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Boeing projects nearly 800,000 pilot demand globally

Boeing has operations in Everett, Redmond and Tukwila. (AP)

There will be a huge need for pilots for aircraft operators globally, according to Boeing's 2018 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts released Wednesday morning.

Boeing said it is projecting a demand for 790,000 pilots over the next 20 years due to a predicted doubling of the global commercial airplane fleet, record-high air travel demand and a tightening labor supply.

The demand numbers include data collected from the business aviation and civil helicopter sectors, Boeing said.

"Despite strong global air traffic growth, the aviation industry continues to face a pilot labor supply challenge, raising concern about the existence of a global pilot shortage in the near-term," said Keith Cooper, vice president of Training & Professional Services, Boeing Global Services.

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Although there is a forecasted need for pilots, the aerospace giant said demand for maintenance technicians decreased slightly from 648,000 to 622,000.

The decrease is reported to be because of longer maintenance lulls for new aircraft.

Almost an additional 300,000 pilots and technicians are expected to be a part of the demand for business aviation and civil helicopter sectors, Boeing officials said.