Pilot numbers still dropping

It is unfortunate to record that, like the last report noted in the August 2007 Right Hand Seat, there are inaccuracies in the numbers.

This writer found no less than four errors plus two alterations to the figures released last year.

The helicopter pilot numbers are figures to enjoy with a steady increase. Helicopter ATPL(H) numbers have gone from 500 in 2006 to 551 in 2007. No doubt this reflects the increasing number of advanced twinengine helicopters being used in this region.

The number of commercial helicopter pilots has also increased, from 930 in 2004 to 955 in 2005. This increased again to 1282 in 2006 to 1337 in 2007.

The number of private helicopter licence holders is recorded as 376 for 2004, 388 for 2005, 770 for 2006 and 566 for 2007. On the surface of these figures there was a doubling of the numbers for 2006 but a drop of over 200 for 2007. This does not make sense. Perhaps the 2006 figure should have been 470? The commercial balloon licence holders have increased over the last three years, with 110 2007. In 2006 CASA opted to take back the issuing of student licences, which until then had been issued by a chief flying instructor. For the last two years of reported pilot numbers the students with no GFPT have been included. In 2006 they were 5299 and 6038 in 2007 – a good increase. Given that these numbers have not been included in all the last seven years of reported numbers, they have not been included in this report as it is felt they artificially inflate the annual totals.

Then we get into the aeroplane pilot figures. In the year 2004 there were 6025 (corrected) ATPL(A) holders.

This increased to 6103 in 2005, dropping to 6024 in 2006. In 2007 the number increased to 6226.

Between 2004 and 2007 1198 new ATPL(A) licences were issued but the 2007 number is only 201 (corrected) above that for 2004.

In short this means that 997 ATPL(A)s dropped out of the system. It is unfortunate to say that these figures will not be enough to cope with the increasing demand for airliner aircrew.

Commercial pilot numbers have decreased steadily thus: 2001 – 6712; 2002 – 4577; 2003 – 4350; 2004 – 4303 (corrected); 2005 – 4220; 2006 – 3712; 2007 – 3686.

So we’ve experienced a decrease of 3026 CPLs in six years! The commercial pilot numbers are the yardstick of commercial aviation health in this country and those numbers do not indicate a healthy industry. While it has been said that the cost of flight training is the major reason for decreased numbers of new commercial pilots, little has been said about remuneration as well as terms and conditions.

It is unfortunate that the number of active flight instructor licence holders is not shown in the flight crew licence listings. With the number of chief flying instructors and grade 1 & 2 instructors going into airlines the numbers will be decreasing. That is creating problems with flight training now and without doubt will affect both training and flight safety in the future.

Private pilot numbers have also dropped. In 2004 there were 15,498 PPL holders. In 2005 there were 15,014. This increased to 15,304 in 2006 but had dropped dramatically to 11,448 in 2007, a decrease of 3856. This surely must be a reflection on the ramped up cost of becoming a private pilot and holding a licence.

Costs such as the ASIC card, increased CASA user-pays fees, landing fees, aircraft hire fees, airport security, medical fees and increased Airservices charges all discourage holding a private pilot licence. At the same time the number of recreational aviation pilots is increasing each year. Little wonder.

The bottom line is that overall pilot numbers have dropped and continue to drop. In 2004 there were 33,246 (corrected) total licence holders. In 2005 this dropped to 32,696. By 2006 this became 31,423. For 2007 the figure is 27,234.

If the numbers continue to drop, have we as an industry come to terms with the safety and economic impacts this will have? Would the last pilot to leave the profession please turn off the lights? o Contact Dave at flyer02@ optusnet. com. au