World to need 460,000 new pilots – Boeing
Boeing has forecast that the world will need almost half a million new commercial pilots in the next 20 years, as the aviation industry continues its rapid expansion.
Released at the Farnborough Airshow, Boeing’s ‘2012 Pilot and Technician Outlook’ report states that by the year 2031 the world will need 460,000 new commercial airline pilots and 601,000 new maintenance technicians. This demand will be led by the Asia Pacific, which will need 185,600 pilots – more than 40% of the global total.
“In many regions of the world, our customers are facing challenges in recruiting personnel due to pilot and technician shortages,” said Sherry Carbary, Vice President of Boeing Flight Services. “Boeing is committed to developing innovative solutions that address this critical need by leveraging our knowledge, expertise and experienced global team to give our customers and the industry the training advantage they need to succeed.”
While overall demand for aviation personnel remains strong, the projected need for technicians has decreased from last year, due in part to improving aircraft technology and older planes being retired sooner than expected due to higher fuel prices. But Asia Pacific will still require 243,500 new technicians – almost 41% of the global demand.
On the pilot from, Europe is the second strongest market, needing 100,900 new captains, followed North America (69,000), the Middle East (36,100), Latin America (42,000), Africa (14,500) and Russia/CIS (11,900).
“Meeting this exponential demand requires increased reliance on new, digital technology such as online and mobile computing,” said Carbary. “Boeing is expanding its training technologies and the reach of our partnerships and working to develop a global flight school network to better supply aviation talent for the future.”