236,147 private pilots

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

"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

Also, many commercial and ATP-rated pilots rarely if ever fly for
compensation and therefore operate the same way as a private pilot.

At least the Sport Pilot license is doing better than the Recreational
license holders. It would also be interesting to see how many of the Sport
Pilots got the ticket for reasons other than the lack of a 3rd Class medical
requirement.

Marco

"Also, many commercial and ATP-rated pilots rarely if ever fly for
compensation and therefore operate the same way as a private pilot"

True. Part of the reason for this is the change in Part 61, back in the
70's. It used to be that to qualify for an ATP (they wre called "ATR"s
then), one had to have 1200 hours of flight time within the preceding 8
years. Now it's 1500 hrs time, without a time constraint. The non-commercial
pilot seeking an ATP as a status symbol would have a somewhat difficult time
getting 1200 hours in 8 years.
"Marco Leon" wrote in message
...
"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

Also, many commercial and ATP-rated pilots rarely if ever fly for
compensation and therefore operate the same way as a private pilot.

At least the Sport Pilot license is doing better than the Recreational
license holders. It would also be interesting to see how many of the Sport
Pilots got the ticket for reasons other than the lack of a 3rd Class
medical
requirement.

Marco

Dallas wrote:
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).

There are 3 numbers above that interest me. The number of student pilots is
important. Those are folks that wanted to fly enough to at least start the
process. I'd really like to see the percentage of that 84,866 end up with a
certificate. The AOPA should start a program to contact those that don't an
find out why they didn't finish.

The other two numbers I find interesting are the rec and sports pilots. The
recreational pilot program has been around for years but in just a few the
sport pilot program has more than tripled it's numbers.

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:28:16 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in
:

The number of student pilots is
important. Those are folks that wanted to fly enough to at least start the
process. I'd really like to see the percentage of that 84,866 end up with a
certificate. 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.

The other two numbers I find interesting are the rec and sports pilots. The
recreational pilot program has been around for years but in just a few the
sport pilot program has more than tripled it's numbers.


One is about saving money; that's not very realistic, IMO.

The other is about saving money AND dodging the recurring medical
examination. That's significant to ageing baby boomers, I would
think.

Larry Dighera wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:28:16 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in
:

The number of student pilots is
important. Those are folks that wanted to fly enough to at least
start the process. I'd really like to see the percentage of that
84,866 end up with a certificate. 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.


The other two numbers I find interesting are the rec and sports
pilots. The recreational pilot program has been around for years but
in just a few the sport pilot program has more than tripled it's
numbers.


One is about saving money; that's not very realistic, IMO.

The other is about saving money AND dodging the recurring medical
examination. That's significant to ageing baby boomers, I would
think.

That's a good theory. But if an RP, PP, CP or ATP is droping down to SP he
is still going to be counted at his old rating or not at all because they
only count RP, PP, CP and ATP if they have a medical. So old guy ATP who
just retired from flying 747s and decided he never wants a medical again
starts flying under SP rules he isn't going to be in that count.

So while I'm sure this first batch of SP holders in that count are mostly UL
pilots that have moved under the new rules and out of Part 103 that won't be
true at some point in the future.

("Marco Leon" wrote)

It would also be interesting to see how many of the Sport Pilots got the
ticket for reasons other than the lack of a 3rd Class medical requirement.


Three


Paul-Mont

"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.

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

That's a good theory. But if an RP, PP, CP or ATP is droping down to SP he is still going to be counted at his old
rating or not at all because they only count RP, PP, CP and ATP if they have a medical. So old guy ATP who just
retired from flying 747s and decided he never wants a medical again starts flying under SP rules he isn't going to be
in that count.

So while I'm sure this first batch of SP holders in that count are mostly UL pilots that have moved under the new
rules and out of Part 103 that won't be true at some point in the future.


I was thinking the same thing. The feds gotta be pretty worried about not being able to track sport pilots... ;-)

"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