.
What You Need To Know
Retired airline pilot Robert Vinroot keeps an FAA-certified flight simulator in his home at the WhiteStone retirement community in Greensboro
He said pilots can’t log many hours on simulators, but they are invaluable training tools that help pilots learn how to handle dangerous situations without risking their lives
Vinroot said he saw airline pilot shortages coming years ago, and the airline industry is looking to experienced pilots like him to share their knowledge and training skills
Retired airline pilot Robert Vinroot keeps an FAA-certified flight simulator in his home at the WhiteStone retirement community in Greensboro. He uses his decades of experience and the simulator to safely train pilots on everything from instrument flying to how to handle bad weather and engine failures.
“With the airline, the last type rating I got, I did it completely on the simulator. The first time I flew the airplane was with passengers, and I was perfectly comfortable doing that. That was 20 years ago, they’re even better now,” Vinroot said.
Over the decades, he’s seen the industry change dramatically from the addition of training tools like flight simulators to pilot shortages.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 18,000 jobs per year are expected to open for airline and commercial pilots over the next decade. Vinroot said he saw the shortages coming years ago, and the airline industry is looking to experienced pilots like him to share their knowledge and training skills.
“I have a friend that actually did do that. He retired, and he is now instructing in Charlotte in a simulator. Now, he’s much younger than I am, but at 79 years old they would hire me as a simulator instructor,” Vinroot said.
He said pilots can’t log many hours on simulators, but they are invaluable training tools that help pilots learn how to handle dangerous situations without risking their lives.
As of September 2022, Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) reported that America gained 9,087 commercial pilots over the past year. The union reported that the U.S. is on track to have more than 10,000 new commercial airline pilots before the end of 2022.