236,147 private pilots

Gatt wrote:
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...

The AOPA should start a program to
contact those that don't an find out why they didn't finish.

That's an excellent idea. You should send it to AOPA.

Ok I will.

I'm interested too. Question: How does one determine that a given
student didn't finish or simply hasn't finished yet? Maybe by
checking expired medical certificates, but that might get them
tangled up in a privacy of medical records debate.

Nevertheless, it would be very useful information for GA.


-c

I sent a note to the PR folks at AOPA and made the suggestion. I haven't
hear back.

As far as how to track it, do a merge/purge of year A's student list and the
new pilots list and do your outreach to those that aren't on both. Sure
you'd get some "not finished" but even those that are taking a long time to
get the rating are at risk for not getting it at all.

"Dallas" wrote in message
.. .

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).

Are these numbers of all FAA certificates or just those based in the US.

There will be a large number of foreign certificate holders at all levels
from private and above.