Will you be ready for the upcoming airline pilot hiring boom? - Photo courtesy of Brandon Farris

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to start your airline pilot career, wait no more. According to Boeing, the world’s airlines, both in established and emerging markets, will require over 450,000 new commercial pilots to fly the aircraft currently on order with the major manufacturers. Here’s the company’s breakdown of where those airline jobs will be based:

• Europe – 92,000+
• Asia Pacific – 183,000+
• China – 72,000+
• North America – 82,000+
• Latin America – 41,000+
• Middle East – 36,000+
• Africa – 14,000+
• Russia/CIS 9,800+

In the airline business, seniority is everything. The sooner you start, the more seniority you’ll earn.

Here’s a great place to start… Check out our Flight School Listings and contact each school you’re interested in for specifics.

Good luck!

source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/in-focus-can-pilot-training-keep-pace-with-demand-367291/

The above image, released by the TSA, is the result of one type of advanced imaging device employed by the TSA nationwide.

If you flew home to be with family over this holiday weekend, chances are you encountered the newest screening procedures put in place by the TSA. If you didn’t, you’ve probably heard at least a mention on the news of the controversy that has been stirred up by the new procedures. The TSA, reacting to last year’s failed Christmas day bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253, has rushed the deployment of Advanced Imaging Technology Devices in every major US airport as well as developed new pat-down procedures. The new devices and procedures were implemented just prior to the holiday traveling season in the hopes of discouraging a similar attack.

Unfortunately for the agency, their less than stellar track record and the invasive nature of the new procedures have ignited the fires of revolt against the agency. From airline pilots and flight attendants, whose unions have been advising to decline the new procedures, to everyday fliers, the new regulations are being met with resistance.

According to US Airway’s and American Airline’s pilot unions, their members should decline the full-body scans in favor of the pat-down. The unions are concerned about exposing the pilots, who already receive a high level of radiation exposure, to even more radiation.

The AIT devices produce radiation known as ionizing radiation, which allows the machines to see through clothing. There are some questions about how safe the machines actually are, considering the fact that they focus potentially high doses of radiation onto the skin. The TSA and Department of Homeland Security maintain that the devices are perfectly safe, but they offer very little support for their stance.

In addition to health concerns, the body scanners and the pat-down protocol have elicited criticism of the invasive nature of the procedures. Considering a very early incident of improper use, it would seem that the body scanners, which can produce extremely detailed images of the body underneath clothing, were doomed from the start. While the devices aren’t supposed to store the captured images, the U.S. Marshals Service has already been the source of a well-publicized leak of images captured and stored by the devices. This means that we have only the agency’s word that there aren’t hundreds of thousands of images awaiting their freedom.

As for the pat-down, the more aggressive procedures have come under scrutiny for the demeaning nature of the pat-downs. Chief among the complaints is the fact that the TSA procedures border on institutionalized sexual assault and that they do it out in the open at the checkpoint. According to the pilot and flight attendant unions, those in uniform who submit to the pat-downs should should insist on a private screening. Michael Roberts, an airline pilot, does them one better and refused to submit to either procedure. He, his lawyers, and the TSA will be meeting in court in order to resolve the issue.

To the agency’s credit, the TSA isn’t bowing down to the criticism – they have made their statements and they are sticking to their policies. Unfortunately the critics, while highly vocal, are not as numerous as they would seem according to a recent CBS news poll showing that 80 percent of respondents support full-body scans. That doesn’t bode well for a grass-roots movement, but there is still hope that the courts can save us.

For more information on flight training and choosing the right school, check out our Flight Training Resource Center or find flight training near you.

Sources: Airline Pilots Resist New TSA Procedures and TSA to Air Travelers: Drop Dead

This article was written by Matthew Everett, a private pilot, aviation writer, and frequent contributor to AviationSchoolsOnline.com. You can follow him on twitter @leaving_tf or find his blog at http://leavingterrafirma.com.

Southwest Airlines is planning to merge with AirTran.

In a recent announcement, Southwest Airlines said it would be buying AirTran Holdings, Inc., the parent company of AirTran Airways. Southwest has agreed to buy out AirTran stock with cash and Southwest stock.

The agreement has been accepted by the respective boards of directors, but it must still be approved by stockholders and regulatory agencies before the deal can be closed.

“Today is an exciting day for our Employees, our Customers, the communities we serve, and our Shareholders,” said Gary C. Kelly, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southwest Airlines. “As we approach our 40th Anniversary of providing exceptional Customer Service at everyday low fares, the acquisition of AirTran represents a unique opportunity to grow Southwest Airlines’ presence in key markets we don’t yet serve and takes a significant step toward positioning us for future growth.”

The newly combined airlines will employ approximately 43,000 personnel at more than 100 US and international airports. Additionally, the merger will leave Southwest operating aircraft with an average age of only 10 years, one of the youngest fleets in the industry. That fleet will consist of 685 Boeing aircraft including 737s and 717s. Eventually, the carriers plan to transition to a single operating certificate. The merger also supports Southwest’s plans to investigate the addition of 737-800 aircraft for longer routes.

During the initial phases of the merger, Southwest and AirTran will continue separate operations. Eventually, AirTran will be integrated into the Southwest brand by rolling out the Southwest livery on their aircraft and customer service facilities. Additionally, Southwest and AirTran frequent-flyer programs will eventually be combined.

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Source: Southwest Airlines to Acquire AirTran; Spreading Low Fares Farther

At a July 22nd presentation at Airline Transport Professionals in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, recruiting officials from American Eagle airlines announced they will begin hiring more new pilots, add 22 new regional jets to their fleet, and that pilots are moving from the commuter airline up to American Airlines more quickly.

According to American Eagle, the airline is the second largest regional carrier in the U.S. with a fleet of over 250 regional jet and turboprop aircraft and employs more than 2,600 pilots. American Eagles’ vice president of flight operations Jim Winkley says “American Eagle anticipates having among the greatest demand for pilot hiring in 2010 and 2011 due to improved fleet utilization, delivery of additional aircraft, and (pilot) attrition.

“American Eagle anticipates strong demand for pilot hiring in the near future. Long-term trends favor continued pilot hiring as well” according to Winkley.

Learn more about Airline Transport Professionals
Letter from American Eagle regarding ATP training

About the author – Kyle Garrett is the founder of AviationSchoolsOnline.com and is a 1500 hour instrument-rated private pilot. He has been in the vocational school and marketing business for more than 20 years.