A new report released by CAE on November 9, shows that even though the demand for pilots has decreased significantly this year due to COVID-19, the active pilot population is expected to return to 2019 levels in 2022. The 2020-2029 CAE Pilot Demand Outlook provides a 10-year view to fleet operators of “key insights on the future need for professional pilots in both commercial and business aviation, building on the markets’ key drivers, variables, and trends.”
According to the report, retirement and attrition are expected to continue to be a challenge for the civil aviation industry. This shortage will drive demand for pilots, with the industry needing 27,000 new professional pilots starting in late 2021.
The report went on to point out that despite the short-term decline in the number of active pilots due to the impact of COVID-19, the civil aviation industry is expected to require more than 260,000 new pilots over the next decade. The report highlighted that the main factors influencing pilot demand prior to the COVID-19 remain unchanged. These drivers include age-based retirement and fleet growth.
“With the 2020-2029 CAE Pilot Demand Outlook, we hope to arm the industry with the insights that will help the global aviation community understand, rethink, and learn about how to continue to build and grow the supply of highly qualified pilots as the industry emerges from the downturn,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. “Disruptive events are opportunities to innovate and collaborate. With airlines, operators, authorities, and aircraft manufacturers, CAE will continue to shape the future of pilot training to ensure the highest level of safety and security of air travel.”
CAE’s outlook also provides ideas on leveraging digital technology and analytical insights to enhance pilot training. CAE shares insights on how it believes the global aviation community can harness the power of artificial intelligence to meet aviation’s crewing needs of the next decade, as well as the ever-evolving safety standards.
This is the third edition of the CAE Pilot Demand Outlook. To download a copy of the 2020-2029 CAE Pilot Demand Outlook, go to https://www.cae.com/cae-pilot-demand-outlook-2020.