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| Aviation Industry Job Outlook | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Why it's still a good time to attend flight schoolsWith the apparent slowing of the U.S. economy and the increases in energy prices, many prospective pilots are asking "is it a good time to get into aviation?" The answer is a resounding "YES"! In fact, it may be one of the best times ever to become a professional pilot. Although the major U.S. airlines may not be hiring, and some, in fact, are laying off pilots, jobs at regional carriers such as Comair, Airnet Express, SkyWest, and many more are hiring pilots. And the stiff hiring prerequisites found in the past have been loosened recently as the regional airlines compete for pilots in a field where a pilot shortage is actually occurring. And the U.S. is one of only several growing markets for pilots. If you're willing to work abroad, many more opportunities await you in Europe, India, Asia, and the Middle East where airline pilot and corporate pilot jobs are booming.Demand for pilots remains high for 20 years"The world's airlines will need more than 17,000 flight schools graduates each year for the next 20 years to fill the seats of the airplanes on order...the experience minimums some of the airlines are now requiring for pilots have tumbled...the average now is 250 total hours and 25 multiengine, and a few require only the commercial rating." (source: Flying Magazine - Flying Magazine Training Section)Today's pilot shortageIt's no secret that there's a worldwide pilot shortage. According to a recent Wired.com article (blog.wired.com), "the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects airline passenger traffic to grow by 5.1 percent between now and 2011. According to Airbus, dealing with this growth will require more than 24,000 new planes over the next 25 years, and those new planes won't fly themselves -- they need pilots. How many? The IATA says that in order to meet demand, 19,000 pilots will need to be trained each year until 2026. Flight schools currently crank out around 16,000 annually."Flight school instructor shortagesRegional airlines are hiring new pilots at low flight time requirements. As a result, there's a huge shortage of Certified Flight Instructors at flight training operations worldwide. Flight schools must replace their flight instructors with new pilots, and the best way to do that is to transition their flight school students into certified flight instructors (CFIs). Today's flight school candidates are almost assured of a CFI position at the school they attend, and CFIs can build flight hours quickly on their path to regional and major airline jobs.Are airline pilot jobs still growing?According to the Air Transport Action Group (www.atag.org) "2.0 billion passengers rely every year on the world's airlines for business and vacation travel and over 29 million tonnes of high-value freight are carried by air. Growth of air transport largely depends on global and regional economic cycles. It is also heavily affected by acts of war or terrorism - for example the Gulf war of 1991 or the events of 11 September 2001. But the long-term demand trend is always positive and the figures for passengers and freight are likely to double again within the next 12 to 15 years according to demand."Corporate pilot jobsBusiness jet and turboprop deliveries continue to climb with no end in site. And the market for the new "Very LIght Jets" or VLJs looks bright with a few manufacturers now putting the planes into service, and several more prototypes flying. What does this mean for the prospective pilot looking to enter the job market? "To operate this expanding fleet will require about 1,500 new pilots each year, not including additional pilots to replace those who retire, transfer, or who are removed for other reasons. Companies are expected to be in competition with the airlines in the hiring of qualified pilots, most of whom will be instrument rated." (source: www.avjobs.com)Job Outlook: PilotsRegional airlines and low-cost carriers will present the best opportunities; Flight school graduates attempting to get jobs at the major airlines will face strong competition. Employment of aircraft pilots is projected to grow 13 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects. Job opportunities are expected to continue to be better with the regional airlines and low-cost carriers, which are growing faster than the major airlines. Opportunities with air cargo carriers also should rise. Business, corporate, and on-demand air taxi travel also should provide some new jobs for pilots. Pilots attempting to get jobs at the major airlines will face strong competition, as those firms tend to attract many more applicants than the number of job openings. Earnings of aircraft pilots vary greatly depending whether they work as airline or commercial pilots. Earnings of airline pilots are among the highest in the Nation, and depend on factors such as the type, size, and maximum speed of the plane and the number of hours and miles flown. In May 2006, median annual earnings of airline pilots, and copilots, were $141,090. Median annual earnings of commercial pilots were $57,480 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,780 and $83,760. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $115,220. For more info - Aircraft Pilots Job Outlook: Aircraft and Avionics MechanicsJob growth for aircraft mechanics and aviation maintenance technicians (AMT) is expected to be about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job opportunities should be favorable for people who have completed an aircraft mechanic training program, but keen competition is likely for jobs at major airlines. Employment change. Employment is expected to increase by 10 percent during the 2006-16 period, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Most job openings for aircraft mechanics through the year 2016 will stem from the need to replace the many AMTs expected to retire over the next decade. Also contributing to favorable future job opportunities for aircraft mechanics is the long-term trend toward fewer students entering technical schools to learn skilled maintenance and repair trades. If this trend continues, the supply of trained aviation mechanics may not keep up with the needs of the air transportation industry. Median hourly earnings of aircraft mechanics and service technicians were about $22.95 in May 2006. Aircraft mechanics who work on jets for the major airlines generally earn more than those working on other aircraft. AMTs who graduate from an aircraft mechanic school often earn higher starting salaries than individuals who receive training in the Armed Forces or on the job. Airline mechanics and their immediate families receive reduced-fare transportation on their own and most other airlines. For more info - Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians Job Outlook: Air Traffic ControllerEmployment of air traffic controllers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increasing air traffic will require more air traffic controllers to handle the additional work. Job prospects. Most job opportunities are expected as the result of replacement needs from workers leaving the occupation. The majority of today’s air traffic controllers will be eligible to retire over the next decade, although not all are expected to do so. Air traffic controllers who continue to meet the proficiency and medical requirements enjoy more job security than do most workers. Air traffic controllers earn relatively high pay and have good benefits. Median annual earnings of air traffic controllers in May 2006 were $117,240. For more info - Air Traffic Controller Schools Industry outlooks: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2008-09 Edition, Air Transportation, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aviation Industry News | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FAA Reveals 10-Year Controller Hiring PlanThe FAA has released its updated plan to hire air traffic controllers over the next 10 years. According to the FAA, it will hire and train more than 15,000 controllers over the next decade, starting with nearly 1,400 new controllers this year. Instead of listing a fixed optimum staffing number for each of the FAA's 314 facilities, as in the past, the new plan provides a range of numbers to give the agency greater flexibility. "Air traffic levels are very dynamic," said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey. "It is critical that we staff facilities based on actual and forecasted traffic demands. We are confident that the new controller hires will be able to meet the needs of the future." For more info visit FAA's Updated Hiring Plan Matches Controller Staffing to Air Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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