General Aviation Information and Statistics

AOPA General Aviation Trends

Fourth quarter, 2007

Executive Summary—

The fourth quarter of 2007 saw mixed results in terms of flight activity, pilot certification, aircraft shipments, and registration applications. All comparisons are based on quarterly comparisons from 2006 to 2007.

Measures of flight activity (center operations, tower operations, and gallons of avgas sold) showed a slight decrease as compared to the previous quarter. Center activity as well as tower activity was down slightly as compared to last year’s figures (2 percent and 3 percent). Total gallons of avgas sold were down when compared to last year’s fourth quarter numbers by 10 percent.

Trends in certificate issuances varied by certificate level. In 2007 student issuances were up (15 percent), as well as private issuances (19 percent), ATP issuances (4 percent), and instrument ratings (12 percent). Decreases were seen in commercial issuances (down 2 percent), and CFI ratings issued (down 9 percent).

General aviation aircraft shipments for the fourth quarter showed positive results as compared to the previous quarter. A comparison of total U.S. shipments shows 2007 figures to be slightly ahead of 2006 figures by 19 percent. Focusing exclusively on single-engine piston aircraft for 2007 (669 of the 1,074) are slightly ahead of 2006 shipments (612 of 899). Aircraft registration applications appear to be slightly ahead as compared to 2006 data (up 70).

The number of general aviation accidents was down slightly (2 percent) for the fourth quarter. In year-to-date comparisons, general aviation accidents saw an increase as compared to 2006 figures (6 percent).

GA Trends Statistics Quarterly Comparison

	Q4 2006	Q4 2007	% Change	Change
FLIGHT ACTIVITY
Centers	2,054,532	2,006,081	-2%	-48,451
Towers	8,026,723	7,748,108	-3%	-278,615
Gallons Avgas Sold (in 000s)	50,944	45,605	-10%	-5,339
PILOT CERTIFICATION
Total Student Issuances	14,523	12,386	-15%	-2,137
Private Issuances	4,272	5,079	19%	807
Commercial Issuances	2,125	2,086	-2%	-39
ATP Issuances	1,339	1,391	4%	52
CFI Issuances	1,152	1,049	-9%	-103
Instrument Ratings Issued	4,722	5,276	12%	554
AIRCRAFT SHIPMENT & REGISTRATION
GA Shipments	899	1,074	19%	175
Total A/C Reg. Apps.	17,909	17,979	0%	70
AVIATION SAFETY
GA Accidents	323	315	-2%	-8

GA Trends Statistics YTD Comparison

	2006	2007	% Change	Change
FLIGHT ACTIVITY
Centers	8,255,703	8,245,836	0%	-9,867
Towers	33,339,061	32,868,064	-1%	-470,997
Gallons Avgas Sold (in 000s)	235,856	209,783	-11%	-26,073
PILOT CERTIFICATION
Total Student Issuances	62,668	65,675	5%	3,007
Private Issuances	20,217	20,299	0%	82
Commercial Issuances	9,057	9,318	3%	261
ATP Issuances	4,748	5,918	25%	1,170
CFI Ratings Issued	4,506	4,667	4%	161
Instrument Ratings Issued	20,491	22,342	9%	1,851
AIRCRAFT SHIPMENT & REGISTRATION
GA Shipments	3,146	3,279	4%	133
Total A/C Reg. Apps.	68,420	75,670	11%	7,250
AVIATION SAFETY
GA Accidents	1,518	1,607	6%	89

Flight Activity

Centers

• During the fourth quarter of this year a total of 2,006,081 IFR aircraft were handled at ATC centers. This total represents a decrease of 2 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006 (48,451 fewer aircraft handled). Year-end totals for 2007 were down slightly when compared to 2006 figures (9,867 fewer aircraft handled).

Towers

• General aviation tower operations were down for the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. General aviation tower operations totaled 7,748,108 for the quarter (down 3 percent; 278,615 fewer operations from fourth quarter 2006). Year-end totals for 2007 were down slightly when compared to 2006 figures (down 1 percent).

Aviation Gasoline

• Gallons of aviation gasoline sold—A total of 45,605 gallons of aviation gasoline were sold during the fourth quarter of 2007. This figure fell behind quarter four by 10 percent (5,339 fewer gallons sold as compared to 2006). The year-end comparison exhibits a decrease in gallons of aviation gasoline sold for 2007 (down 11 percent; 26,073 fewer gallons sold in 2007 vs. 2006).

Pilot Certification

Student Certificates Issued

• Total student certificates issued—A total of 12, 386 student certificates were issued for the fourth quarter of 2007. This figure was down compared to last year’s figures by 15 percent (approximately 2,137 fewer issuances). Student issuances for the entire year exceeded those of 2006 by 5 percent (65,675 in 2007 vs. 62,668 in 2006). The most recent issuance data (December 2007) illustrates mixed results in comparisons. Student issuances were behind for the month but were slightly ahead in YTD comparisons. This is due to the fact that it takes approximately six months for the final December numbers to come in. We should see an increase in the December student issuances of approximately 42 percent by June 2008, making the December monthly number 4,122 and the year-to-date figure 66,894.

Private Certificates Issued

• New private certificates issued totaled 5,079 for the fourth quarter of 2007, which illustrated a 19-percent increase as compared to the same period in 2006 (807 more private certificates issued). Private certificates issued for the entire year showed a slight increase when compared to 2006 (82 more).

Commercial Certificates Issued

• The number of new commercial pilot certificates issued for the fourth quarter of 2007 reached a total of 2,086. This number is down from the previous quarter (a 2-percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2006, 39 fewer new commercial pilot certificates issued). Year-to-date numbers show a 3 percent increase (9,318 in 2007 vs. 9,057 in 2006).

ATP Certificates Issued

• A total of 1,391 new ATP certificates were issued during the fourth quarter of 2007, an increase of 4 percent (52 new ATPs) compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. ATP certificates issued for the entire year showed an increase of 25 percent when compared to 2006 (1,170 more).

CFI Certificates Issued

• The fourth quarter of 2007 saw 1,049 CFI ratings issued. This total represents a 9-percent decrease as compared to the same period in 2006 (103 fewer CFI ratings issued). CFI certificates issued for the entire year showed an increase of 4 percent when compared to 2006 (161 more).

Instrument Ratings Issued

• For the fourth quarter, instrument ratings issued totaled 5,276. This total represents a 12-percent increase as compared to the same period in 2006 (554 more instrument ratings issued). Year-to-date numbers show a 9-percent increase (22,342 in 2007 vs. 20,491 in 2006).

Aircraft Shipments and Registrations

Aircraft Shipments

• U.S. aircraft manufacturers shipped 1,074 general aviation aircraft during the fourth quarter of 2007 (175 more aircraft). This total represents a 19-percent increase as compared to the same period in 2006. Shipments of single-engine piston aircraft (669 of the 1,074) are ahead of the 2006 shipments (612 of the 899) by 9.3 percent. Year-to-date numbers show a 4-percent increase when compared to 2006 figures (133 more).

Aircraft Registrations

• With a total of 17,979 applications, total aircraft registration applications for the fourth quarter of 2007 are slightly ahead as compared to 2006 figures (70 more). A similar trend was observed in the year-end comparison, where 2007 figures surpassed those of 2006 by 11 percent (7,250 more registrations for the year).

Aviation Safety

General Aviation Accidents

• According to the FAA, there were a total of 315 general aviation accidents in the fourth quarter of 2007 (down 2 percent from 2006). This figure is the lowest total for the fourth quarter. Accidents for the past several months showed a continued improvement of the GA safety record. Year-end comparisons show a 6-percent increase in general aviation accidents (1,607 in 2007 vs. 1,518 in 2006).

Updated Friday, March 7, 2008