Canada: Pilot shortage can't be addressed by existing programs, documents suggest

Federal officials combing through skills training programs have concluded major changes are needed if these are to be used to address a shortage of airline pilots. Officials are suggesting a strategy being used by other countries as a way to address a growing need for pilots: have govts and airlines partner to pay to train pilots. The funds — either dedicated financing or govt-industry programs — in turn could ensure "that a sufficient supply of trained pilots can sustain the current and projected demand," reads the briefing note . Industry estimates say Canada will need 7,300 new commercial pilots by 2025 as demand for air travel increases, but will fall 3,000 short of that mark. Worldwide, estimates are that the global demand for new pilots will hit 255,000 by 2027. <br/>