Boeing: More pilots needed to meet demand in Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Boeing projects that airlines in the Middle East will need nearly 100,000 new pilots and technicians to support the expanding demand for new airplane deliveries over the next two decades.

At the Dubai Air Show this week, Boeing released the regional projections of the 2013 Pilot and Technician Outlook -- a respected industry forecast of aviation personnel.  With the aviation industry in the Middle East growing faster than the world average, the Boeing outlook predicts the region will require 40,000 pilots and 53,100 technicians over the next 20 years.

For the Middle East region an average of 2,000 new pilots and more than 2,600 new airline technicians will be needed each year to meet the expected demand.

Projected demand for new pilots and technicians by global region: