CAE released its 2020-2029 CAE Pilot Demand Outlook, explaining its renewed 10-year view offers operators key insights on the future need for professional pilots in both commercial and business aviation.

This third edition of the CAE Pilot Demand Outlook comes approximately one month after Boeing released its annual forecasts, which outlines why the global long-term need for commercial pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew remains strong. Boeing’s 2020 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts that the civil aviation industry will need nearly 2.4 million new aviation personnel between now and 2039.

To compile its report, CAE explains it investigated market data as airlines and operators are navigating the current downturn in passenger air travel and are pursuing recovery strategies following the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

While the demand for pilots has decreased significantly during 2020, CAE’s analysis shows that the active pilot population is expected to return to 2019 levels in 2022. According to the 2020-2029 CAE Pilot Demand Outlook, retirement and attrition are expected to continue to be a challenge for the civil aviation industry as air travel recovers progressively.

This is expected to drive an acute demand for pilots, explains the CAE, resulting in an estimated short-term need for approximately 27,000 new professional pilots starting in late 2021.

The report demonstrates 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.

CAE explains its analysis shows that the fundamental factors influencing pilot demand prior to the COVID-19 outbreak remain unchanged: Age-based retirement and fleet growth were, and are expected to remain, the main drivers of pilot demand.

PHOTO: CAE, students in a full flight simulator