More than 600 pilots met with 70 representatives from 16 major, national, and regional airlines during AIR, Inc.’s first Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Job Fair of 2003, held last Saturday, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel (DFW).

Comair, for example, filled 30 available interview slots from the pilots in attendance and had plenty of résumés in hand to take back with them for future hiring. "If the DFW job fair was any indication of what is to come for 2003, airline pilot hiring is holding its own," said Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc. "The airlines were pleased with the caliber of the pilots in attendance, and the pilot attendees had the opportunity to present their résumés to a wide variety of airlines, from the majors to the fractionals."

AIR, Inc. predicts about 7,000 new airline pilot jobs will be created in 2003 -– 2002 yielded 5,845 new jobs.

Fun at the Fair:

AeroService Aviation Training Academy, a commercial aviation training organization based in Miami (FL), awarded a choice of a free B-727, B-737, or B-747 type rating, valued at $8,400, to seminar attendee Bill Park, from Forestburg (TX). Higher Power also awarded a free sim prep, valued at $475 to an attendee and ATP gave away two free Flight Management System programs, valued at $435 each, to two lucky attendees. Following the Job Fair Saturday evening, Southwest Airlines provided tours of their flight training department to seminar attendees, their spouses, and airline recruiters in attendance.

The next Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Forum, and Job Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2003, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel (LAX).

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com; www.aeroservice.com