ATLANTA, GA – Aviation Information Resources, Inc. (AIR, Inc.), the largest and most reliable source for airline pilot information, released the airline pilot hiring numbers for 2005 this month in its 2006 Airline Pilot Hiring Forecast, attached. Airline pilot hiring for 2005 increased from that of 2004, which brought 9,382 new jobs for that year.

“In the beginning of 2005, airlines reporting to AIR, Inc. forecast hiring up to 6,000 pilots for the year,” said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. “Five of those airlines were from the major airline sector which estimated hiring 1,480 of the 6,000 pilots. When the final numbers came in, those same carriers hired a total of 1,897 pilots, a difference of 417. The largest increase in hiring came from FedEx. They hired 445 pilots for the year but only estimated hiring 200.”

National airlines for the eighth straight year lead in hiring with 3,193 pilots receiving jobs and the first time in four years, the Major carriers came in second, hiring 2,498 pilots, followed by the Jet Operators with 1,592. Non-Jet Operator hiring came in fourth with 1,480 new jobs for 2005.

The attached forecast reflects the history of U.S. pilot hiring from 1997 through 2006E, organized by different career categories: major, national, jet regional, non-jet regional, upstart, and training. According to its forecast, AIR, Inc. estimates up to 11,200 new airline pilot positions for 2006.

The straight math trend for the last 3 years predicts 13,701 new pilot positions for 2006, which could go higher depending on the domestic and international economies, and two other main forces, pilot retirement, and airline growth.

Pilot retirement at the majors will continue to increase as existing pilots reach age 60, from about 1,501 in 2005 to 2,181 in 2008 with a total of 12,092 pilot retirements over the next five years. Major passenger and freight airlines currently have over 4,263 jets and their orders total 553 with options for an additional 1,656. Roughly 40% percent of these new aircraft will replace existing jets; the rest are for growth and will require additional pilots. Fleet plans are in a state of flux as passenger airlines try to right size to current market conditions. Significant increases in aircraft utilization could create a demand for additional pilots or recalls without new aircraft deliveries.

For additional information on airline pilot hiring – past, present, or future – call AIR, Inc.

Sincerely,
Kit Darby, President & Publisher
Source: AIR, Inc. o Atlanta, GA o www.jet-jobs.com o 800-JET-JOBS