Singapore: Asia-Pacific's burgeoning aviation market means that some 160,000 pilots will be required in 20 years' time, over twice the current size.
A sufficient supply of flight crew is a critical point of concern for the region if it is to cope with its soaring air transport movement.
In its latest projection, the European aeroplane maker Airbus points out that Asia-Pacific's passenger traffic will grow at 5.7% per annum, above the global average of 4.7%, over the next 20 years.
Such a rapid growth means that the region is expected to require 12,470 new passenger and freight aircraft (worth US$2 trillion), representing 40% of total worldwide demand in the period.
Furthermore, 47% of global demand for wide-body aircraft, or 4,400, will come from the region. Its requirement for single-aisle aircraft is projected to represent 36%, or 8,070, of global demand.
The backdrop of a looming shortage of pilots adds urgency to the Airbus-led joint venture's construction of a state-of-the-art pilot school in Singapore.
The $100 million facility, set to open in the first quarter of next year, will play a key role in partially addressing the issue of pilot availability in the region.
Located at Seletar Aerospace Park, the Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), 55% owned by Airbus with Singapore Airlines (SIA) owning 45%, will be able to offer courses for more than 10,000 trainees per year.
Construction of the 9,250-square-metre facility is at an advanced stage, with the main buildings complete and finishing touches being added to the roof and access areas.
The next stage will be the installation of interior fittings, which will include preparation of the simulator bays and classroom facilities, as well as office space, said AATC general manager Yann Lardet.
When fully operational, the centre will feature eight full-flight simulators, including one for the A380 super jumbo, two for wide-body A330s, two single-aisle A320s and three A350 XWBs, the latest mid-sized wide-body aircraft which went into service at the end of last year.
The AATC will be the fourth Airbus flight training centre in the European concern's global network, joining those in Toulouse, Miami and Beijing.
Instructors will initially be drawn from Airbus and SIA's pool of retired captains, with additional recruitment ongoing.
In total, the centre expects to provide employment for some 50 instructors and 20 support staff.
The AATC is primarily aimed at flight crew piloting Airbus jets and serving Airbus customers in the region where the European planemaker expects to capture half the future jet market.
The creation of the AATC joint venture, concluded last year, comes as airlines are looking more towards outsourcing to avoid high start-up and running costs of in-house facilities.
Capt Lardet said airlines in the region will be to realise savings on training costs through outsourcing and at the AATC, which is close to their home bases.
The AATC already offers courses at SIA's training centre near Changi airport and will shift to its new premises to begin courses in April next year.
The temporary site houses the world's second A350 simulator in service, with the other at Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse.
SIA plans to start pilot training for the A350 from next month, ahead of the delivery of its first aircraft in January.
Up to 100 pilots will be trained within the first three to four months, said SIA, which has ordered 67 A-350s, including seven of the ultra-long-range variant that will fly non-stop from Singapore to the US.
Many of the Asia-Pacific airlines that ordered A350s, including Thai Airways International, Cathay Pacific and Asiana, are likely to send their pilots for training at AATC.
Thai Airways is scheduled to take delivery of the first of four A350s in mid-2016.
About a third of all A350s ordered from Airbus worldwide, which stood at 783 at the end of September, are from Asia Pacific.