President's Position: Everybody in!

I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. Since then, I’ve become somewhat of an aircraft fanatic and have had the chance to fly everything from historic World War II aircraft and unique warbirds to high-speed business jets. But of all the aircraft that have come and gone in my life, my old Piper Super Cub will always be my favorite.

I bought the Super Cub from the original owner and have since put thousands of hours on the tachometer. Turns out, my Super Cub is a hot commodity in the current state of our industry, and that’s great news for GA.

You would think sales would halt during a global pandemic, but that hasn’t exactly been the case. Although sales of new turbine and larger aircraft fell in the past year, sales of new piston aircraft held their own in 2020. Sales of used airplanes are up, and values for used aircraft are up significantly. In the past few months, AOPA’s Pilot Information Center has fielded hundreds of calls from members interested in buying aircraft.

It’s all part of the recreational boom. Sales in activities such as boating and camping have spiked amid COVID-19. The combination of free time, built-in social distancing, and a more flexible work schedule provided ample room for outdoor activities.

Sales of boats and marine products and services leaped to a 13-year high in 2020 to $47 billion—increasing 9 percent from the year prior, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Sales of recreational vehicles are also trending up with manufacturers anticipating a surge in shipments in 2021 at around 507,000 units—that’s a 19.5-percent increase from 2020, according to the RV Industry Association.

As for GA? Our numbers are holding strong through this recreational boom. In fact, we’ve seen increased flight hours, fuel sales, and on some days, more Cessna 172s in the air than Boeing 737s. More leisure time left many itching for new activities, including reaching for their pilot certificates and filling up flight schools.

With the growth of consumer interest in recreational activities, 2021 is proving to be a seller’s market. Many who are diving into these recreational activities are also first-time buyers—a great opportunity for us to draw more interest to aviation. The climate is changing—much of it having to do with the convenience of GA for both fun and business.

With 5,000 public-use airports scattered across the nation, GA allows easy access to many destinations not easily reached via the airlines. The success of charter companies shouldn’t be discounted as many consumers are still wary of boarding commercial airliners. Many of us learned long ago about the joy and freedom that come with GA flying. The past year taught us that we can safely continue to fly and do what we love without compromising our health or the health of others.

All these factors have contributed to the demand we are seeing today. As a longtime aircraft owner, I know how frustrating it can be to research the perfect aircraft for your individual needs—factoring in cost and specs, and coming up with contradictory answers from multiple sources. That hassle led AOPA to launch our Aircraft Guide (aopa.org/aircraftguide), which spotlights new aircraft ranging from single-engine pistons and twins to turbines and rotorcraft. The guide includes model overviews, specifications, performance, and limiting and recommended airspeeds.

Potential buyers can find links to AOPA articles and pilot reports for each aircraft, as well as the Vref aircraft valuation service to determine the value of your trade-in or the value of older models of listed aircraft. The site also features the popular AOPA loan calculator. I encourage our members to take advantage of this new resource.

And if you’re up for it, please join us at our inaugural AOPA Aviator Showcase events on August 27 in Manassas, Virginia, and October 1 in Fort Worth, Texas. These events will be the perfect opportunity for pilots and aviation enthusiasts to connect with the industry’s leading experts during a high-quality in-person buying experience (see “Member News & Notes”).

The AOPA Aviator Showcases will be smaller, more intimate experiences than our typical fly-ins. The events will feature exhibits, displays, and educational content related to aircraft ownership and operations. Be sure to register online (aopa.org/aviatorshowcase). What won’t change with our events is the passion we have to interact with members and the GA community.

Frankly, I didn’t quite anticipate the recent surge we’ve seen among our industry, but I am optimistic that this trend will continue. I hope you all are taking advantage of all the skies have to offer and, as always, AOPA is here to help.

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