It's hard to believe the number is so low...

As of the end of 2006, there were 597,109 active pilots, according to the
AOPA Jan. 12, 07 newsletter which cites the FAA's estimates. This number
has been declining slowly over the long term, down from a high of over
827,000 pilots in 1980. The numbers include:

84,866 student pilots
242 recreational pilots
939 sport pilots
236,147 private pilots
130,234 commercial pilots
144,681 airline transport pilots
Within those groups, there we

37, 837 glider pilots
10,511 balloon pilots
41,306 rotor (helicopter) pilots

An active pilot is defined as one who holds both a pilot certificate and a
valid medical certificate, so this value omits pilots who do not have a
medical certificate (particularly glider and sport pilots).



--
Dallas