US Airlines Looking for New Pilots -- Big Opportunities Await You

According to Aviation Week, perhaps the most highly respected aviation magazine in the world, challenges continue in pilot recruitment, and the minimum flight hours required for employment appear to be falling as carriers attempt to attract newly qualified pilot candidates.  That means you can get a job as a first officer with an airline more quickly after pilot training than anytime in recent history.

Pinnacle, ExpressJet and Republic all had pilot staffing problems in 2007, to name just a few. Pinnacle's attrition rate (typically pilots leaving for jobs with other airlines who are aggressively recruiting to meet their own pilot shortages) was 20 a month last year. ExpressJet lost some of their senior check-airmen, which caused a lag in check-ride time for other pilots, compounding the pilot shortage problem. And Republic Airways had to cancel flights in the second and third quarters of 2007 because of its lack of pilots. SkyWest has been running its own job fairs to hire pilots. It's definitely a "buyers" market for newly-minted pilots looking for jobs with airlines.

To attract more new pilots, the minimum hours required have indeed fallen considerably. Previously, you typically needed a minimum of 1,500 hours total time and 500 on multi-engine aircraft, as well as FAA-required ratings.  That has all changed, making it the best time for new pilots in recent history. 

For example, when checked recently, Atlantic Southeast Airlines had 500 hour total time minimums with 50 hours multi-engine. Comair requires 600 hours total time with 100 multi-engine. American Eagle posted 800 total time and 100 multi-engine. Trans States had one of the lowest total time minimums at 250 hours.

If your career choice is to become a airline pilot then NOW is the time to take action and follow your dream. Start your pilot training today and YOU could be working for the airlines in less than 2 years. Take action NOW to start your aviation career today with Phoenix East Aviation.

Regional Airlines Fly Nearly 50% of US Flights

So you want to be an airline pilot....make a great salary with excellent benefits, wear the uniform, make your family proud, and be respected by everyone...all in all, have a great career? 

Your first job after pilot training -- and do call Phoenix East Aviation now to learn about starting your pilot training right away  -- will quite possibly be a regional airline.  Regional airlines are headquartered and fly all over the country, and those airlines are growing faster than any other category of commercial aviation: that means they especially need pilots and are often ready to take new pilots almost right out of flight school. 

Do you realize that the number of regional jets operating in the US account for nearly 50% of all flights and about 40% of the total US airline fleet.  More than 70% of the communities across the country receive scheduled service exclusively on regional aircraft. Phoenix East partners with regional airlines to help you get a job as quickly as possible. These airlines like to hire Phoenix East graduates, we've been told, because of the superior flight training we provide. See www.pea.com for more information.

Australian Airline Warns of Big Pilot Shortage

Australian airline Regional Express (Rex) has said that the country is facing such a severe shortage of pilots that a crisis will ensue within a year, as airlines continue with unprecedented expansion plans.

Rex Chief of Staff, Jim Davis, said that already some airlines are struggling to find enough pilots to crew their regular schedules, and many are resorting to cancelling flights to cope with the situation. This has impacted not just Rex, but also Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin and Jetstar. 

And the situation is expected to get worse.  Based on industry figures, it is estimated that the net additional requirements for new pilots in Australia will be 1,800 for at least the next two years. The supply of new airline transport pilot licenses (ATP) every year in Australia is about 400.

Clearly new pilots are needed.  If you are interested in learning to fly quickly to get hired by one of these Australian Airlines, come to Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Florida now for your training. New pilot training classes begin monthly. Check us out at www.pea.com or call 1-386-254-6842 (or 1-800-868-4359 within the US)