Brings YTD Total To 8,256

Representatives of AIR Inc. told Aero-News this week that airlines hired a total of 581 pilots in December, bringing the year-to-date total to 8,256. The Nationals took the hiring lead adding 289 pilots, followed by the Major carriers with 106, the Fractionals hired 49, and Non-Jet Operators hired 44 pilots respectively. Out of the 102,085 pilots employed industry wide, 7,235 are currently on furlough. Major airlines forecast hiring approximately 2,300 pilots in '07.

Delta Air Lines recalled its last 158 furloughed pilots and is now actively recruiting first officers for their mainline operations. Minimums for interested applicants are as follows: 1,200 total time, 1,000 fixed-wing turboprop or turbofan, ATP written, Class I medical, four-year degree, and at least 21 years of age. Delta said they may hire up to 200 new pilots in 2007.

Also of interest to those seeking airline pilot jobs is the merger talks between several major US airlines. On January 10 US Airways raised its purchase bid for Delta Air Lines to $10.2 billion from its original offer of $8.6 billion. The increased bid includes 89.5 million shares of US Airways stock and $5 billion in cash.

Two days later the Wall Street Journal reported that Delta and Northwest Airlines have started merger talks.

Additionally, two of the nation's largest airlines, United and Continental, are in the very early stages of merger talks. United CEO Glenn Tilton is for airline consolidation and would negotiate a deal if it were advantageous to United and its shareholders.

In other news, Continental Airline pilot John Prater took over as president of the Air Line Pilots Association on January 1, 2007. Prater is taking a hard-line stance and has stressed the need for more collaborative action from all airlines and has pledged to "make sure the union grabs hold of any advantages placed before us." Prater beat out incumbent Duane Woerth in an election last October.

AIR, Inc.'s next job fair is scheduled for January 27th at DFW's Sheraton Grand Hotel. The agency says it already has a full roster of prominent airlines and exhibitors signed up including: From the Majors-AirTran, Continental, FedEx, Southwest, UPS; the Nationals-AirNet Express, American Eagle, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, Mesa, Skywest; Jet Operators and Non-jet Operators-Amerijet, Cape Air, Colgan, CommutAir, Compass, GoJet, Pinnacle, Skybus; Foreign, Crew Leasing, and Fractionals-Cathay Pacific, Contractair, Flexjet, Hawaii Aviation, Netjets.

Others flying organizations and exhibitors to attend include: Accessible Aviation, ALPA, ATP, CAE Simuflight, Crew Pilot Training, Eagle Jet International, Louisiana Air National Guard, PremAir.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com