Air China to Become the World's 6th Largest Airline?

If you want a career as an airline pilot in Asia, the strong growth in that market indicates this is the best time in recent history for you.  A good example of this is Air China, which is poised to become the world's sixth-largest airline, bigger than Northwest Airlines and even British Airways. It appears that Air China plans to take over China Eastern.  That means China could soon have a single giant aviation business dominating Beijing as well as Shanghai. Beijing-based Air China is already affiliated with Cathay Pacific, which is the dominant carrier in the country's richest city, Hong Kong.

The biggest Chinese airline is China Southern. Air China is second and China Eastern third. If Air China and China Eastern do merge, the consolidated Chinese airline would also outrank Lufthansa and possibly Air France-KLM and Continental.

Learn Something About Commercial Aircraft - B737-800

So you say you dream about flying, that you have a passion for aviation?  Then maybe it's a good idea for you to learn a little about commercial aircraft.  Check out this site regularly for information about various aircraft.  Think about which ones excite you...maybe even fantasize about being the captain of one of them yourself someday.

Let's start with a very popular aircraft today: The Boeing 737.

The 737-800 is the most popular member of the next-generation 737 family, with more than 2,400 airplanes ordered. The 737-800 single-aisle aircraft is ranked as the most preferred airplane due to its wide market base, superior performance efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.  As of last year, Boeing has received orders for more than 4,100 Next-Generation 737s, and has unfilled orders for nearly 1,800 airplanes.

So Many New Aircraft Ordered...

We continue to let you know who's buying new aircraft, so you, as a new pilot or someone interested in a career as a pilot, will know who is growing and buying new equipment.  Actually, virtually all airlines worldwide are expanding now, but check out who's buying new equipment this month:

SpiceJet (India)plans to have 24 planes by April 2008. They currently have 18. The airlines has only been in operation for two years.

Emirates Airline has contracted for 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an estimated US$35 billion.  (Yes, that's right, a staggering total of 143 new airplanes).

LOT Polish Airlines has signed a firm order to add 12 more Embraer 175 jets.

TACA, a leading Latin American airline, has signed a contract with Airbus to purchase 15 additional A320 aircraft.

TAP Portugal signed a firm order for 12 A350 XWBs, as well as signing a letter of intent for eight more A320 aircraft.

India's Jet Airways have completed an order for 20 Boeing 737-800s. That order is valued at nearly US$1.5 billion. Jet Airways has been in operation since 1993 and has one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average age of just under five years.

Middle East Aviation Poised for Significant Growth

Middle Eastern airlines are planning significant -- and sustained -- growth, according to the CEO of Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa. Middle East-based airlines are collectively growing at 10 percent a year, double the global average, according to Arab Air Carriers Organization.

That means that one in every eight commercial flight worldwide is now flown by a low-cost carrier. The Middle East is home to the youngest (newest) fleet in the world, with a total of more than 600 aircraft.  The Middle East also had the greatest number of new aircraft on order anywhere in the world.

The reason behind this is enormous economic growth in the region.  Air travel is increasingly being seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. Between now and 2020, the Middle East is forecast to lead world passenger traffic growth, with current travel demand up 18 percent.

If you hope to work for one of these fast growing airlines, you can receive pilot training from US flight schools. Look for those school offering M-1 and J-1 Visas.

Demand for Corporate Pilots Outpaces Supply

A range of new opportunities exist for business jet professionals and new pilots who wish to fly business jets as a career -- and an excellent career it is -- with a great salary and good benefits.

The demand for pilots outpaced the available resources, according the Raymond Stebler, of New Jersey based Jet Professionals, which experienced a 50% growth in business in 2007. The company hires pilots to fly corporate aircraft.

Interested in being a charter or corporate pilot?  Call Phoenix East Aviation at 1-800-868-4359 or check out our flight school web site for more information.

Expanding Airlines -- New Aircraft Purchases

If you plan to be a pilot, you may want to find out which airlines are expanding the fastest -- and maybe hiring more pilots.  Though the industry overall is rapidly growing, here's who's placing orders this month for new aircraft:

Malaysia's AirAsia ordered 25 more Airbus A320s. This order is valued at $1.8 billion USD. This new deal will raise AirAsia's total orders for A320s to 175, according to CEO Tony Fernandes. Economic growth is boosting air travel in Southeast Asia, home to more than 500 million people. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is seeking to loosen air restrictions in the region this year to spur tourism and business travel even more.

Copa Airlines took delivery of its 11th Embraer 190 aircraft. The Panama-based airline now has 37 aircraft in its fleet.  Copa Airlines has one of the youngest fleets in the Americas, with an average age of three years. The airline also operates 26 Boeing 737 jets.

Aeromexico receives their first Embraer 190 jet -- three more on order.  Aeromexico Connect, a subsidiary of Aeromexico will operate these new aircraft. This is part of a fleet renovation and expansion program. Aeromexico Connect now operats 27 Embraer 145 jets on regional, domestic and international markets out of Monterrey, Mexico.

As the airline industry continues to grow the opportunity for US and International pilots increases. If you want to become an airline pilot consider Phoenix East Aviation. A flight school in Daytona Beach, Florida that trains tomorrows pilots.

What About Flying a Business Jet?

Have you ever considered a career as a corporate pilot or a charter pilot?  The field is growing rapidly, making it easy for pilots to get jobs. 

Here's some statistics on this market: Forecast International expects business jet production to exceed 1,200 airplanes in 2008, reaching at least 1,500 units by 2011.  It projects that 14,978 business jets, worth some $192 Billion USD will be produced from 2007 through 2016.  Included inthose nubmers are some 5,783 Very Light Jets (VLJs) which will accountfor over 30 percent of the overall business jet units forecast.

What does this mean? If you want a career as a pilot, if you dream of a career as a pilot, here's another excellent opportunity. Most of these new airplanes will need two pilots.............you do the math. That's a lot of opportunity.  Want more information? Check out www.pea.com for details on one of the finest flight training academies in the world. Phoenix East Aviation has been training pilot candidates for airlines worldwide since 1972.

Another New Airline Planned

Another new airline is planned. AirAsia signed a letter of intent with Shipbuilding Industry Group to establish a joint venture low-cost airline in Vietnam.

The airline would carry the name VINA AIRASIA. It would serve domestic, regional and international routes, and eventually build two distinct divisions to facilitate short and long-haul aviation, according to AirAsia.

Interested in flying for this new airline? Call Phoenix East and start your flight training now. Check out www.pea.com and learn how you can fulfill your dream by becoming a commercial pilot.

You Can Now Fly to Age 65

If you want to be an airline captain, you're in luck.  Your career can now be longer.  On December 11, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would rescind the mandatory retirement age of 60 for pilots. The bill was quickly approved, and President Bush signed the law. It is designed to at least temporarily slow the number of pilots that big airlines hire away from smaller airlines, and that foreign airlines hire away from US airlines.

This new bill allows pilots flying under 14 CFR Part 121 to remain on the flight deck of aircaft requiring multiple crew members, if at least one of the other crewmembers has not yet reached 60 years of age.

Hopefully, for US airlines, this will aslo stem the exodus of age 60 pilots being recruited by India. With not enough pilots to meet their demand, a pilot previously forced toretire under US regulations could continue to fly immeidately by going to India where such regulations do not exist.

American Airlines Hiring Pilots Right Now

American Airlines's (AMR Corp) American Eagle hired more than 500 pilots in 2007, which is approximately 20% of its total 3,000 pilots. About 170 pilots were also called back up to American Airlines, and about 30 pilots each month found left American Eagle. That has left American Eagle hustling to hire new pilots directly from flight schools.

The pilot shortage was a contributing factor in some flight cancellations in 2007. As a result, Eagle has lowered its minimum requirements to 600 hours total flying time (it was 800 hours), and the airline says it will also consider pilot candidates with only 500 hours.

Want to be a airline pilot? Visit Phoenix East Aviation or call 386-258-0703 (worldwide) to find out how you can put on the uniform and  start training next month.