Asian Pacific & Middle East Facing Shortages of Pilots

Airlines in the Asian Pacific and Middle East regions are facing serious shortages of skilled personnel, due to the surge in aircraft orders, which in turn was stimulated by strong industry growth, according to the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Airline operators in those two regions are expected to require an additional 150,000 employees.

Carriers most affected are airlines in China, India and the Middle East.  PILOTS and maintenance engineers are the MOST SOUGHT AFTER.  It is anticipated that this shortage will also PUSH UP WAGES OF PILOTS.

The UN International Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has forecast the Asian Pacific region to experience stable annual passenger growth ‘above the world average.’  The Middle East is projected to show the highest average annual growth rate of about 10 percent this year, 10.5 percent in 2007 and at least 9.5 percent for 2008.