Boeing Poised To Assist In The Training

By Tom Woodward

Boeing’s Training and Professional Services Division is anticipating a great need for training Pilots, Aviation Maintenance Technicians, and Flight Attendants over the next twenty years. Boeing thinks that commercial airlines will need 42,700 new aircraft in the next twenty years, with four times as many single aisle aircraft, with 40% of the aircraft going to Asia. Boeing projects commercial airlines will need about 790,000 pilots worldwide in the next two decades.

Of that amount, 206,000 are needed in North America, 261,000 in the Asia/Pacific rim with the remaining amount in Europe, South America and the Middle East. Of that amount, business aviation is projected to need 96,000 pilots and helicopters 59,000 pilots. This all paints a rosy picture for the youth of today should flying aircraft be something they want to do as a living and it certainly answers the question of 'when will the pilot shortage be here?'

Well, the time is now, as some US airlines have been forced to trim schedules and cancel flights due to lack of flight crews.

Adding to this shortage are AMTs, Aviation Maintenance Technicians and Flight Attendants. In these areas, Boeing projects a need for 754,000 AMTs, and 890,000 Flight Attendants, of which Asia will need almost twice the number as North America due to the accelerated growth of aviation in Asia. So, how does Boeing attempt to provide the numbers of professionals needed in the future?

William Ampofo, Boeing Vice President, Business & General Aviation Boeing Global Services announced several cooperative joint ventures. Through its subsidiary Jeppesen, Boeing announced an agreement with the Aeroclub de Reus of Spain, providing a new version of Boeing's eAcademy training services to enhance the flying clubs ability to train a new generation of general aviation pilots.

Boeing has partnered with Air India implementing a training program for AMTs, drawing over 1000 applicants. In addition Boeing has offered scholarships through their STEM programs.

FMI: www.Boeing.com