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Boeing downgrades Asia-Pacific pilot and technician demand forecast
August 31st 2018
Boeing this week issued a new Asia-Pacific pilot and technician demand forecast to 2038. Read More »In the update, the U.S. manufacturer said the Asia-Pacific region will have the biggest global demand for new civil aviation personnel in the next 20 years. The region is projected to account for 33% of the global need for pilots, 34% for technicians and 36% for cabin crew.
The 20-year demand outlook for new commercial pilots in the region remains strong at 240,000, although this is down 5% on last year’s projection of approximately 253,000 pilots. Boeing said the lower figure was “driven by regional trends that indicate a peak in pilot retirements in the first decade of the forecast and a softening of replacement demand in the later years, due to a younger generation entering the pilot ranks long before reaching mandatory retirement age”.
Boeing also said commercial technician demand in the region has decreased 5% year-on-year, to 242,000. Addressing the shortfall, Boeing said this was the result of advances in product development on the B737 MAX series, which have produced increased maintenance efficiencies. “Overall, maintenance hours required over the life of the airplane will be reduced,” Boeing said.
For cabin crew, the Chicago-headquartered company predicted 3% higher demand, to 317,000, for cabin crew to 2038 “due to anticipated fleet mix, cabin configuration and regulatory requirements”.
China will need 128,500 pilots, 126,750 technicians and 147,250 cabin crew to 2038. Southeast Asia is forecast to require 48,500 pilots, 54,000 technicians and 76,250 cabin crew and South Asia 42,750 pilots, 35,000 technicians and 43,250 cabin crew.
“Strong demand for pilots in the region continues, and we expect that this will be so for the next several years,” said Boeing Global Services vice president of training and professional services, Keith Cooper. “Through our pilot training solutions, including the Pilot Development Program, we are helping to ensure a pipeline of pilots is ready to meet the industry's demand.”
Boeing's Pilot Development Program is an accelerated training program intended to guide pilots from early stage ab-initio training to type rating as a first officer.
