Fractional Pilot Hires Fall in 2006

The five major fractional operators fell short of AIR’s projected pilot hiring levels last year, according to statistics prepared by the Atlanta-based aviation employment consultant. The major players–Avantair, CitationShares, Flexjet, Flight Options and NetJets–hired 674 new pilots, more than 300 shy of AIR’s January 2006 estimate that 1,000 pilots would be required. The numbers were also down from the year before, but in 2005 the major fractional operators did exceed AIR’s prediction with 816 pilot hires, up from its prediction of 750.