In its most recent long-term Pilot and Technician Outlook, Boeing predicted that by 2041, there will be a demand for 602,000 new pilots, 610,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians, and 899,000 new cabin crew members in order to “fly and maintain the rising commercial aviation fleet” (PTO).
“As the commercial aviation industry recovers from the pandemic and plans for long-term growth, we anticipate a steady and increasing demand for aviation personnel, as well as the ongoing need for highly effective training,” Chris Broom, vice president of commercial training solutions, said in the report, which was released on July 25, 2022.
The aircraft manufacturer also predicted that by 2041, there would be slightly more than 47,000 jets operating globally, roughly doubling the current fleet size.
Airlines, who were compelled to suspend and even abandon pilot training programs during the global pandemic, must refocus on new flight crew development procedures in order to accommodate the anticipated growth in passenger demand for air travel, the report noted. However, the manufacturer warned that “experienced pilots are currently in short supply, so increased training initiatives will take years to pay off.”
Boeing claims that there was a worldwide and regional pilot shortage brought on by two key issues. Junior pilots who were laid off by airlines experienced a negative influence on their careers as a result of the global epidemic. According to Boeing, several of these pilots won’t work in the aviation sector again.
“Through the same period, numerous veteran pilots accepted voluntary early retirement packages; those who remain will no longer be able to fly commercially once they reach the mandatory retirement age,” Boeing said.
“As a result, competition for qualified pilots will remain strong over the next few years. New pilots will have much to gain by building hours in flight instruction and through opportunities in government, business aviation, and general aviation.”
“Aspiring pilots who begin flight training today will be positioned to seize emerging opportunities by the time they graduate,” Boeing explained.
A comparable scenario is anticipated for international MRO professionals. Boeing anticipated a modest increase in the demand for maintenance technicians during the next several years and estimated that 610,000 additional engineers would be required over the following two decades.
“All the while, fleets are expected to continue to grow. In mature aviation markets, the average age of the technician workforce keeps rising, while the number of new entrants to the profession tapers off.
Educational outreach efforts will be necessary to reverse this trend, and knowledge transfer to junior workers will remain essential to conserve critical expertise and specialized skills,” Boeing added.
