text: As a pilot, trained aviation professional and former airline safety analyst, I can attest to the issues. The biggest issues are the unwillingness of Alaska aviation to pay competitive wages and rampant nepotism. I've seen so many incompetent people hired because they were friends of an owner or shareholder that failed miserably only to be replaced by another incompetent it's ridiculous. I feel bad for these kids getting suckered into licenses. Graduate and go fly outside. Just my two cents from a guy with 30 years in aviation.