Air transport has undoubtedly been one of the most severely impacted businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic as COVID-19 Affect On pilot Jobs. With aircraft delays, stopped vehicles, and border restrictions, IATA estimates that the outbreak will cost airlines more than $300 billion.
Major airlines around the world have made significant job cuts, and the European Cockpit Association (ECA) has expressed worry that the pandemic may result in the loss of 15-20% of pilot positions.
With flights halted, existing pilots who have been placed on vacation or provided useless due to the current crisis have been unable to register the necessary hours in the cockpit to keep their licenses valid. COVID-19 Affect On pilot Jobs
Despite this, a recent CAE analysis indicates that the global civil aviation industry would still need 27,000 new pilots by the end of 2021, and more than 260,000 over the next decade. To meet this demand, the industry cannot afford a widespread loss in the validity of pilot licenses.
The industry must adjust to the new COVID-era. Airlines will need to be more conservative in their future planning, and they are unlikely to have the time or money to train their employees in-house.
Furthermore, with flights continuing to be cancelled on a regular basis and numerous planes grounded for the foreseeable future, airlines must reconsider their training approach to ensure that they can satisfy the need for a new generation of pilots.
This strain underscores the necessity for authorities to modify the training process. When limits are lifted, rising consumer demand and the continued difficulty of age-based retirement and attrition will fuel an increase in demand for pilots.
Embracing the tech transition can offer a solution
From ensuring student continuity by allowing them to continue training despite social distancing measures and physical travel restrictions, to expanding cadet class sizes, e-learning programs are revolutionizing the training industry and significantly increasing access to becoming an aviator.
In addition, pilots must complete a total of 1,500 flying hours to obtain their ATPL certificate. Despite the current circumstances and limited number of flights, by switching to a simulator model, pilots will be able to continue collecting hours and completing the necessary annual examinations to keep their licenses valid. This will also be critical for existing pilots who have been detained or made useless.
AI technologies, ranging from facial recognition to remote aircraft monitoring, have already gained widespread adoption in the business. However, when integrated with flight simulators, a pilot’s ability can be assessed using real-time data.
This assessment can then be utilized to optimize a pilot’s training plan by focusing on areas that require work, allowing pilots to improve their skill set at a much faster rate.