With more than 10,000 new pilots expected to be hired in the aviation industry this year, some regional carriers are now changing their hiring standards to draw more candidates.

The regional carriers have hired 1,448 pilots in the first half of 2005 and are projected to hire an additional 757, according to data compiled by Aviation Information Resources (AIR). However, the information on projected hirings includes firm numbers for July and estimates for the remainder of the year. Last year, the regionals hired 3,741 pilots.

With more than total 5,200 pilots already hired this year, Kit Darby, president of Atlanta-based AIR, said the hiring should easily surpass 10,000, which would be the most hired in one year since Sept. 11, 2001.

While the regional carriers have been the strong performers for the last several years, Darby said the majors are poised for growth. Several years ago, there were only 500 major carrier pilots hired in one year, Darby said, while there probably will be 2,500 hired this year.

The regional passenger carriers have lowered their minimum flight hour requirements, Darby added.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines now has the lowest minimums, he said. ASA is requiring that its pilot candidates have a minimum of 600 total flight hours and 100 hours in a multi-engine aircraft. However, 100 of those hours now need to be within the last six months.

The average continues to be 1,000 total flight hours and 100 multi-engine hours, Darby noted. Prior to Sept. 11, 2001, when all airlines were rapidly expanding, the minimum hour requirement was as low as 500 total hours and 50 hours in a multi-engine aircraft.

"For someone to lower their minimum generally means they are not getting what they want," he said. One hiring theory is that with a lower threshold than the other carriers, ASA gets the first crack at the best all-round candidates. "They can pick people early and get the pick of the litter rather than compete with everyone else at the 1,000/100 mark," Darby said.

While the carrier may be lowering its minimums, Darby said it is hiking its currency requirements. Requiring applicants to have substantial hours within the last six months or year may close out those furloughed pilots from the legacy carriers.

Legacy carrier Continental Airlines [CAL] is the first to rejoin the ranks of those hiring. The field has been dominated by Southwest [LUV], FedEx [FDX], JetBlue [JBLU] and United Parcel Service [UPS].

With 9,443 pilots still furloughed, 8,041 remain furloughed from the legacy carriers.

For the most part, the furloughed legacy carrier pilots have resisted taking jobs elsewhere, especially with the regional airlines. "We have hired almost 25,000 pilots since Sept. 11. There clearly have been jobs available."

Of the regionals, Independence Air [FLYI] has 41 percent of its pilots furloughed.

>>Contact: Kit Darby, AIR, (404) 592-6500.<<