AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2016 - 65

Y BY THE NUMBERS
BY THE NUMBERS
50,458
50,458

New private pilot certificates issued
New private pilot certificates issued

High school
High school
More than
schools
More
thancurrently offer
aviation
STEMoffer
classes
schools currently

16,473
ate pilot certificates issued
16,473

200
200

Mor

aviation STEM classes

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ Nearly
$ $400,000
$ $

AOPA wants to

more
than to
double
AOPA wants

that number
more than
double

Nearly $400,000

500,000
500,000

that number

AOPA estimates there are about

lapsed
pilots
AOPA estimates
there
areunder
about70 years old

INFOGRAPHIC BY DAVID FOSTER

lapsed pilots under 70 years old

to the hosting organization and to AOPA members. AOPA provides marketing support, a presenter, slideshow, and handouts
and take-home materials.
This year, more than 40 percent of lapsed pilots attending a Rusty Pilots seminar have gone on to complete a flight
review-and that's after having been out of flying for an average of seven years. "That translates to thousands of pilots who
are flying again as a direct result of the Rusty Pilots initiative,"
Pribyl said. "Next year we're going to take it even further to provide support for pilots coming back after third class medical
reform. We're going to double the number of seminars available to 300."
INFRASTRUCTURE

Developing top-notch aviation STEM curricula, creating tools
for flight schools, providing hands-on support to flying clubs,
and delivering hundreds of seminars each year comes with
a price tag. And philanthropists, seeing You Can Fly's early
achievements, are stepping up to contribute. One of You Can

Fly 's notable accom- ENCOURAGING some of the
estimated 500,000 lapsed
plishments this year
pilots to once again take
came in the form of a to the skies is the focus of
the Rusty Pilots program (left).
fundraising challenge.
Flying clubs are a hallmark
One donor, who prefers
of the You Can Fly program.
to remain anonymous,
Florida-based AOPA Ambassador
Jamie Beckett mans the grill
said if AOPA could raise
at a gathering of a flying club
$1 million in 90 days for
he helped create (above).
You Can Fly, he would
give $1 million to match
it. AOPA accomplished
that goal when it raised
$1,104,000 from about 35
different contributors to secure the match.
Of course, that's just the beginning. It took years for the pilot
population to decline, and it won't be rebuilt overnight. "It will
take thousands of pilots, not millions, to reinvigorate GA," said
AOPA President Mark Baker. "Together we can do this. We have
to do this." You Can Fly is a long-term effort and that means
it needs long-term support. But as You Can Fly keeps delivering tangible, measurable results-as it gets more people flying
and keeps them flying-AOPA believes it will win broad support
from the aviation community.
"We believe this is the future of general aviation. When more
people fly, GA gets stronger. There is no silver bullet that's going
to turn the pilot population around," Pribyl said. "But we're
starting to move the needle."
AOPA
WEB

http://youcanfly.aopa.org
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 65

http://youcanfly.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/pilot

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2016