Is General Aviation Dying? No, and You Can Keep It That Way

Summary of Article:

• General Aviation (GA) is healthy, not dying.
• Rising Costs and accessibility challenges remain for new pilots.
• Organizations like AOPA and EAA are working to remove barriers.
• You can help by:
  • Mentoring aspiring pilots.
  • Supporting Scholarships and youth programs.
  • Joining or starting flying clubs.
• A strong General Aviation community benefits pilots, manufacturers, airports, and nonprofits.
• Together, we can keep General Aviation thriving for decades.

Is General Aviation Dying?

No – general aviation is not dying. According to the data, and according to veteran pilots and industry experts we’ve talked to, general aviation is doing just fine. That said, there are barriers for new pilots, and the expense of getting certified is often the biggest one.

How Can New Pilots Mitigate the Expense of Becoming Certified?

Organizations like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) are actively working to ensure aspiring pilots can find a path to flying. By reaching out to and getting connected with these organizations, pilots can help mitigate the cost of getting certified.

What Can People Do to Support General Aviation (GA)?

The best way to help aspiring pilots is to “be accessible.” We heard many stories of how encounters and relationships with experienced pilots helped people along the path to certification. Student pilots can benefit from your experience and support, from offering to take someone flying to simply answering questions in a friendly manner. Being approachable and sharing your experiences may be the single best way to grow general aviation.

What Clubs, Organizations, and Programs Are Available for GA Pilots to Join or Support?

There are plenty of GA clubs, organizations, and programs for you to contribute time or resources to. Lightspeed Aviation directly supports programs like the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship, and Young Eagles program, both of which provide opportunities for EAA members to donate or volunteer. Consider supporting aviation scholarships through donations, volunteering time to mentor aspiring pilots, or working with organizations like the EAA to get kids flying for the first time. Other programs like Aviation Start aim to help make career access easier than ever by connecting aspiring aviation students and professionals to scholarships, training programs and career pathways to help turn their aviation dreams into a reality.

If you’re looking for something smaller or more local, community groups like flying clubs also create opportunities for general aviation pilots to potentially reduce the expense of flying and provide access to airplanes they might not otherwise be able to fly. Consider joining a flying club in your area or creating one if a club doesn’t exist. AOPA’s You Can Fly program provides free resources for AOPA members wanting to start clubs and a flying club finder available to all. Your membership helps ensure that clubs remain accessible to GA pilots in your area while also providing you with those same membership benefits.

Let’s Keep General Aviation Growing!

A flourishing GA community is good for everyone: pilots, aircraft makers, suppliers such as Lightspeed, GA airports and businesses, not to mention the many educational and non-profit organizations that rely on GA pilots for support. In this blog series about the state of GA, we’ve seen strong signs of health in the industry while also exploring its challenges. We’ve passed on expert tips, strategies, and resources to help would-be pilots achieve their dreams. GA is healthy now, but its future is up to all of us. With the support of pilots like you, we can keep GA growing and flourishing for decades to come.

Key Takeaways

• GA is healthy now but faces challenges.
• Cost and accessibility are the biggest barriers for new pilots.
• You can make a difference by being accessible to new pilots, mentoring, making donations, and joining clubs.

Read the Entire “Is General Aviation Dying?” Series

Interested in Scholarship Information and Opportunities?

Be sure to check out our article highlighting a short list of places to find Aviation Scholarships!

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