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 steadily increasing since 2016 and projected to break records by 2025, contrary to beliefs that it's declining.
This growth is driven by the airline industry's pilot shortage, which is boosting recruitment and training, and by universities expanding aviation programs with high career potential.
Emerging flight-tech, fueled by venture capital, is fostering innovation in areas like electric propulsion and eVTOLs, making aviation more economical, sustainable, and accessible, while also pressuring the FAA for regulatory modernization.
Lifestyle factors such as the "wealth effect," increased remote work, the desire for personal freedom post-pandemic, and the influential role of social and aviation media are further accelerating interest in personal flying.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
