I can't fathom how the answer to the pilot shortage couldn't simply be "pay them more". They are flying $100 million dollar planes, pilot salary must be a drop in the bucket.
I'm not sure I understand. The reason you pay more for higher ranks is because you want to incentivize people to work to be promoted to those ranks, right? If you have enough generals but not enough pilots, it ought to flip.
The ultimate answer to any skill shortage is always going to be "pay them more." However, that falls apart quickly, so the problem is finding a better answer.