How many pilots are currently stuck in the training pipeline?

... And what is the cost to the industry?

The more we get immersed in the industry, the more we ask ourselves this question.

At a time when pilots are in high demand worldwide, how many should be ready to fly but are instead held up in training delays?

Finishing student pilots on time is hard - there’s no two ways about it. Every stage of training depends on having the right resources at the right time. One bottleneck, one disruption, and getting back on track is even harder than staying on time in the first place - especially when so many are still trying to manage all of it on spreadsheets.

So, it’s no wonder there are delays. But what is the real impact?

The repercussions are widespread, but let’s start with the students - because becoming a pilot is already a huge financial commitment, and when delays push that first pay-check further and further out, it’s not just frustrating - it can be financially and mentally overwhelming.

The flight schools facing significant training backlogs have a few really unappealing options to clear it, including limiting new enrolments - hitting revenue directly.

And then there’s the instructor pipeline. Delayed training means students working towards becoming flight instructors enter the market later, at a time when demand for instructors is already increasing worldwide. The shortage of instructors just fuels the training delays further, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.

And, of course, airlines suffer from the ripple effects of these delays too - struggling with pilot shortages that force them to cut routes, reduce capacity, or scramble to meet demand.

But if training backlogs were cleared, how many more pilots could join the workforce? How much of this problem could be alleviated?

Yes, we are biased - oh, how we love a good plan! - but really, good planning can help solve all of this. In the short term, by getting students through training and into the workforce faster. And in the long term, by building a truly connected, free-flowing training system with visibility on exactly how many pilots are coming through.

We love tackling this problem head-on, and seeing the impact Aeroplanned is having with customers who are addressing this challenge is a real buzz.

Let’s clear the pipes!