PILOTS IN DEMAND IN ASIA-PACIFIC

As passenger traffic soars in the Asian-Pacific region and airlines add even more routes, the International Civil Aviation Organization has warned that the region has the capacity to train only 35% of its annual pilot requirements. The growth in demand from China alone will create a dearth of trained pilots in the region. As a result China Southern Airlines has announced it will start a fast-track pilot training program that will take only two-and-a-half years, instead of the usual four. Equally the Indian market is already straining to find enough pilots to meet demand. Safety experts have warned the shortage