How Much Money do Pilots Make Compared to Other Professions?

So you want to be a pilot -- or a doctor -- or a lawyer, maybe? You think you want to be a pilot, but you're not sure, and compensation is one issue. 

Seven different occupations made the list of salaries over $100,000. Doctors in the US are first; however, that requires many, many years of study and intense dedication. Guess what profession is next?  It's airline pilots. They rank second at $128,406 a year, followed by lawyers at $118,786; marketing and advertising managers are next with $103,883. 

This information comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bizjournals.com. Those are annual salary statistics -- but what about hourly compensation, because, as you probably know, doctors work a lot of hours and pilots work much fewer hours.  Analysis of hourly compensation sees pilots soaring to the top of the list with an hourly salary of $118.58. then comes doctors at $66.58.

Almost anyone can become a pilot. It is mostly a question of motivation, determination and discipline (and of course good health).  Good luck in your quest to join a society of very privileged people -- professional pilots. For more information on how you can have a career as a pilot, talk to an Admissions Officer at Phoenix East Aviation, www.pea.com or call 1-800-868-4359 (US) or 1-386-258-0703 (worldwide).

Phoenix East Aviation Re-Accredited for FIVE Years

It's pretty obvious that you want the flight school you choose to be in good standing with the country's aviation governing body -- in the US, that's the FAA, of course. Choosing a school that has a consistent good record with the FAA is most important for safety considerations, and safety should always be foremost in your training. However, a good flying record -- and staying out of trouble with the FAA -- should not the only factor when you choose a flight school. Quality of training, financial security, truthful advertising are also important, as well as number and quality of aircraft. Accreditation will help you determine these things.

Please excuse, but Phoenix East wants to boast a little right now: PEA has just achieved the highest level of accreditation -- a five-year accreditation -- from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). This is the maximum accreditation period given by this national reviewing agency. ACCET promotes quality-oriented education and training; it has been officially recognized by the US Department of Education since 1978 as a reliable authority assessing the quality of education or training programs. ACCET is also certified as an ISO 9001 Quality Management System under the international standards established by the International Organization for Standardization.

To be certified for this five-year period, Phoenix East Aviation had to pass a rigorous review and evaluation. PEA's review was focused on educational quality, continuous program asssessment and improvement of educational practices, plus excellent marketing ethics. 

To help you you make a decision on which flight school is best for you, we suggest you consider the value of a school that is accredited. Most students relocate for pilot training, so you may be coming from another state or from halfway around the world.  Wouldn't you like to have a strong sense of security about the financial stability of the flight training academy and also an extra guarantee of the high quality of training? That's why accredition is important.

Phoenix East Aviation thinks accreditation is important is very proud to have achieved such a high standard of excellence, as confirmed by their achievement of a five-year re-accreditation.

What is "Accreditation" for a Flight School?

So you've decided to take the big step and go to flight school, because you want to be a commercial pilot and fly with an airline for a career.  Good decision: It's an excellent career, and this is the best of times to put on the uniform and start that career.

But now for the next big decision, how to choose a flight school.  There are many things to consider, but one in particular you may not know about -- and it may help you make the best decision for you.  That is the question of accreditation.  What is "accreditation" and why it could be an important factor for you?

Accreditation is a sort of "seal of quality assurance."  Here are some good questions you may not have considered -- but they are important: What do you know about the quality of that school's flight training? What do you know about a school's financial standing? Is it financially secure? You are, after all, going to give the school a considerable amount of money for your training. What about the flight academy's advertising? Is it truthful and accurate? Can you count on what they tell you or say in their advertising and brochures?

One of the ways to be assured of such things before you make the important decision on what school to attend is to look for a school that is accredited. (NOTE: This is different than FAA-approved). Accreditation promotes and assures quality in many areas. There are many accredited career schools and universities in the US, but not many flight schools are able to gain accreditation -- or are willing to stand up to the scrutiny required for that accreditation. Phoenix East Aviation (PEA) is one of the few. We meet the high stands of the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education (ACCET), as well as being approved by the Florida Department of Education. That means PEA offers programs of study that are educationally sound, up-to-date and of high qualilty. PEA also meets the standards of ACCET for admission and enrollment practices (including payments and refunds), financial stability, and truthful advertising.

If you want to learn more about how PEA does this, just give us a call at 1-386-258-0703 or check out www.pea.com.   

Global Airline Traffic and Fuel Prices

If you read the news, you know it's no secret that the increasing price of fuel is an important concern to airlines worldwide.  One test of how well airlines worldwide weather rising costs is expected to come after the peak tourist-travel season, which runs through August. Here's a short lesson in airline industry economics that may help you understand what's going on:

Did you realize that global airline industry fortunes currently tend to vary by country or region? For example, U.S. carriers, more than rivals from other countries, are feeling the pinch.  There are a couple of reasons for this: The U.S. economy is not as strong as it was the previous couple of years, and the U.S. dollar against many other world currencies has weakened somewhat. Airlines that buy fuel in euros, British pounds or Canadian dollars therefore face a lower rise in fuel prices, thanks to those currencies' relative strength against the U.S. dollar. Airlines in the U.S. also fly some of the world's oldest and least fuel-efficient jetliners. Most carriers in Europe, Asia nad the Middle East have bought new aircraft over the past decade, which significantly cuts their fuel and maintenance expenses. In Europe, airline executives relate that demand is good (according to Lufthansa and Air France-KLM senior management). Canada remains strong, thanks to its oil, lumber and precious commodities, according to the CEO of Air Canada.

East Asian countries are mixed. Cathay Pacific Airways sees steady demand; Korean Air has announced minor flight cutbacks. India, however, is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets -- because of deregulation and a very strong national economy. India airline executives predict this will continue for a long time.

In the Middle East, air taffic continues its extremely strong growth.  It has been averaging more than 15% a year growth, according to airline officials there, including Emirates Airlines.  Emirates plans to continue its fast expansion, adding many big new jetliners each year over the next decade.

So despite a few negative news articles, this remains an excellent time in general to learn to fly professionally and to be hired by airlines throughout the world.  For more information, contact Phoenix East Aviaton about a really great career as an airline pilot. Contact www.pea.com or call 1-386-258-0703 worldwide or 1-800-868-4359 from the U.S.   

Some Interesting Regional Airline Statistics

OK, so you're now a pilot. You have your Private License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Certificate and Multi-Engine Rating. You've also worked briefly as a flight instructor, earning money while building "free" hours.  You now have 350 or 500 hours, maybe a little less even.  What your next step?

Chances are you'll find yourself on the hiring list of a regional airline. They are growing fast and are often the first important career step for a young pilot.  Why are regional airlines hiring so many pilots?  Look at these statistics, and you'll understand:

The regional carrier fleet in the US grew by 52 aircraft in 2007 as declines in turboprop and piston aircraft were offset by an increase in jet aircraft. (Keep in mind that each new aircraft requires hiring approximately 10-15 pilots). All jet aircraft growth in the next few years is expected to occur in the 70-90 seat segment.

Regional carriers accounted for 22.6% of domestic commercial enplanements in 2007, up from 12.4% in 2000. Since 2000, regional capacity has grown 142.4%, traffic is up 207.6% and enplanements are up 95.4%.

More Reasons for the Pilot Shortage in the US and Europe

In the US and Europe, an entire generation of airline pilots who were trained by their countries military in the 1970s are hitting retirement age, and these air forces are no longer turning out enough replacements to be a source of pilots for commercial aviation.  In addition, sophisticated fleets of corporate and fractional jets are expanding very rapidly and sucking up pilots who once might have been flying for commercial airlines.

Plus, the regional airlines, which genrally hire young and less-experienced pilots, have shifted from slow propeller planes to fast and more complicated new regional jets, which require additional training time. More training means it takes somewhat longer to prepare a newly hired pilot to be a first-officer.

IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani said "It's time to ring the warning bell on pilot availability....this is an issue that will face all of us." Some experts project a shortage of 42,000 pilots world-wide by 2020. Pilot union leaders say some US carriers are usingspecial programs allowing first-officers with as few as 50 hours of cockpit time in big planes -- far below the hundreds of hours usually required -- because of intense demand.   Check out www.pea for more information on a career as a pilot. Call us with your questions: 1-386-258-0703 (US toll free at 800-868-4359). 

Do I Need A University Degree to Be an Airline Pilot?

A US four-year university flight education now costs $120,000 to $180,000. However, many airlines do not require a four-year university degree. At Phoenix East Aviation, Daytona Beach, Florida, you can accomplish all the ratings you need for employment with an airline for as little as $38,046. And if you wish to also have instructor ratings in order to earn money while you build additional flight hours, you can achieve your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) ratings for only $15,226. Check out www.pea.com for more information.

American Eagle Hires New Pilots

American Eagle Airlines hired 800 new pilots in 2007 and plans to hire another 700 more in 2008. Las year, American started using pre-employment regional jet training programs to prepare newly hired young pilots. These jet training programs teach perspective first officers such advanced skills as crew resource management (CRM).

Want to prepare yourself to be one of these new American Eagle first officers -- or a first officer for one of the other great US airlines? Check out www.pea.com or call 800.868.4359 for information.

What's an LSA?

The LSA market -- or Light Sport Aircraft -- has arrived. And Phoenix East Aviation has 10 of the new Cessna C-162 Skycatchers on order already for flight training. 

With Cirrus and Cessna aircraft manufacturers both entering this field, it's clear that the "sport" market is hot.  The availability of technology in these aircraft is awesome: the latest materials and avionics are found in LSAs that used to be found only in business jets.  The selection in avionics ranges from a few standard gauges to glass avionics by Garmin.  It seems LSAs are incorporating some of the best characteristics of full sized aircraft, including adding the best avionics available ... with the result being a cutting-edge aircraft that is excellent for both a training aircraft (especially in the case of Cessna's C-162 model that Phoenix East has ordered) and for the recreational pilot to own.

Ask Phoenix East about our fleet of aircraft.  As a student you will fly single engine Cessna C-172SP (many equipped with glass cockpits), the new Diamond DA-42 twin engine marvel (PEA is taking delivery now ofthe five aircraft ordered), the aerobatic 8-KCAB for upset recovery training -- and soon also the C-162 Skycatcher. Call PEA and talk to an Admissions Officer about how soon you can start your training or check out our web site at www.pea.com. Phone 1-800-868-4359 toll-free in the U.S. or 1-386-254-6842 worldwide.

Regional Airlines - Important to Aviation and New Pilots

Regional airlines may quite likely be your first job as a young professional pilot. They have become very important partners to the major or legacy airlines. Regionals carried 156 million pasengers in the US in 2006, with 14,000 flights per day. This accounts for 50 percent of the US domestic schedule. Nearly one in four airline passengers travel on regional airlines.

The regional airlines typically serve smaller cities and feed passengers to the larger legacy airlines. An example is SkyWest, which operates 60% of its flights on behalf of Delta and 40% for United. SkyWest also devotes 15 of its 436 aircraft to Midwest Airlines. The company also purchased Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) in 2005.

Some 40 percent of the US commercial airline fleet is operated by regionals airlines with its 1,700 jets and 1,100 piston and turboprop aircraft.

For new pilots looking for opportunities with airlines, this is especially important: Each additional regional jet requires seven to nine new pilots -- and in the national/regional airline sector, 28 of 34 airlineswere hiring in 2007. Of the major/legacy airlines, 11 of 15 were hiring last year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pilot Shortage Hits US Regional Airlines Hard

Traditionally, regional commercial air carriers have been the first stop for new career pilots. However, because of the current pilot shortage, this has changed over the past year.  There are now fewer regional airline pilot applicants and attrition rates have increased. In response, these carriers are recruiting flight instructors to staff their cockpits.

This is expected to continue for a number of years, because the projected need is for 120,000 new pilots in the next 10 years. There has never been a better time to become a pilot.

And the shortage extends beyond just regional airlines. Growth outside the US, especially from Asian airlines, is placing even more pressure on the pool of licenses pilots.  According to Altean's VP Marketing, Marsha Bell, if the world fleet doubles as expected over the next 20 years, the population of pilots will have to double also.   Alteon is the training division of Boeing.

Pinnacle Airlines, a US regional carrier, experienced an attrition rate of 25% earlier this year, which means 10-20 pilots were leaving each month, for positions as pilots with other aviation companies. The result of this shortage of pilots was that Pinnacle had to reduce its flying schedule, which necessitated a $1.3 million payment to Northwest Airlines, with whom Pinnacle has a flying agreement. Pinnacle says hiring has sinced stabilized.

Republic Airlines is offering a $2,500 hiring bonus for pilots with a minimum of 1,000 hours, who are qualified on ERJ-145 or CRJ200 aircraft.

Piedmont Airlines has had similar hiring experiences. Their attrition rate is higher than past years, and they are therefore recruiting more aggressively. Piedmont says they are now hiring 25 new pilots each month.

SkyWest Airlines, as well as subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines, currently has a 10% attrition rate. The carrier indicated they needed 700 pilots this year; they have already hired 400. Some regionals that formerly required pilots with 1,500 or more hours are now recruiting candidates with as little as 250 hours.

More opportunity for regional pilots is being created by US mainline carriers, such as American Airlines and United Airlines, as they growth stronger and need more pilots. And at the same time, the US regional airlines themselves are experiencing exceptionally strong growth. Between 2000 and 2006, they grrew at an average annual rate of nearly 16%, according to the FAA. The regional fleet overall also added over 500 aircraft in total to their fleets. 

In the final analysis, jobs are abundant for new career pilots. If you are considering a career as an airline pilot, there has never been a better time to start your training than now.  Contact an Admissions Officer at Phoenix East Aviation about a pilot training programs. Just think, in less time then it takes to complete community college, you could be wearing the uniform of a commercial airline pilot! 

Honda Builds Aerospace Plant in US for VLJs

The commercial and general aviation industries are watching the development of a new class of aircraft very carefully: the very light jet, or "VLJ," is anticipated to have a big, very positive impact on aviation in the next decade. 

Honda is one of the  companies developing the new VLJ aircraft. The company, in partnership with GE, has decided to build their own engines for this aircraft, and to do so in the US.  Honda Aero, Inc. will break ground tomorrow on its new corporate headquarters and state-of-the-art engine manufacturing facility in Burlington, North Carolina.

Manufactured at this plant wil be the GE-Honda HF120 turbofan engine. It will power two of Honda's VLJ models. These new aircraft, Spectrum Aero's Freedom and HondaJet, will be produced and assembled in Greensboro, North Carolina by the Honda Aircraft Company.

The new engine manufacturing facility will be 102,400 sq. ft. in size and employ 70 workers.   

Watch the news for more information on this aircraft and other VLJs.  This new class of jet aircraft is expected to present even more growth and career opportunities for current and future pilots.

American and Delta Airines Report Strong Profits

American Airlines announced a USD$175 million net profit for the 3rd quarter, up from $15 million in the same period in 2006. Load factors were at record levels, and forecasts indicate load factor will grow again in the fourth quarter of this year. American's third-quarter profit was the crarier's highest since 2000.

US carrier Delta Airlines just reported an all-time company record of USD$5.2 billion in revenues for third quarter. It's net income for the period was USD$220 million. Delta plans to continue its international expansion and will launch 17 new routes by next summer.

A Good Career as a Charter Pilot

Today's charter pilots are much different than 20 years ago, when many came from the military and flew Beech King Air or Piper Chieftain for passenger work.  The influx of corporate jets into the charter market changed things. Today a charter captain makes an average annual salary between $55,000 and $80,000 (with some making as much as $120,000), according to a Charter Journal survey.

If you fly charter for other than a small company, your work schedule will likely be five days on duty and five off.  You may even get fourteen on and fourteen off. While certainly not all charter pilots are men, only about five percent are female currently. However, I have read that in the corporate/charter pilot world that the same reality applies as with other minorities: The best of the minorities far exceed the best (and certainly the average) of the majority, because they have to in order to succeed. According to F. Gevalt in The Charter Journal, the women who do work for charter companies "are usually superative."

If you are looking at career opportunities and are interested in aviation, there has never been a time like now. With global growth in the airlines and the charter jet business, it is safe to say that Quality Pilots will be able to find a job.

If you want to be a pilot consider an accredited flight school that can train you to fly props and jets, check out Phoenix East Aviation.

More Airplanes Than Ever Are Flying Now

There are more aircraft in the sky now than ever before, and the need for pilots continues to be great. Some interesting statistics: U.S. airlines grounded a net 385 large planes from 2000 through 2006 -- mainly after, and as a result of,  9/11 -- but they added 1,029 regional jets, according to data firm Airline Monitor.

Passengers like the smaller planes because in reality it means more frequent flights to more cities -- and therefore more convenient schedules. The combination of smaller jets and more numerous flights makes airlines' schedules more attractive to high-dollar business travelers. So the airlines also like the smaller jets and the the economics of these aircraft. And also important, they are usually flown by younger pilots with less senority (that could be you soon, if you are now considering learning to fly). 

What is meant smaller aircraft? Regional jets are considered those with fewer than 100 seats. Traffic on airlines' regional partners, which fly the smaller aircraft, is up an amazing 196% since 2002.

   

Pilots Needed for China's Airlines

Forecasts indicate that the Chinese mainland will need more than 3,000 passenger aircraft and freighters through 2025, some 2,050 single aisle aircraft, nearly 600 smaller twin-aisle aircraft and over 200 intermediate twin-aisle aircraft plus 180 very large aircraft.  And how many pilots will they need to fly these aircraft? 6,000? 10,000?

China is hiring pilots from China, from Chinese-speaking countries, and also from non-Chinese speaking countries.  The need for pilots is great. Are you interested?

Airbus predicts that the Chinese mainland passenger fleet will more than truple in the next 20 years, making it the world's second largest aviation market. According to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) estimates, the gratest demand for the next 20 or more years will come from the U.S. and second, from China.

Experts say that China will need at least 240,000 civil aviation experts. Today, in the U.S. more than 700,000 people are working for  aviation companies; the number in China is approximately 200,000.

Pilot Hiring Fairs in the US

When a prospective student calls Phoenix East Aviation with questions, one of those questions is often "are airlines hiring pilots?"

The answer is an unequivocal "Yes." For example, and just one example of many, (see other blog articles on this subject), more than 400 pilots recently met 70 representatives from 32 major, national, regional, foreign, fractional and crew leasing airlines for the first Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Job Fair, held at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

Pilots met with key hiring representatives of airlines. Air Tran, for example, spoke with 135 pilots and set up nearly 50 interviews to be conducted in their Atlanta offices. Republic Airlines spoke with attendees and even interviewed pilots on the spot.

AIR, inc. predicts 8,500 or more new airline pilot jobs will be created in 2007 -- new jobs -- which is even more than the 8,200 new jobs created in 2006.  And the airlines are not anywhere near finishing hiring -- they're actually just beginning to ramp up: there will be another such job fair in Los Angeles soon.

US and International Airlines Now Hiring

All major US airlines are now hiring pilots, according to Chris Lehman, Editor in Chief for Civil Aviation Training magazine. He sites a global boom in commercial airline orders, aggressive recruiting of North American pilots by overseas carriers, and continued high rates of retirements, as fueling this hiring.

With global airline fleets expected to double by 2025 -- to over 35,000 aircraft -- it's clear that the number of pilots needed will more than double. It is also believed that the Very Light Jet (VLJ) may also spark significant additional hiring of pilots, as nearly 1,000 VLJs will be delivered by 2010. Expanding overseas carrriers are in such need of pilots that they are  conducting job fairs in the US and promising a much quicker entry to the left seat, as aircraft captain, of the new generation of aircraft, plus in most cases, offering better salaries.

Northwest Airlines To Hire More Pilots

Northwest Airlines had to cancel 1,000 flights recently, or more than 100 a day, because of pilot shortages and bad weather. The airline plans to fix that problem by reduoubling its efforts to increase its pilot hirng, plus modifying trip schedules.

Are you interested in becoming a pilot, so you can be one of the lucky new hires for Northwest or other airlines? Call Phoenix East Aviation, one of the few nationally accredited flight schools in the US, for more information. You could be in uniform and training at Phoenix East in Daytona Beach, Florida, as soon as next month. Call and talk to one of our Admissions Officers at 800-868-4359 or visit our web site at www.pea.com.

Phoenix East Announces Partnership with Airlines

Phoenix East Aviation announces partnerships with two new airlines. The flight training academy has signed agreements with Colgan Airlines and Mesa Airlines to guarantee interviews for positions as first officers on those airlines to those graduates of Phoenix East Aviation who meet their minimum requirements.

Phoenix East Aviation has been training pilots for airlines worldwide since 1972.  See the Phoenix East website for lists of recent graduates who are now flying for airlines. Phoenix East Aviation also includes the long list of airlines throughout the world for which flight school graduates of PEA are currently flying, as first officers and captains.

A New US Airline Launched

Skybus Airlines, inc., a budget carrier, has announced plans to begin flying this month. The airline plans to buy 70+ aircraft in the next five years as they ramp up service. 

Skybus will fly from Columbus, Ohio, to Burbank, California; Portsmouth, New Hamphire; Richmond, Virginia; and Kansas City, Missouri.  It will soon add Bellingham, Washington; Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Caroline; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Oakland, California, to its routes.

You can train now to be a pilot -- and before you know it, you can be the first officer on an airline such as Skybus.  Call Phoenix East Aviation today to learn how we can help you make that happen very, very soon.

Are US Airlines Hiring Pilots?

Is thre a pilot shortage in the US?  Are US airlines hiring now?  You betcha they are! Listen to these statistics. US national airlines, defined as those with from $100 million  to more than $1 billion in annual revenues, are the LEADERS in airline pilot hiring during the last 12 months. They listed 235 new hires for the month of September 2006 alone, with a total for the past 12 months of 2,351.  These include such airlines as Air Wisconsin, American Eagle, ASA, ExpressJet, Frontier, Horizon, Mesa, Pinnacle, Republic Airways and SkyWest. What are called the "majors," or "legacy" airlines recorded a year-to-date new hire list of 1,692 pilots.   

Regional Horizons magazine quoted RAA President Kit Darby as saying numerous factors contribute to this pilot shortage, such as the huge international demand for US pilots -- China has indicated they need some 40,000 experienced English speaking pilots to serve for 4-5 years to launch their upgraded domestic and international air service.  A second reason for the pilot shortage is the low volume of military pilots to draw from. This has created the demand for more cilvilian pilots. For more information on how you can become one of these pilots -- and enjoy an exciting, well-paying and satisfying career, call Phoenix East Aviation at 1-800-868-4359 or 1-386-258-0703. Ask to talk to an Admissions Officer about your future in aviation.

US Regional Airlines Continue to Expand

America's regional airlines have increased dramatically.  Passenger counts have grown at  double-digit rates the past several years. At the same time these aggressive airlines are investing heavily in new, state-of-the-art equipment, aircraft and facilities -- AND new pilots.

According to the Regional Airline Association's President, Roger Cohen, in a recent letter to the Wall Street Journal, "regional airlines provide the only scheduled flights to nearly 500 US communities, representing more than 70% of the airports with any scheduled service."

In the 3rd quarter of 2006, the most recent figures available, US regional airline passenger enplanements were up 3.7%, compared to the same period in 2005, despite the cessation of Independence Air, which accounted for more than one million regional passengers in 2005.

SkyWest Airlines, operating as Delta Connection and United Express, American Eagle Airlines and ExpressJet, operating as Continental Express, were ranked as the three largest regionals for the period from July through September of last year. The top 20 regional airlines transported 95.9 percent of the industry's passengers and flew over 98% of the industry's revenue passenger miles.

Phoenix East Aviation graduates are favored by many regional airlines. If you are considering a flight school and becoming an airline pilot, ask one of our Admissions Officers how many recent graduates are now flying for various regional airlines.  The figure is impressive -- as is the quality of the flight training you will receive at Phoenix East.

How Would You Like This Job Flying Jets?

Attention Pilots, how would you like to fly important business executives and celebrities around?  You may not have thought about this, but flying for a international charter service can be a great -- and exciting -- job.

There are companies, an example is Air Group Inc, that manages corporate jets and arranges charters for businesses and wealthy individuals. Private jets fly chief executives such as Charles Miller, Avery Dennison Corporation, to Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo and back within a few days from California. It saves him time and hassle. Air Group has offices in both US coasts, in the Midwest and in Japan, helping companies expand globally. Air Group has 160 employees. Executives like using a private plane because they can hold confidential meetings during the flight and don't have to waste time transferring to increasingly smaller aircraft to get to hard-to-reach destinations. As a pilot for a charter company, you could also find yourself flying movie stars to locations all over the world for film making or to their favorite vacation venues.

There are 3,000 general aviation companies -- the industry term for noncommercial and nonmilitary operations -- and about 30 of them specialize in overseas travel. These companies offer an exciting and challenging job for pilots. If this type of pilot job interests you consider looking into career opportunities with these specailized companies.

If this type of fast paced pilot job interest you, but you are not yet a pilot, consider attending an accredited flight school like Phoenix East Aviation. Contact Phoenix East Aviation and find out how you can acquire the skills and experience to be a pilot for the rich and famous!

Airline Recruiting Pilots

SkyWest Airlines, the nation's largest independently owned regional carrier, announced that the airline will host recruiting sessions throughout the country to aid in its coast-to-coast expansion for 2007.

Currently, the airline operates more than 1,600 daily flights across the country as a Delta Connection from SkyWest's largest hub in Salt Lake City, and as United Express along the West Coast and from Denver and Chicago O'Hare hubs.

The company hired a record 4,000 employees in 2006. It was named the Number One On-Time Mainland Airline in the US by the Department of Transportation for 2005, 2004, and 2003. System-wide, SkyWest has more than 10,000 employees and serves a total of 133 cities in 38 states and five Canadian provinces.

Demand in the US and abroad continues to increase for those who want a career as an airline pilot, now is the time to take action. Consider PEA an accredited flight school that offers excellent training in a great location Daytona Beach, Florida. 

Largest US Passenger-Carrying Regional Airlines

The expansion of US regional airlines have created lots of opportunities for new pilots.  Did you ever wonder which of those airlines are large, and which are smaller, in terms of passengers emplaned?

The Regional Airline Association has published statistics for first quarter, 2006, and the airlines are ranked as follows, in terms of number of passengers:

Skywest Airlines (4,468,074 passengers emplaned) is number one, followed by American Eagle Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Atlantic Southwest Airlines, Comair, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, and Chautauqua Airlines at number 10.

Numbered 11 to 20 are PSA Airlines (1,159,907 passengers emplaned), Mesaba Airlines, Trans States Airlines, Shuttle America, Piedmont Airlines, Executive Airlines, Colgan Air, Freedom Airlines, Gulfstream International Airlines and Gojet Airlines.

ATA Announced New Contract

ATA Airlines announced that it was once again awarded a contract with the U.S. Air Force for fiscal year 2007.  ATA is one of The USAF Air Mobility Command's primary providers of charter airlift service, transporting military troops and their families throughout the world. 

According to Gary Ellmer, Senior V-P of Operations and General Manager - Charter, "Flying for the military will remain one of the cornerstones of ATA's charter business plan for many years to come."

While the military is its largest charter contractor, ATA also offers group and sports charters all over the world.  ATA also serves 13 domestic and two international airports, plus more than 50 other U.S. destinations through its codeshare connection partnership with Southwest Airlines, as part of its scheduled service operations.

The World's First Airline - a Bit of History

Some Aviation Trivia....

The first airline in the world to hold scheduled service was the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line.  The service began in the winter of 1914.  One or two (maximum) passengers sat on wooden seats and enjoyed Florida sunshine and salt spray directly on their faces (yes, an open cockpit!)

U.S. Regional Airlines Continue To Grow

Regional Airline Association has released statistics showing the increases in passenger miles flown.  Regional airline revenue from passenger miles totaled nearly USD$16 billion for first quarter 2006, a gain of nearly 5% over the same period last year.  The industry completed 1.13 million departures, with an overall average load factor of nearly 72%. 

SkyWest Airlines, American Eagle and ExpressJet were ranked as the three largest regional airlines in terms of passengers flown for the first quarter.  The 15 largest US passenger-carrying regional airlines are SkyWest, American Eagle, ExpressJet, Mesa, Atlantic Southeast, Comair, Pinnacle, Horizon Air, Chautauqua, Air Wisconsin, PSA, Mesaba, Trans States, Shuttle America and Piedmont.

Regional airlines often hire pilots with fewer flight hours than the major airlines require.  As a result, it can be an excellent career path for young pilots.  For more details on this, call Phoenix East Aviation and ask to speak to an Admissions Officer.  You could be flying for one of these airlines sooner than you think! Phoenix East is ready to help make that possible.

JetBlue Airways Adding New Cities

The growth continues! JetBlue Airways is adding six new cities in six weeks.  It's now flying to Houston's Hobby Airport and to Nashville, TN.  This week the airline will add Aruba, Sarasota/Bradenton FL, Tucson AZ and Columbus, OH. 

Growth Fuels New Airplane Purchases

According to aviation publications, many U.S. airlines have been busy placing orders for more aircraft recently:

- AirTran is adding 24 B-737 aircraft to their fleet

- Compass Air is adding 36 Bombardier RJs

- SouthWest Airlines is order 79 new B-737s.

- Frontier Airlines is buying 10 new Airbus 320s.

- CE Commercial Leasing has announced they will have 60 new B-737's available for lease.

The need for new airplanes is being fueled by an increase in air traffic demand. With this demand comes an increase for more pilots. Find information on flight school training here.

U.S. Airlines Show Strong Financial Gains

The largest U.S. air carriers started reporting second quarter financial results this week, and the news is looking good. 

"June quarter results for the U.S. airline industry are expected to be strong, and we think September's results could be even better," said Merrill Lynch analysis Michael Linenberg, in Aviation Week.  Merrill Lynch projects the net profit to double to about $1.2 billion, with operating margins of 7.5%. 

Linenberg estimated the industry will see a 12% increase in revenues, to approximately USD $29 billion.  This is mainly due to a 12% increase in unit revenue and no decrease in capacity.  This USD$3.2 billion increase in revenue will more than offset the USD $1.3 billion increase in fuel expense.

Why should you care?  If you are interested in a career as a commercial airline pilot, this should reinforce the fact that the industry is getter stronger and stronger -- and a great place to consider as an exciting career.  Want to know more?  CAll Phoenix East Aviation at 1-800-868-4359 and speak to an Admissions Officer.

United Airlines Reports Highest-ever June Passenger Load

United Airlines has just reported its preliminary traffic results for June 2006 -- and its growth is very impressive. The company boasted its highest-ever June passenger load factor: 88.3 percent.

Total scheduled revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased in June by 2.3 percent compared to the same period last year.  United operates more than 3,700 flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 210 U.S. cities.

Looks like maybe United will be needing more pilots, if this growth continues.  Call Phoenix East and talk to an Admissions Officer to find out how long it would take you to train to fly for the airlines.

Just call 1-800-868-4359 or email your questions to admissions@pea.com. 

AirTran Airways Adds Jobs

AirTran Airways just announced it will add an additional 2,500 jobs.  The airline currently employs more 7,700 PILOT and crew members.  The plan is to create 500 new positions each year, including PILOTS, flight attendants, mechanics and customer service representatives. 

AirTran currently operates 230 flights out of Georgia each day, and more than 700 flights daily nationwide; they plan to add more than 80 new Boeing 737s to the fleet, as well as new routes throughout the country.

The airline has also made large investments in infrastructure, from a multi-million dollar hangar to multiple call centers.  AirTran is one of America's largest low-fare airlines flying daily to to 50 destinations.  The airline's fleet features the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 and 717-200 to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. 

Talk to a Phoenix East Admissions Officer about how long it would take for YOU TO FLY one of these awesome aircraft for AirTran Airways! Call 1-800-868-4359.  U.S. airlines need pilots.  Start your training next month!   

Cessna Model 172 an Icon of Global Aviation

Cessna Aircraft Company's Model 172, "Skyhawk," is poised to enter a second half-century of service.  Few airplanes, military or commercial, can lay claim to being in production for 50 years after introduction, but the Skyhawk is long recognized as an icon of the global general aviation fleet.

Phoenix East Aviation considers the Model 172 the best primary trainer in the world. PEA's single engine fleet consists entirely of Skyhawks.  Many flight schools use smaller, cheaper aircraft for training, but none meets the quality of the Skyhawk for training.  The Skyhawk taxis with ease, and steering through the rudder pedals is responsive.  The windshield and side windows offer excellent visibility, and the wheel brakes, when applied, are immediately effective. Over the decades, Cessna has improved the airplane's already excellent handling characteristics by tweaking the wing's aerodynamics and flight controls.  The upgrades and improvements in the Skyhawk have been too numerous to mention here, but they have enhanced the safety and performance of the aircraft.

It is among the easiest light airplanes in the world to fly, one that makes no special demands on the pilot and is forgiving of mistakes commonly made by neophyte aviators.  When you are considering flight training schools, be sure to ask about their fleet aircraft. Don't hesitate to ask for details.  Choose a school with excellent, new or late model aircraft, preferably the Model 172.  Phoenix East Aviation offers prospective students and parents tours of the facility and the opportunity to speak to students and instructors, as well as check out our impressive fleet.  Come see for yourself the high quality of PEA training and the excellent aircraft.

   

U.S. Airlines Post Jump in Revenues

The largest U.S. airlines, the so-called "legacy" or "major" airlines, posted a 12.6% jump in mainline revenue in May.  This is the results of greater consumer demand. 

Just released by the Air Transport Association (ATA), the report covers the seven major U.S. airlines.  If their regional affiliates are included in the statistics, passenger RASM rose 15% in May.  This was the stronger April-to-May improvement since 2000, according to JP Morgan aviation analysts, excluding the 2003 Gulf War. 

U.S. domestic mainline revenue rose 15.1%, according to ATA. Outside the U.S., unit revenue to Latin America rose 14.8% and transpacific and transatlantic routes rose 7.5% and 5.4%, respectively.

This is excellent news for the industry.  It indicates that not only are discount and regional airlines growing rapidly, but major U.S. airlines may be growing also.  Become a part of these exciting times in aviation.  Train to be a commercial pilot.  Call Phoenix East Aviation today.

More Expansion - New Routes

New routes continue to be added to domestic and international airline schedules, reflecting the continuing growth of commercial aviation in the U.S. and abroad. and the need for more pilots in the future.

U.S. Airways will begin daily roundtrip service from Orlando to Key West, Florida. JetBlue Airways has added a sixth daily nonstop flight between Jacksonville, Florida and New York.  Delta Air Lines will soon also offer nonstop flights to Mumbai, India, and Accra, Ghana, from New York's Kennedy Airport.

Start your flight training now and capitalize on the excellent opportunities available to fly for airlines worldwide.  For more information on an exciting career as a commercial pilot, Call Phoenix East Aviation, 1-800-868-4359 or 1-386-258-0703. Ask to speak to an Admissions Officer for more information on how you can begin a career as a pilot right now.

The Advantages of Flying Cargo

Some pilots are seeing advantages in flying cargo planes instead of passengers.  FedEx and UPS did 28% of all pilot hiring at major U.S. airlines last year, up from 8% in 2004, according to AIR Inc.  Smaller cargo carriers are also expanding, including Kalitta Air of Ypsilanti, Michigan, which flies 14 planes, up from three in 2000. 

And the pay can be very good.  Five-year cargo pilots now make an average of $108,330 a year, while top captains are paid $194,566 on average.  This reflects the surging global freight demand that is filling cargo planes with everything from computers to toys to flowers. 

  UPS and FedEx, which operate the world's two largest cargo airlines, made about USD$22 billion in combined PROFIT since 2001 -- and more growth is expected as they expand their delivery networks in China. UPS currently employs 2,700 pilots worldwide.

Except for seats and flight attendants, cargo and passenger planes are basically identical. 

Call Phoenix East Aviation today 1-800-868-4359 and find out how you can develop the skills to fly for commercial passenger or cargo carriers worldwide.  Your career as a pilot can start with this  phone call; an Admissions Officer is waiting to talk to you. 

U.S. Pilots Flying Worldwide

A new standard goes into effect in the U.S. later this year that will allow U.S. pilots even more job opportunities worldwide -- and for a longer career, if they so choose.  This new federal standard allows American pilots who wish to continue flying past 60 in this country to do so, if they go to work for a foreign carrier.  FAA regulations currently prohibit American pilots from flying for American companies past the age of 60. A good number of foreign carriers such as the fast-growing Emirates Airlines are already recruiting American pilots. 

These American pilots who work for a foreign company remain U.S. citizens, and frequently, continue to reside in the U.S. They may  even fly the same types of airplanes over the same exact routes as their counterparts working for American companies.

This is just another example of the expanding opportunities for career pilots worldwide. 

Discount Airlines Continue to Hire Pilots

Discount airlines continue to hire new pilots to satisfy their continuing strong growth.  In many cases, they have reduced their flight-hour requirements for first officer hiring, allowing more pilots with lower levels of experience to be hired and jump-start their careers.

JetBlue plans to increase its capacity 28% to 30% this year as it takes delivery of 35 new planes; the airline's growth will be primarily domestic, with a greater focus on short-to-medium-haul flights, the company said in a recent Wall Street Journal article.  Southwest, which has remained consistently profitable as a domestic-only airline, is planning on an 8% expansion this year.

Newer planes mean an airline can expand by flying more hours without the cost of running older aircraft.  A newer fleet is also typically more fuel-efficient, saving additional dollars.   

U.S. Pilots Sign On At Airlines Worldwide

U.S. pilots are now working in far reaches of the world to fulfill the booming worldwide need for pilots.  Commercial aviation is expanding most rapidly in China, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.  As these regions have grown more affluent and loosened aviation restrictions, travel demands have soared.  New airlines have started up, existing carriers are adding routes, and hundreds of new jets are on order, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

So, like British and Australian pilots who long have plied their trade worldwide, more U.S. pilots are taking their skills offshore -- often with better salaries and benefits than domestic airlines are offering.  U.S. pilots are working as far afield as Bolivia, China, Qatar, and Vietnam.  Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines are hiring more Americans, as are carriers in Taiwan and South Korea, and increasingly, in India.

This is the result of a growing global shortage of trained commercial pilots.  Aerospace giant Boeing Company estimates the global jetfleet will grow to more than 35,000 airplanes in 2024, from 17,000 in 2004. Boeing pegs demand for new pilots at nearly 18,000 a year through 2024.  China alone will need more than 35,000 new pilots over 20 years, and the rest of Asia will need 56,500, the company estimates. 

The result: A global bazaar where experienced pilots go to the highest bidder.  Norwegians and Venezuelans are flying in China, Egyptians and Russians in India, Jamaicans and Iranians for a Japanese airline. Four out of five pilots at Qatar Airways are foreign.  More than 70 Philippine Airlines pilots have quit since 2003 for better-paying jobs elsewhere. India's fleet of startup carriers was so plagued by pilot poaching that the government last year began requiring pilots to serve at least six months at one carrier before moving on.

G.R. Gopinath, managing director for Air Deccan, a budget airline in India, says he's been recruiting 12 pilots each month from overseas.  Pilot job fairs in the U.S. have begun attracting recruiters for Chinese and Indian startups. 

One former US Airways captain, now flying for Emirates Airlines, says he enjoys a high salary and excellent benefits. He says safety standards are high, and the airline's 1,350 pilots from 70 nations speak fluent English.  He says pilots are "treated with respect in this part of the world. We're driven to work. We're put in four and five-start hotels on the concierge floors."

Phoenix East Aviation, a leading commercial aviation training academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, attracts students from all over the world.  Over 60% of current students are from countries outside North America.  Phoenix East Aviation has been training pilot candidates for airlines worldwide since 1972. See www.pea.com for more information.

Impressive U.S. Regional Carriers Stats

The U.S. regional airline market continues to be strong.  American Eagle, SkyWest Airlines (operating as Delta Connection and United Express carrier) and ExpressJet (operating as Continental Express) were ranked as the three largest regional carriers, in terms of passenger enplanments during 2005. The top 20 regional airlines transported 97.1% of the industry's pasengers and flew 98.7% of the industry's revenue passenger miles.

For the first six months of 2005, U.S. regional airlines carried 73.1 million passengers, flew 31.53 billion revenue passenger miles, and completed 2.6 million departures.

Continental Airlines Announces Expansion

Continental Airlines will increase its domestic mainline capacity nearly 4% this year over last year.  In domestic and international mainline operations combined (not including regional-carrier operations), Continental will increase nearly 8% this year.

Like other traditional U.S. carriers, Continental Airlines is facing high fuel prices and stiff competition from low-cost carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest.  However, unlike some other traditional airlines, Continental is expanding faster this year domestically than any of its largest competitors.

Major Airlines Hiring Requirements

So you want to be a pilot for one of the major U.S. airlines, such as American, United, Delta, Continental or U.S. Airways, but are unsure how to get hired?

All airlines have minimum hiring requirements applicants must meet in order to be considered for an interview.  However, typically the major airlines have the most rigorous requirements, and regional and some discount airlines have lower requirements, such as lower minimum required flight hours.  It is important to check the specific requirements for all airlines you are interested in flying for. 

To get an opportunity to be hired by a major U.S. airline, you will need at the minimum:

1. FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multli-engine and Instrument ratings (without limitations).

2. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.

3. Current FE Turbojet Rating or written (FEX or Basic/turbojet).

4. Minimum of twenty-three (23)years of age.

5. Flight experience required: 1,500 hours total time in airplanes, 1,000 hours turbine in airplanes, 1,000 to 1,500 hours in turbine aircraft as Pilot In Command (PIC is defined as Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls), recency of flight experience will also be considered.

6. Possession of a current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate.

7. Passing an FAA mandated drug test.

8. High school diploma or GED is required. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university is preferred.

9. At least three Letters of Recommendation from any individuals who can attest to the pilot's flying skills, through observation over a sustained period of time.   

Cessna Mustang Certification Expedited

The FAA is expediting certification of Cessna's new Mustang mini jet.  The current regulations don't address some of the unique design and performance parameters raised by the Mustang, and the normal process for adding the rules necesary to accommodate the plane's certification involves advance notice plus a 90-day comment period.

However, the FAA has ruled that since the new criteria apply only to the Mustang, the notice and comment period can be waived, and the certification process can proceed. 

Apparently there is a long list of design and performance criteria addressed in the new rule, mostly relating to the new-design Pratt and Whitney Canada engines and the triple-screen Garmin glass avionics suite. 

More Job Opportunities -- Growing Aviation Sector

So you want to enjoy a career as a pilot?  There are a number of possible job categories.  What most commonly comes to mind is airline pilot, military pilot, fractional jet company pilot, cargo pilot, corporate pilot, agricultural pilot, etc.

Have you ever thought about piloting a private business jet?  Probably not, because these "microjets," are just recently being introduced.  The FAA expects their use to triple over the next decade.

The arrival of these very light and small jets could make corporate planes affordable to more companies and air-taxi services at smaller airports. The jets cost as little as $1.5 million USD, compared to $2.4 million USD for the cheapest corporate jets. 

The first of these new jets, the Eclipse 500, is expected to be certified by the FAA later this year after a safety review.  The FAA said it expects microjets to be popular enough to drive up use of privately operated jet aircraft by more than 10% a year over the next 12 years.  By 2017, the agency estimates these twin-engine jet aircraft will log 9.6 million flight hours, up from an estimated three million last year.

By the end of 2006, it is predicted by the FAA that 100 very light jets will be in operation, increasing by 400-500 additional aircraft each year, and reaching nearly 5,000 by 2017.  Both the FAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association's predictions are similar.

"If the microjet and air-taxi phenomena are successful, it could mean great new travel choices," says Gerald Bernstein recently in an article in the Wall Street Journal.  Bernstein is a partner in an aviation consultancy in San Francisco and Washington.

The new jets may also mean viable air-taxi service. DayJet Corporation, Delray Beach, FL, has ordered 309 Eclipse planes and plans to start flying point-to-point service later this year, according to Chief Executive Ed Iacobucci.

Another advantage to microjets is their ability to fly into small, underused airports with minimum runways.  The Eclipse, for example, needs only 2,200 feet of runway for take off or landing.  This opens up community airports.  There are approximately 19,800 landing facilities in the U.S.; commercial airlines, which need much longer runways, utilize only approximately 500 of these.

Learn the skills to fly microjets, turbo props and commercial aircraft today.

US Airways Places Embraer Aircraft Order

To all flight training students interested in what you may be flying in the future -- here's what's US Airways is now purchasing.

It was recently announced that under a new agreement with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, US Airways will convert their order for 57 undelivered Embraer 170s into 25 firm Embraer 190 aircraft and 32 additional firm Embraer 190 aircraft, that are subject to reconfirmation by US Airways.  The amendment to their order also includes up to 50 options to other aircraft in the Embraer 170/190 family.  Deliveries under this new agreement will start in November of this year;  These new aircraft will be powered by GE CF34-10E aircraft engines. 

The recent merger of US Airways and America West created the fifth largest U.S. airline, employing 35,000 aviation professionals.  US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,700 flights every day, serving more than 230 cities in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.