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 in 2004 will fall somewhere in between 6,000 and 7,000. If we are even close to these figures, it will be a significant improvement over 2003.”

Pilot retirement will continue to increase as existing pilots reach age 60, from about 1,445 in 2004 to 2,212 in 2008 with a total of 10,410 pilot retirements over the next five years. Major passenger and freight airlines currently have over 4,438 jets and their orders total 568 with options for an additional 1,788.

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 are possible in creating a demand for additional pilots or recalls without new aircraft deliveries.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com