Right seat: Supply squeeze

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. We often hear from flight school owners who are frustrated at having to deliver the bad news to potential students that there’s no way they can start training right away. Plenty of evidence shows that these anecdotes are indicative of a widespread issue.

Demand for training is up. FAA data showed a 30-percent increase in new student pilot certificates in the last eight months of 2017, compared to 2016. (Because of a change in the way student pilot certificates are issued, comparisons can only be made starting in April 2016.)

On the supply side, sales of training airplanes are a key indicator that flight training businesses continue to grow in an effort to meet demand. Cirrus, Diamond, Piper, and Cessna all delivered significantly more of their piston trainer models last year, compared to 2016.

What’s a would-be student to do? It’s time to get creative.Although all companies that produce training airplanes are growing, Piper is on a particularly good path. The company increased its workforce by 25 percent last year, and a record order of 152 aircraft announced this spring will give the manufacturer a stable output for years to come. That order, from a Chinese training company, illustrates that the competition for pilots and airplanes is international.

So why the wait to start training? Despite the fact that schools are buying more airplanes, supply is still being squeezed for a number of reasons. One of the biggest challenges facing schools is a lack of flight instructors. Go to a flight training conference, or pop in to a flight school to say hi, and a flight school owner may ask if you know any flight instructors looking for a job. Because the major airlines hire regional airline pilots, and regional airlines hire flight instructors, finding and keeping qualified instructors has become nearly impossible for most schools. As soon as instructors hit the minimum flight time they are gone, whether to the airlines or corporate flying.

Aircraft are also an issue for some schools. Good used airplanes are getting harder to find, and new airplanes are pricey. Aircraft financing is particularly difficult to secure for flight schools, given the lack of collateral and historically high default rate. There’s every indication that the good times could be even better for Cirrus, Diamond, Cessna, and Piper.

What’s a would-be student to do? It’s time to get creative. Start by checking off all the requirements in advance. Get a medical certificate. Use an independent course to study for and pass the FAA knowledge test. Get a manual for the airplane you’ll be flying and study it closely. Attend ground school and get to know the instructors at the school to make sure you are paired with the right one. If all else fails, call around to other schools. Spend time at the airport to see if you can find an independent instructor with time, and access to an airplane, who can help. Or join a flying club and learn to fly in that friendly and unstructured environment. AOPA has a list of clubs online.

The waiting game can be tough, but you can always scratch the itch by hanging out at the airport and getting to know pilots in the community. They’ll welcome you with open arms, even if your chosen school isn’t ready to do the same.