Anybody Hiring Pilots?

There were 5,000 new pilot jobs last year.  This is the time to train, stay current and build quality time, so as hiring heats up more, you’re qualified to apply for the airline job you want, according to Kit Darby, president of airline career specialist, AIR, Inc.

In the past 18 months, American Eagle has hired approx. 400 pilots; JetBlue an estimated 200, and SkyWest, approximately another 400 pilots.  Mesa Airlines went from about 1,200 pilots to about 1,700 pilots in the past year — and expects to continue hiring.  The normal pilot-hiring requirements for many airlines are back to pre-September 11 levels.  Mesa requires 1,000 total hours with a minimum of 100 multi-engine.  Some airlines reduce their requirements to less than that, if you have a type rating appropriate to their fleets.  It’s important to contact each airline you are interested in for precise hiring requirements, as they vary.

If you are looking to become a airline pilot, I recommend you consider an accredited flight school such as Phoenix East Aviation.