AIR, Inc. has released total year airline pilot hiring numbers for 2003 this month in its 2004 Airline Pilot Hiring Forecast, attached. The forecast reflects the history of U.S. pilot hiring from 1996 through 2004E, organized by different career categories: major, national, jet regional, non-jet regional, upstart, and training. According to its forecast, AIR, Inc. estimates up to 6,500 new airline pilot positions for 2004. “The straight math average for the last 12 months predicts 4,300 new pilot positions for 2004, which should go higher depending on the domestic and international economies, and two other main forces, pilot retirement, and airline growth,” said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. “In the final analysis, the actual numbers for airline pilot hiring

Raytheon Wins Contract For Air Traffic Management Systems 

On Wednesday, Raytheon Company announced it was awarded a contract to supply turnkey air traffic management systems for airports in Iraq. The initial award is for $10.5 million, with additional equipment options of up to $38.9 million.     Work under this contract will restore full, all weather air traffic control capability to the key commercial airports in Iraq and reestablish the infrastructure needed in order for Iraq to rejoin the international air traffic community. Raytheon will supply state-of-the-art navigation and landing aids, airfield lighting, airport meteorological equipment, as well its latest field-proven all solid-state, digital terminal area surveillance radars and Rayt

Union Questions Airline's Attempt to Cut Retiree Health Benefits

Just as the concessionary contract agreed to by United Airlines management last spring finally arrived in the offices of the carrier's flight attendant union, the Association of Flight Attendants alleges United management announced its intent to illegally cut retiree health benefits and raise retiree out of pocket costs, raising legal issues significant enough to jeopardize the signing of the concessionary agreement by union President Patricia Friend. Attorneys for the flight attendants say United management's deceitful actions call into question the product and validity of the concessionary negotiations. AFA is considering a number of legal actions in addition to not signing the contract, including: aski

Alteon Training has received Australian CASA CAR-30 certification for its Boeing 737-700/800 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME/LAME) training in its Brisbane Training Centre in Queensland, Australia. "We are happy to receive this certification. CAR-30 is a testament to our rigorous quality system that ensures effective training solutions," said Bill Gardner, Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific. "We are delighted to offer technically excellent maintenance training solutions closer to our customers' base of operations." Alteon is offering full academics type-rating courses in Avionics, Engine, and Airframe for the 737-700/800 models utilizing desktop simulation and the latest generation of computer-based training. These courses are in addition to 737-700/800 fli