the sport pilot market projection
October 25th, 2005
The FAA 2005-2016 Aerospace Forecasts for FY 2005-2016 predicts that there will be 15,410 registered light sport aircraft by 2016. However, approximately 10,000 of the total will be due to the registration of existing ultralight aircraft. The report goes on to project roughly 300 to 500 newly manufactured light sport aircraft to enter the fleet on an annual basis beginning in 2007.
Why is this number so low? In comparison, Cirrus has already delivered 447 airplanes year-to-date. Can’t the sport aviation industry do better?
Yes. I believe the sport aviation industry can leave the FAA sales prediction in the dust. Hopefully the industry believes that as well. However, a fundamental shift in approach is desperately needed.
The real potential for sport pilot lies in expanding the market. How many times, when discussing aviation with someone, have they said “I always wanted to learn how to fly but I never had the…” and insert either TIME or MONEY. The requirements for sport pilot, in essence, cut both the cost and the time in half. No more excuses. We need to reach out to that segment and pull them in. Now is the time.
Currently, nearly all marketing efforts by the sport aviation industry are geared for pilots. As I’ve said in earlier posts, we need to reach out beyond the current market to pull in the potential market. The companies that successfully accomplish that are the ones that will truly benefit from the sport pilot rule.
[tags]Aviation Marketing, Online Marketing, Light Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot, Cirrus [/tags]
Entry Filed under: SLSA, aviation marketing, cirrus, light sport aircraft, online marketing, sport pilot
2 Comments Add your own
1. David Norris | January 23rd, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I would really like to know what the sales of new sport pilot aircraft sales is in the US. I have been looking and taking test flys. I will definitely buy one. However, I have been told by everyone I have talke to that they can “sell everything that they import”. I believe it. The California dealer for Allegro has sold eight of them. Everyone I have talked to has told me it was 10% down and wait six months. Finally, I was told that CTK has 120 firm orders.
My feeling is that we are getting sales of at least 100/month. But, I cannot prove it. Anyone have proof?
2. Administrator | January 23rd, 2006 at 9:59 pm
David, it does seem like the first batch of light sport aircraft are going quickly. Unfortunately, I don’t have any specific numbers other than what is reported in the aviation press.
My gut tells me this initial rush is due to the demand built over the last few years as the sport pilot rule was finalized. I expect this early demand to be fulfilled rather quickly. After that, it will be the companies with a solid strategy for pulling new people into the sport that will thrive and succeed. To date, I haven’t seen any companies that are doing an adequate job of pulling in new pilots.
Good luck making your choice and please let us know what you decide to go with.
Thanks.
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