PANEL REPORT: LIGHT GENERAL AVIATION. FUTURE AVIATION ACTIVITIES: SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1991, WASHINGTON, D.C.

The panel on light general aviation examined the current and future status of light general aviation aircraft, defined as fixed-wing aircraft, powered by single or multiple piston engines and weighing less than 12,500 lbs. The following trends were identified: Fleet size will remain relatively constant. Flying for personal and instructional purposes will continue to increase. Piston-engine aircraft flying for other than personal or instructional purposes will continue to decline. New aircraft designs will enter the fleet primarily through the kit-built industry. The attrition rate for used piston-powered aircraft will increase. There will be increased demand for retrofit of avionics equipment and other aircraft systems. The number of airports open for public use will continue to decline. Small airports will find it increasingly difficult to get federal funding assistance for airport improvements, thus reducing the utility of these airports. The number of hours flown by the piston-powered airplane fleet will grow at the same rate as the GNP. The number of active general aviation pilots will continue to decline, but the average hours flown by the remaining pilots will increase. Federal regulations will require more equipment on light general aviation aircraft, especially if those aircraft operate near large metropolitan areas. Mandatory additional recurrent training for pilots will cause relatively inactive pilots to become completely inactive and those pilots who remain active to become more competent and skilled, improving the general aviation accident rate.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/390/390-009.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Swanda, R L
• Publication Date: 1992-2

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 43-49
• Monograph Title: FUTURE AVIATION ACTIVITIES: SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, SEPTEMBER 12-13, 1991, WASHINGTON, D.C.
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 390
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Air transportation; Aircraft; Airline pilots; Decision making; Design; Economics; Financing; Fleet management; General aviation; Governments; Improvements; Instrumentation; Planning; Private enterprise; Regulations; Retrofitting; Small aircraft; Specifications; Time duration; Training; Trend (Statistics); Workshops
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fleet size; Long term; Requirement
• Old TRIS Terms: Design modifications; Light general aviation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Economics; Education and Training; Finance; Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00619235
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 29 1992 12:00AM