Report Released on 2021 State of Flight Training

Redbird Flight Simulations released its first annual State of Flight Training Report to help the flight training community identify and analyze industry trends, priorities, strengths, and challenges. Released in partnership with the National Association of Flight Instructors, Society of Aviation and Flight Educators, Flight School Association of North America, CloudAhoy, ForeFlight, and Flight Schedule Pro, the report details the outcomes the flight training industry achieved in 2020 and forecasts its outlook for the remainder of 2021.

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Despite an unprecedented and unpredictable year, the data collected for the report describe a healthy industry on an upward trend. The average responses suggest that flight training organizations continue to increase the size of their fleet and staff, flight instructors are content in their current roles, and students and pilots of all experience levels continue to train and express interest in pursuing additional ratings and endorsements. Since flight training organizations and flight instructors both identified the restrictions and general economic uncertainty caused by Covid-19 as their biggest challenge in 2020, the industry forecast should only improve as vaccination rates increase worldwide.

However, the report also analyzes areas for improvement that the flight training industry must address to reach its long-term growth potential. While many flight training organizations have continued to operate and even expand, independent flight instructors have a less optimistic outlook. The discrepancy between the outcomes and expectations of flight training organizations and independent flight instructors illustrates a need for industry groups to provide more resources to flight instructors who lack the infrastructure and support of a large organization.

The data collected for the 2021 report also revealed a discrepancy between how much flight instructors and their customers value flight simulation. In general, students and pilots prize the advantages of simulation more than their instructors do. While the data suggest that students and pilots view their instructors favorably, their differing opinions on flight training technology could create friction as customers continue to favor the adoption of cost- and time-saving measures.

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Lastly, a survey of the United States general public found that 80% of non-pilots have no interest in becoming pilots, even if cost was not a factor. While this figure implies that the flight training industry in the United States currently has an addressable market of approximately 40,000,000 people—which is 60 times the country’s current pilot population — it also indicates that most Americans may not appreciate the appeal of general aviation. Training providers, instructors, and industry groups have an opportunity to help grow the market size of flight training, but they have an imperative to help their current customers and prospects justify and explain the benefits, costs, and safety of general aviation to their family and friends.

The entire report can be found on Redbird Flight Simulations’ website.