Pilot hiring levels sank to the lowest level since 9/11/2001 in July as the airline industry dealt with the soft travel market and economic uncertainties. A total of 268 pilots were hired in July. AIR, Inc. projects the industry will hire around 5,000 new pilots in 2003. [In February, that projection was for 7075; by May, it had slipped to, "up to 6000." 5845 pilots were hired in 2002, a year without the Iraq "war" and SARS --ed.]

In July, 45 of the 194 total (23%) airlines/operators reporting to AIR, Inc. hired pilots. The major airlines hired 24 pilots with three of the 14 carriers expected to hire over the next several months. In the national airlines, the most active segment, 6 of 32 hired a total of 89 new pilots. The jet operators hired 63; non-jet companies hired 48. As of July 31, the total number of pilots on furlough increased to 9,517 compared to 9,174 (9.41%) out of the total of 94,571 U.S. airline pilots.

The summer travel season could not save the domestic major airlines from their economic slide downward. Though several of the carriers posted profits for the second quarter, the bottom line on their profit sheets included one-time payments, from the Transportation Security Administrations cash payments granted under the 21003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act. Low-fare carriers performed much better. Southwest, JetBlue and AirTran all posted second quarter profits. AirTran received the one-time government payment, but would have posted a profit regardless. The U.S. Labor Daly holiday in September may only be a temporary band-aid for the majors. Executives at several airlines have said they are concerned that travel demands will taper off after the holiday. As the airline industry heads into the fall and winter months, it looks like low-fare carriers may have an easier time posting profits than the larger major airlines.

Still hope: Job Fairs coming up in September, at DCA; November, at ATL.

The Northeastern region Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Job Fair will be held in Washington, D.C. (DCA), at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Centre Hotel Saturday, September 20. Airlines scheduled to attend include Alaska Airlines, Atlantic Trans Air, Southwest Airlines, AirTran, AirNet, Comair, Horizon, JetBlue, TAB Express, and USA 3000 Airlines. Airlines invited to attend include Mesa, Pinnacle Airlines/ NW Airlink, World and many others. The seminar will feature topics on the pilot hiring market, job search planning, pre-employment medical exams, interviewing, written testing, and applications/resumes/cover letters.

Seven Career Workshops will also be conducted. The first four workshops will be held Friday afternoon and evening, September 19, featuring Furlough Survival-a new workshop, CRM, Military/Airline Transition, and Resumes/Cover Letters/Applications. Covered on Sunday, September 21 will be Interview Survival, Airline Testing/Simulator Checks, Civilian/Airline Transition The next seminar is planned for Atlanta, GA (ATL) on November 22, 2003.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com