JSfirm.com, a leading aviation job website, has completed its annual Business Aviation Survey. This year, 279 Business Aviation personnel participated.
Compared to 2017, flight hours have increased (+12 percent) and more companies report being impacted by the pilot shortage (+26 percent).
Jeff Richards, operations manager for JSfirm.com, said, “There has never been a better time to join the aviation industry. Over half of the companies surveyed reported a continuous increase in flight hours, while the shortage of pilots is impacting their operations. The pilot hiring demand will continue to trend upwards for years to come.”
2018 Business Aviation Survey Results:
- 279 companies were surveyed
- 67 percent are experiencing an increase in flight hours
- 62 percent report operations are being impacted by the pilot shortage
JSfirm.com Business Aviation Survey results:
Q1: Which of the following best describes your title?
Answers
2018:
- Owner — 14.86 percent
- Chief pilot — 17.75 percent
- Pilot — 13.77 percent
- Flight department manager — 19.93 percent
- Director of aviation — 12.32 percent
- Vice president of flight operations — 1.81 percent
- Other — 19.57 percent
2017:
- Owner — 18.61 percent
- Chief pilot — 26.64 percent
- Pilot — 8.76 percent
- Flight department manager — 20.44 percent
- Director of aviation — 13.8 percent
- Vice president of flight operations — 4.38 percent
- Other — 7.3 percent
Q2: What FAR Part do you operate under?
Answers
2018:
- Part 91 — 55.27 percent
- Part 135 — 11.64 percent
- Both — 21.09 percent
- Other — 12 percent
2017:
- Part 91 – 75.09 percent
- Part 135 – 5.49 percent
- Both – 16.48 percent
- Other – 2.93 percent
Q3: How many employees support your flight department?
Answers
2018:
- 1 – 10 — 53.26 percent
- 11 – 30 — 24.64 percent
- 31 – 50 — 5.8 percent
- 51 – 100 — 5.8 percent
- 101 – 200 — 3.99 percent
- 201+ — 6.52 percent
2017:
- 1 – 10 — 71.17 percent
- 11 – 30 — 16.06 percent
- 31 – 50 — 4.38 percent
- 51 – 100 — 5.47 percent
- 101 – 200 — .73 percent
- 201+ — 2.19 percent
Q4: How many aircraft does your company operate?
Answers:
2018:
- 1 — 31.27 percent
- 2 — 11.27 percent
- 3 – 5 — 25.45 percent
- 6 – 10 — 12 percent
- 11 – 20 — 6.91 percent
- 21+ — 13.09 percent
2017:
- 1 — 42.65 percent
- 2 — 22.06 percent
- 3 – 5 — 17.65 percent
- 6 – 10 — 7.35 percent
- 11 – 20 — 6.99 percent
- 21+ — 3.31 percent
Q5: What types of aircraft do you operate?
Answers:
2018:
- Helicopter — 13.65 percent
- Turboprop — 19.42 percent
- Light jets — 17.59 percent
- Medium jets — 25.46 percent
- Heavy jets — 23.88 percent
2017:
- Helicopter — 6.57 percent
- Turboprop — 22.73 percent
- Light jets — 18.43 percent
- Medium jets — 30.56 percent
- Heavy jets — 21.72 percent
Q6: Are you seeing increased flight hours in 2018?
Answers:
2018:
- Yes — 67.39 percent
- No — 32.61 percent
2017:
- Yes — 55.51 percent
- No — 44.49 percent
Q7: What is the estimated increase in flight hours?
Answers:
2018:
- No increase — 30.26 percent
- 0 – 10% — 28.41 percent
- 11 – 20% — 25.83 percent
- 21 – 30% — 11.07 percent
- 31 – 40% — 1.11 percent
- 41 – 50% — 1.85 percent
- 50% + — 1.48 percent
2017:
- No increase — 43.17 percent
- 0 – 10% — 29.89 percent
- 11 – 20% — 20.3 percent
- 21 – 30% — 5.17 percent
- 31 – 40% — 0.37 percent
- 41 – 50% — 0.74 percent
- 50% + — 0.37 percent
Q8: In the next 12-24 months, my company will:
Answers:
2018:
- Refurb existing aircraft — 30.94 percent
- Acquire new aircraft — 23.78 percent
- Acquire pre-owned aircraft — 30.62 percent
- Other — 14.66 percent
2017:
- Refurb existing aircraft — 29.43 percent
- Acquire new aircraft — 17.36 percent
- Acquire pre-owned aircraft — 25.66 percent
- Other — 27.55 percent
Q9: Is the reported pilot shortage impacting your operations?
Answers:
2018:
- Yes — 61.68 percent
- No — 38.32 percent
2017:
- Yes — 35.4 percent
- No — 64.6 percent
