Pilot Gap in Asia Reaching Critical Proportions
AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE » SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 by NEELAM MATHEWS At Asia's current rate of growth, training capacity in the region, particularly in China, won’t keep pace with demand, according to Boeing. (Photo: CAE) September 23, 2013, 11:05 AM Ailing infrastructure in rapidly growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region has not kept in step with demand, creating huge challenges for airlines running out of pilots as fleets expand. Led by China and India, the region’s economies will grow 4.5 percent per year over the next 20 years, while Chinese airlines triple the size of their fleets, according to the 2013 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook on Asia-Pacific. China alone will require 77,400 pilots and 93,900 technicians of the 192,300 new airline pilots and 215,300 new technicians needed in the region through 2032, said the Boeing report. “There is a very real, urgent demand…and the industry will n...