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The profession of pilot is very specialized. It is not an easy job that involves retraining. But the crisis in the crown is forcing many pilots to stay on the ground. Swiss confirms: The airline will continue to deal with the crisis until at least 2024.
Reason enough to think of alternatives. This is precisely the reason why Swiss and SBB are currently in talks. “These are difficult times and we have to overcome this crisis now,” said Swiss flight operations manager Oliver Buchhofer (43). The option of retraining pilots to become train conductors is also on the table. “However, there are still many issues to be clarified,” says Buchhofer.
Train conductors charge less
In fact, it is not uncommon to change from pilot to train conductor. “I know many pilots who later became train conductors. It’s the same culture, ”says aviation expert Sepp Moser (74).
The prerequisites that a pilot brings with him are ideal for the job of a machinist. “Health and other test requirements are similar or even more demanding for pilots,” says Moser.
But there are differences: in terms of salary, for example. A co-pilot already receives around CHF 6,000 gross per month and increases as a long-haul captain up to CHF 17,000 per month. Machinists can only dream of it. His salary barely exceeds 7,900 francs a month throughout his career.
And daily work is also different: “The pilot flies to the Caribbean or the Canary Islands, while the driver has to be satisfied with Chiasso and Rorschach,” says aviation expert Hansjörg Egger (68).
Professions are not the same
There are also other skeptical voices. “The professions are just not the same,” says the president of the locomotive staff, Hanny Weissmüller (47), to VIEW.
“It cannot be changed on short notice. Recycling takes several months, the drivers have special expert knowledge and they have to constantly update it, ”he says.
“I see it as a lack of appreciation for our profession when it is now said that pilots can overcome the crisis as train drivers and then go back to their old job.”
SBB has very few drivers
But SBB can’t be picky either. It has been clear for months: there are very few machinists. The consequences of this staff shortage are staggering: trains in Switzerland are canceled every day.
Weissmüller knows it too. If the pilots opted for the new job as long-term train conductors, she would be fine. “If you wish to stay, of course, we would be delighted to receive your support.”
