The Endeavor Air Captain shares why experienced pilots have an obligation to guide the next generation.
ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / April 19, 2026 / Aviation Needs More Than Trained Pilots
The commercial aviation industry is facing a well-documented pilot shortage. Projections from aviation workforce researchers point to a sustained demand gap over the coming decade, driven by retirements and a growing global aviation market. What tends to get less attention is the retention side of that equation: whether new pilots, once trained, find the support they need to develop into capable professionals.
Captain Robert McRath, who flies for Endeavor Air, a regional airline and Delta Air Lines subsidiary based in St. Louis, Missouri, believes experienced pilots have a concrete role to play in solving that problem. And he has structured his own career around acting on that belief.
What Mentorship Actually Looks Like
McRath has maintained an active volunteer relationship with the Flying Billikens Flight Team at Saint Louis University, his alma mater, since entering the profession. The flight team is an organized student aviation program where university pilots develop technical skills and competitive experience. McRath shares his professional knowledge with current team members, covering the practical realities of the industry that academic programs cannot fully replicate.
He is not a passive figure in this role. He shows up, engages directly with students, and provides the kind of context that comes only from working inside the industry.
The Case for Early Mentorship
McRath graduated Cum Laude from Saint Louis University in 2019 with a degree in aviation science. Before that, he spent years in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Both experiences gave him a framework for leadership well before his career began.
His view is that mentorship is most effective when it begins early. The habits, the standards, and the professional culture that a pilot absorbs during training tend to persist throughout a career. Getting that formation right matters more than most people outside aviation realize.
A Standard Others Can Apply
Established pilots who want to adopt a similar approach do not need a formal program to get started. Returning to a university aviation program as a guest speaker, staying in contact with former flight instructors and classmates, or simply being transparent with newer colleagues about the realities of career development are concrete actions that cost nothing but time.
McRath’s approach demonstrates that professional continuity in aviation is built person by person, through relationships that bridge the gap between student and working pilot.
About Robert McRath
Robert McRath is a Captain at Endeavor Air, a regional airline subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, based in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a 2019 Cum Laude graduate of Saint Louis University’s aviation science program and an Eagle Scout. McRath volunteers as a mentor with the Flying Billikens Flight Team at Saint Louis University. More information is available at robertmcrath.com.
Media Contact
Robert McRath
info@robertmcrath.com
https://www.robertmcrath.com/
SOURCE: Robert McRath
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