Airline pilot hiring started out strong in 2008, with 122 carriers hiring 1,101 pilots in January. Further, Atlanta-based AIR, Inc. reports that the number of pilots on furlough continues to drop, from 3,094 in December 2007 to 2,548 in January 2008. AIR, Inc. estimates that up to 10,500 new airline pilot jobs will be created this year.