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 2004 this month in its 2005 Airline Pilot Hiring Forecast, attached. Airline pilot hiring for 2004 came close to doubling from that of 2003, which only brought 4,743 new jobs for that year.

"Airlines reporting to AIR, Inc. in the beginning of 2004, forecasted hiring a total of 4,300 pilots for the year," said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. "With December’s hiring numbers in, the final count shows the original prediction was almost doubled!" For the seventh straight year, National airlines lead in hiring with 3,948 pilots receiving jobs and for the third straight year, Jet Operators came in second, hiring 2,012 pilots and Non-Jet Operators were third, with 1,446. Major airline hiring came in fourth with 1,139 new jobs for 2004.

The attached forecast reflects the history of U.S. pilot hiring from 1996 through 2005E, organized by different career categories: major, national, jet regional, non-jet regional, upstart, and training. According to its forecast, AIR, Inc. estimates up to 10,800 new airline pilot positions for 2005.

The straight math average for the last 12 months predicts 9,500 new pilot positions for 2005, which should 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 and cargo 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