UK needs 2,500 more business aviation pilots to meet demand
London based Colibri Aircraft has estimated that between now and 2038 the UK will need to find around 2,500 new business aviation pilots to meet the growing demand to fly privately.
The company warns that a shortage of pilots is creating operational challenges for current owners and risking the sale of some private jet types. Colibri Aircraft is warning clients that this is a real threat if they decide to only hire one full-time pilot and rely on contract crew.
Colibri Aircraft is also warning that business aviation pilots are increasingly leaving the sector to fly commercial aircraft as airlines offer them more predictable schedules. It believes the commercial aviation sector’s focus on recruiting business aviation pilots will intensify because the world’s passenger and freight aircraft fleet is set to more than double over the next 19 years. During this period, it has been estimated that the world needs to find 645,000 new commercial pilots.
Oliver Stone, Managing Director, Colibri Aircraft said: “The world needs some 98,000 new business aviation pilots between now and 2038 (3) to meet growing demand. However, the business aviation sector is struggling to compete with airlines in recruiting pilots. This means commercial airlines are not only recruiting existing business aviation pilots, they are also getting the pick of newly qualified pilots.
“This issue is increasingly impacting the sale of some private jets, and we expect it to continue.”
Colibri Aircraft specialises in the marketing, resale and purchase of pre-owned private aircraft.