Boeing: Asia-Pacific Leads Global Need For New Pilots, Technicians

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Boeing reports that the Asia-Pacific region's demand for new commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians over the next 20 years is now 39 per cent of the global need for new airline personnel. The 2014 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, an industry forecast of aviation personnel demand, calls for 216,000 new commercial airline pilots and 224,000 new technicians in the Asia-Pacific region through 2033. The demand is more than North America and Europe combined. At a media briefing here Thursday, Bob Bellitto, director, Customer Group, Boeing Flight Services noted: "The Asia-Pacific region is seeing tremendous economic growth and is set to become the largest air travel market in the world. "That growth rate means booming career opportunities for those interested in becoming commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians over the next two decades." These are strong, stable and challenging jobs in one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world, he said. Leading the region in projected demand for new pilots and technicians are China (98,000 pilots and 101,000 technicians) and Southeast Asia (55,000 pilots and 55,000 technicians). Other parts of the region will also continue to see long-term demand in the tens of thousands of pilots and technicians. South Asia will need 33,000 pilots and 30,000 technicians, Northeast Asia will need 17,000 pilots and 24,000 technicians, while the Oceania region will need 13,000 pilots and 14,000 technicians. The Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook is closely tied to projections for new airplane deliveries around the globe. As with personnel demand, the Asia-Pacific region also leads the demand for new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years, with 13,460 new airplanes needed by 2033, according to Boeing's 2014 Current Market Outlook. --BERNAMA