According to the FAA, the number of pilots has increased every year since 2016.Craig Fuller
Key Takeaways:
General aviation is experiencing a significant resurgence, with pilot numbers consistently increasing since 2016 and reaching their highest level since 1990 by 2020.
This growth is driven by the severe airline pilot shortage, prompting increased recruitment, training, and higher pay, which attracts new individuals to aviation careers.
Emerging flight-tech, fueled by venture capital investment in areas like eVTOLs and electric propulsion, is creating innovation, making aviation more accessible, economical, and attracting new talent.
Additional factors contributing to the surge include a "wealth effect" among successful individuals, the desire for personal travel flexibility post-pandemic, and the influential role of social media and aviation media in inspiring new pilots.
Over the past few months, I have talked to a number of people that have told me that general aviation is dying and would eventually all but disappear. They blame the FAA, a decline in military pilot training programs, and competing activities (video games).
But the reality is that general aviation is actually experiencing a massive resurgence.
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