[Avionics Magazine 12-8-2016] Airlines and operators based in the Asia Pacific will need 500,000 new pilots and technicians to support the region’s expanding demand for new aircraft deliveries through 2035, according to the 2016 pilot and technician outlook released by Boeing on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The outlook, a leading industry forecast of aviation personnel demand, anticipates the need for 248,000 new commercial airline pilots and 268,000 new technicians through 2035.
Boeing unveiled its 2016 Pilot & Technician Outlook for the Asia-Pacific region today, projecting a demand for more than 500,000 pilots and technicians over the next 20 years. Photo: Thomas Hanser.
The Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook is closely tied to projections for new airplane deliveries around the globe. The demand for new pilots is primarily driven by new airplane deliveries and fleet mix, while new technician demand is primarily driven by fleet growth.
As with personnel demand, the Asia-Pacific region also leads the demand for new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years. The region comprises 40 percent of the global need due to fleet growth in the single-aisle market, driven by low-cost carriers.
According to Boeing’s 2016 Current Market Outlook, 15,130 new airplanes, valued at $2.35 trillion, will be needed in the Asia-Pacific region by 2035.
Here’s a look how Boeing sees demand for new pilots and technicians flowing into Asia:
| Pilots | Technicians |
China | 111,000 | 119,000 |
Southeast Asia | 62,000 | 67,000 |
South Asia | 41,000 | 39,000 |
Northeast Asia | 21,000 | 26,000 |
Oceania region | 13,000 | 17,000 |