Mobile Menu

Flying Schools in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Gabriel Seiler Gabriel Seiler New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS OD4996

Revenue

$5.5bn

2024

$5.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

18,307

Businesses

1,033

Wages

$X.Xbn

Flying Schools in the US industry analysis

Over the past five years, concerns over a pilot shortage have impacted aviation industries. Airlines worry they can't replace retiring pilots, and early retirements amid COVID-19 pushed these issues to the center of discussion. Meanwhile, the industry's largest union has argued shortages result from low salaries and poor practices, not a lack of pilots. Regardless, airlines grounded nearly a quarter of all flights as a result of staffing issues in 2023. Rising demand for domestic and international travel is perpetuating the shortage as airlines seek to expand operations and drive ticket sales. Pilot salaries are on the rise as employers seek to attract new pilots, leading to heightened enrollment for flying schools. Revenue has been climbing at a CAGR of 3.7% to an estimated $5.5 billion over the five years through 2024, including a rise of 3.2% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Airlines are struggling to keep their planes staffed. Staffing issues forced airlines to ground nearly a quarter of all flights in 2023, leading to salary hikes to attract new pilots. Flying schools are seeing heightened enrollment as aviation careers become more lucrative.
  • Students under 25 are becoming a larger market for the industry. Ballooning student debt is making many recent high school graduates skeptical of college, leading them to pursue flying school and other vocational schools.
  • Flying schools are typically close to metropolitan and popular regional airport hubs. States with significant military bases also draw flying schools for military aviation training.
  • Flying schools compete mainly on tuition and links with major airlines. To soften the competition, some schools focus on improving their reputation or forming ties with airlines.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pilot shortage is fueling the industry's growth

  • Major airlines have been concerned about a pilot shortage for over a decade. Airlines aren't allowed to employ pilots over 65 years of age, and forced retirement policies create attrition that many worry isn't adequately replenished by new pilots. These concerns surged as many pilots retired early amid the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on passenger air transport.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Flying Schools in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Flying schools will be be primarily responsible for addressing the worsening pilot shortage

  • The pilot shortage is expected to get worse through the next period. Boeing's latest estimate (2024) expects steadily rising demand to create 127,000 new pilot jobs by 2042, but the current trajectory is set to keep the supply of new pilots significantly behind new job creation. Pilot attrition will exacerbate issues as the tail end of the massive Baby Boomer population reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Biggest companies in the Flying Schools in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
ATP Flight School LLC
1,241.5
98.8
8.0
Cae Inc.
1,036.8
-20.1
-1.9
Flightsafety International Inc.
895.8
110.4
12.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Flying Schools in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate training, Private certificate training and Commercial certificate training. Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate training is the largest segment of the Flying Schools in the US.

Trends and Insights

Commercial certificates are the industry's most expensive courses

  • Commercial certificates enable recipients to fly for compensation or hire. Some airlines and private jet charter companies rely on pilots with commercial certificates to fly their aircraft, though others require more advanced certification. Commercial certificates also enable pilots to fly sightseeing, skydiving or other revenue-generating aircraft.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides instruction in piloting, aircraft operation and related areas. These schools leverage simulation and in-air training methods to offer a range of programs, including private pilot, commercial pilot and airline transport pilot certifications.

What's included in this industry?

Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate trainingPrivate certificates trainingCommercial certificates trainingOther certificates training

Companies

ATP Flight School LLCCae Inc.Flightsafety International Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ENPLANEMENTMAINLINE CARRIERSROTORCRAFT

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 61151 - Flying Schools in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Airlines are struggling to keep their planes staffed. Staffing issues forced airlines to ground nearly a quarter of all flights in 2023, leading to salary hikes to attract ne...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Students under 25 are becoming a larger market for the industry. Ballooning student debt is making many recent high school graduates skeptical of college, leading them to pur...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Flying schools are typically close to metropolitan and popular regional airport hubs. States with significant military bases also draw flying schools for military aviation tr...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Flying schools compete mainly on tuition and links with major airlines. To soften the competition, some schools focus on improving their reputation or forming ties with airli...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Major schools' relationships with airlines allow them to control much of the market. ATP Flight School, Cae and FlightSafety all maintain partnerships with commercial airline...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of ATP Flight School LLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Cae Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Flightsafety International Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ATP Flight School LLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Cae Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Flightsafety International Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Flying schools are heavily regulated and receive little government assistance. FAA is the primary regulatory body that governs flying schools. Most of the FAA's Aviation Work...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Flight schools heavily rely on well-compensated instructors. Over a quarter of the industry's revenue goes to wages, as instructors' training and certification costs often ex...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States is $5.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Flying Schools in the US industry in 2024?

There are 1,033 businesses in the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Flying Schools in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Flying Schools market in United States are ATP Flight School LLC, Cae Inc. and Flightsafety International Inc.

What does the Flying Schools in the US in United States include?

Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate training and Private certificates training are part of the Flying Schools in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Flying Schools in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is ATP Flight School LLC.

How competitive is the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Flying Schools in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.