Light Weight Training Aircraft Market Analysis: France & USA

This report provides a comprehensive market analysis of the light weight training aircraft sector, examining its current state and future prospects. The report begins with an overview of the market, defining light weight aircraft and highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. It then delves into key market trends, including the dominance of the airplane segment, the increasing adoption of light weight aircraft for pilot training, and the growth of kit-built aircraft. The report further explores the market's regional dynamics, with a focus on the European market. Chapter 2 examines training schools in France and Europe, as well as aviation colleges in the USA. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the competitive landscape, identifying major players and recent developments. Finally, the report offers recommendations for pilot training based on ICAO standards and addresses application concerns.

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Light Weight Training Aircraft Market Analysis

Table of Contents
Chapter 1....................................................................................................................................................2
Market Overview...................................................................................................................................2
Expected aviation growth........................................................................................................................3
Key Market Trends..................................................................................................................................4
Chapter 2....................................................................................................................................................5
Training Schools in France and Europe...................................................................................................5
Flying Clubs in France.........................................................................................................................6
Aviation Colleges in USA.......................................................................................................................7
Chapter 3....................................................................................................................................................9
Competitive Landscape.........................................................................................................................9
Major Players.....................................................................................................................................10
Recent Developments........................................................................................................................10
Recommendations for Pilot Training by ICAO.................................................................................10
Application........................................................................................................................................11
Concerns............................................................................................................................................11
Training and Practice.........................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................................13
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Chapter 1
Market Overview
Light-weight aircraft is defined as an aircraft (other than a helicopter or powered-lift
aircraft) that has a maximum takeoff weight of under 1,320 pounds (~600 kg). Light Weight
Aircraft usually has single or two seats.
The light aircraft market was valued at USD 956.44 million in 2020, and it is expected to reach a
market value of USD 1,311.27 million by 2026.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the civilian demand for activities related to Light
Aircraft, in 2020. The lockdowns imposed to curb the growth of the pandemic have reduced the
tourist inflow to locations that are famous for recreational activities involving the use of
Aircrafts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several L.A operating facilities around the world
have been forced to close temporarily and many new development projects have been hammered
by tanking economies and cautious investors. Nevertheless, the demand slump is expected to
remain short-lived.
Training on Light weight Aircraft is also gaining significance, with the growing need for training
pilots globally. On the other hand, major aviation regulatory bodies are working on introducing
new regulatory requirements and modifying the existing ones, aimed at supporting the growth of
the industry and encouraging new light weight aircraft procurements. This is also expected to
drive market growth.
Also the usage of light weight aircraft for Weighting and recreational activities has witnessed
growth, owing to the growth in the travel and tourism sector and the increase in the number of
enthusiasts involved in these activities.
Expected aviation growth
Air transport activities are expected to double over the next 15 years with a clear implication on
shortage of qualified employees, supervisors and managers in various positions in the aviation
industry and regulatory functions. The aviation community therefore needs to ensure there are
enough qualified employees, supervisors and managers for airlines, airports, air navigation
services, and regulatory functions to support this growth. Efforts to develop essential talents
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must reflect the principles and practices of human performance improvement and lead to
measurable outcomes.
ICAO standards for training and qualification of personnel
ICAO is concerned about global performance of aviation systems, if they are operated,
maintained, and managed by individuals trained with different programs and standards, and
unable to achieve the same human performance at their work. The expected and projected
changes in the aviation systems, equipment, ICAO SARPs, technology, demographic changes of
the workforce, etc. will additionally impact the occupational skill levels, qualification
requirements, and training needs.
Globally harmonized strategies addressing aviation training activities are therefore essential for
capacity‐building plans established by ICAO Member States. In this regard, ICAO Assembly
Resolution A38‐12, Appendix D, and the ICAO Civil Aviation Training Policy, approved by the
ICAO Council, identify the scope of ICAO activities in training and assistance to Member States
for achieving and maintaining competency of aviation personnel through ICAO aviation
training.
According to a study just published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) -
Global and Regional 20-year Forecasts – Pilots, Maintenance Personnel and Air Traffic
Controllers, ICAO estimates the number of commercially-operated aircraft will have jumped
from 61,833 in 2010 to 151,565 between 2010 and 2030, and the number of departures from
around 26 million to almost 52 million. This would more than double the current number of
pilots, maintenance personnel and air traffic controllers worldwide.
The ICAO study compares the average number of professionals worldwide that will need to be
trained annually with the training capacity of existing facilities. This reveals a shortfall of
training capacity equivalent to 160,000 pilots, 360,000 maintenance personnel, and 40,000 air
traffic controllers.
Key Market Trends
Airplane Segment Accounted for the Largest Market Share in 2020
Currently, the airplane segment of the market studied has the highest share, as the airplane
category of Light Weight Aircrafts are the most common in the market and are comparatively
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cheap, thus making them more preferable for recreational activities, enthusiastic flyers as well
for training new pilots. The growth of adventure Weights in regions, like North America,
Europe, and some parts of the Middle East, is the primary reason for the growth of the airplane
segment.
 On the other hand, the airlines, training Institutes, and aviation authorities have been
trying to bring the pilot training and certification costs down. In this regard, the adoption
of Light Weight Aircrafts is increasing, as they offer a lower cost of procurement and
maintenance and lower fuel burn than conventionally used piston or turboprop engine-
powered general aviation aircraft. Traditionally, it was observed that the demand for
factory-built aircraft was greater than the kit-built ones. However, with the growing ease
of building aircraft from kits and the growing information availability to enthusiasts, this
trend is fast-changing, and in 2020, kit-built experienced higher registrations compared to
factory-built ones. With the growing demand for light airplanes, several manufacturers
are introducing newer generation aircraft into the market.
Europe is expected to be the Largest Market during the Forecast Period
Currently, Europe has the highest market share revenue, and it is expected to continue its
domination during the forecast period. The region features several tourist spots and favorable
geographies for the activities involving the Light-Weight Aircraft. With the growing adoption of
these aircraft, aviation regulatory bodies in the region are introducing new regulations aimed at
supporting the growth of the industry and encourage new LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT
procurements and operations. In 2020, EASA (the European Safety Agency) started allowing
600 kg lights, which are the equivalent of US LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT in Europe.
However, as of mid-2021, some national regulators in Europe were not allowing this
recertification while others welcome the change. On the other hand, EASA has also made a
concession to allow light (and sailplane) to be used toward PPL SEP (and LAPL license)
renewals.
This is expected to help the pilots who predominantly fly light aircraft. Several new aircraft
manufacturers have initiated operations during the last decade in the region. Hence, many new
LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT models have been released recently to cater to the increasing
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demand. On this note, Flight Design general aviation GmbH has launched the CTLS 2020
Weight Edition in April 2020.
Chapter 2
Training Schools in France and Europe
For at least the next decade, the French aviation and aeronautics sector will attempt to meet the
demand for air transportation, which is expected to increase steadily through 2026. This growth
will continue to offer promising job prospects for commercial and private airline pilots,
aeronautics professionals and airport employees.
Along with the rapid increase in air travel, innovation in aircraft manufacture and emerging
technologies are opening up new fields and career opportunities for aeronautical engineers,
aviation mechanics and avionics professionals trained in a particular type of aircraft.
France’s aviation and aeronautics sector is in a particularly strong position in the areas of global
aircraft manufacturing and research and development – aeronautics is now the nation’s leading
export sector. And there’s much at stake, with general aviation bringing €4 billion into the
French economy.
In 2008, the Council for Civil Aeronautical Research (CORAC) was established to promote
cooperation in the sector, which has committed to reducing air traffic noise and carbon emissions
by 2020. CORAC is busy coordinating research and innovation in five major technological areas:
helicopters of the future, composite aircraft, new generation engines, extensive modular avionics
and all-electric aircraft.
Flying Clubs in France
Centre de Vol a Voile
The Aerodrome of Cahors-Lalbenque is the only flying school in the region offering gliding
lessons. Initiation flights and lessons given. Cieurac.
Aero Club du Quercy
Flying club for lessons in the practice and theory of flying microlights and light aircraft. At the
Aerodrome Cahors-Lalbenque, Cieurac.
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Parapente Valley
Hang gliding lessons over the valley of the river Dordogne travelling distances of up to 100 km.
Numbers limited to 6. For beginners and the more experienced. Day and weekend sessions.
Association Air Libre Montgolfieres
Hot air balloon trips for up to three passengers per flight either in the early morning or 2 hours
before sunset from a choice of locations, weather permitting. Winter flights if mild enough.
Sport Decouverte
Hangliding flights over the Tarn and Aveyron valleys taking in the Millau viaduct. Bungee
jumping, parachute jumps, helicopter flights offered.
Vol Libre Cadurcien
Paragliding club for all ages to meet new people and learn to fly paragliders. Regular events
organised to try initiation flights, meet with other clubs and take part in competitions.
Centre Ecole de Parachutisme de Cahors
Parachuting club for beginners and the more experienced based at the aerodrome of Cahors-
Lalbenque. Tandem jumps available. Instruction in free flying, skysurfing and freestyle
skydiving. Club house with swimming pool for members.
ULM Flying Dragon
Gyrocopter flying school offers flying lessons to pilots in the theory and practice of flying
gyrocopters in order to obtain a French license. Initiation flights, tourist flights and aerial
photographs taken. Pommevic (82).
Balloon flights over the Tarn
Hot air balloon flights over the Tarn countryside. Fully licensed, qualified, and insured English
pilot. Mornings and evenings, weekdays and weekends throughout the year.
ULM Causses et Vallees
Pilot school at the airport of Figeac-Livernon gives lessons to learner pilots of light aircraft and
microlights. Small aircraft and tandem micro flights for fun as well. At the Aerodrome Figeac-
Livernon.
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Aviation Colleges in USA
1. Purdue University Aviation College
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Purdue Aviation College is one of the world’s most prestigious aviation colleges. This is the
place Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon, graduated from. This aviation school at
Purdue University is known for the nickname “Cradle of Astronauts,” according to U.S. News &
World Report.
2. University of North Dakota
Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
This is another notable school of aviation you won’t deny a mention when listing top aviation
colleges in the world.
The school is owned by John D. Odegard. The John Odegard School of Aerospace Studies at the
University of North Dakota has long been known as a place where top-notch aero-space experts
are raised.
3. Ohio State University Aviation College
Location: Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State University is a school with one of the world’s best aviation colleges. In fact, It has
one of the top aviation colleges in the USA.
4. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University College of Aviation
Location: ERAU has three campuses; one at Daytona Beach, Florida, another at Prescott,
Arizona and the last one is known as ERAU Worldwide & Worldwide Online.
This prestigious college of aviation which also known as Harvard of the Skies is a school which
has raised more graduates than any other aviation university. That’s because it is the oldest and
largest with aviation university programs.
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5. Western Michigan University Aviation College
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan but the flight department is at W. K. Kellogg Airport in Battle
Creek, Michigan.
Western Michigan University college of aviation is one of the best aviation colleges in the USA.
The college has existed 75 years and has proven itself as a well-regarded highly revered aviation
college in the world.
6. San Jose State University College of Aviation
Location: San Jose, California
The San Jose State University College of Engineering offers a degree in Aviation Technology.
The aviation department began in 1936 when students in the math department asked about the
flight.
Ever since, the school has been serving students with an interest in business, technical, or active
flying careers.
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Chapter 3
Competitive Landscape
The light-Weight aircraft market is fragmented, with the presence of many local and regional
aircraft manufacturers that provide light-Weight aircraft models for leisure and flight training
markets. Some of the prominent players in the light Weight aircraft market are Costruzioni
Aeronautiche Tecnam SpA (Tecnam), Cub Crafters Inc., Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd, Zenith Aircraft
Company, and Van's Aircraft Inc. The players in the market are introducing new aircraft models
and are being certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation
Safety Agency, among others to expand their geographic presence and sales. For instance,
Tecnam received certification under the new German 600kg rules for its P2002 Sierra MkII and
P92 Echo MkII light aircraft in February 2020 and November 2020, respectively. The German
Type approval is also recognized in other European countries. On the other hand, companies are
also investing in the development of new aircraft with the latest propulsion technologies, like
hybrid-electric propulsion systems, to further enhance their presence in the market. Such
developments are expected to make the market more competitive in the years to come.
Major Players
1. Zenith Aircraft Company
2. Cub Crafters Inc.
3. Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam SpA (Tecnam)
4. Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd
5. Van's Aircraft Inc.
Recent Developments
 In July 2021, Flight Design announced that the F2-LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT was awarded a
certificate of airworthiness as a special light-Weight aircraft from the Federal Aviation
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Administration. According to the manufacturer, the F2-LIGHT WEIGHT AIRCRAFT is a new
high-end addition to the existing line of Flight Design aircraft, complementing the CTLS and
CT-Super Weight models.
 In June 2021, ICON Aircraft completed the first production ICON A5 featuring the Garmin G3X
Touch flight display. According to the manufacturer, about 2/3rd of the new orders have been for
G3X Touch-equipped aircraft. The company has plans to deliver 31 aircraft in 2021 and is
aiming to deliver more than 50 A5s in 2022. It delivered 22 aircraft in 2020.
Recommendations for Pilot Training by ICAO
Manual Flying Skills
These skills are typically thought of as pure core flying skills, where man oeuvres are flown
solely by reference to raw data obtained from the heading, airspeed, attitude, altitude and vertical
speed instruments, and without the use of technology such as auto-throttles, auto-pilot, flight
director or any other flight management system. This might extend as far as requiring manual
trim inputs and navigation using basic systems.
Pilot Handling Skills will include all the above manual flying skills, but may also relate to
combinations of manual flying, speed and directional control together with combinations of
automatic speed and direction control and guidance. Such combinations may occur through pilot
preference, operational or procedural requirements, or when some automated systems are no
longer functioning.
Whereas commercial airline pilots may once have been assessed wholly on their manual flying
(aircraft handling) skills, nowadays pilot assessment is predominantly based on Systems and
Crew Management, where management of the automated systems and maintenance
of situational awareness replace many of the traditional flying skills.
Application
Pilots require skills in a variety of situations including:
 Visual approaches
 Circling approaches
 Instrument approaches (some precision and all non-precision)
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 Landing
 Go-around
 Missed Approach
 Holding
 Reaction to ACAS/TAWS
 Recovery from unusual aircraft attitudes
 Rejected take-offs
 All phases of flight where aircraft flight control, management and navigation systems
malfunctions dictate
Concerns
There are many arguments suggesting that commercial airline pilot handling (flying) skills have
become eroded since the growth in popularity of fly-by-wire, glass-cockpit, fully automated,
system-designed aircraft. One could add to this the routine nature of many flight operations, the
growth in controlled airspace and widespread availability of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS).
Pilots flying with commercial airlines will typically only fly manually for the first and last few
minutes of each flight. If a pilot logs 900 hours in a single year, fewer than 5 hours may involve
manual flying. Also, more and more pilots flying today have never experienced an Industry
where flying manually was, or is, the norm, unlike older pilots where these skills became “hard-
wired”. This can further dilute the overall levels of pilot handling skills within an airline.
The majority of fatal, and non-fatal accidents, continue to occur during landing and go-
around phases of flight, and loss of control (in-flight) continues to be the predominant category
of fatal accidents. Other areas of safety concern, for the Industry, include unsterilized
approaches, runway excursions, heavy landings, tail-scrapes, level-busts, and engine and
airframe exceedance of parameters. Each of these phases of flight and accident categories
(above) would appear to involve pilot handling skills. Whilst it would be wrong to identify lack
of manual flying skills as the cause to all of these, especially where loss of situational awareness,
system malfunction, environmental factors and poor Crew Resource Management (CRM) were
involved, it nonetheless does indicate that effectively applied pilot handling skills may help
prevent accidents and reduce the consequences of errors.
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Therefore, any arguments suggesting that commercial airline pilot handling (flying) skills have
become eroded should be examined seriously.
Training and Practice
Basic flying training is predominantly focused on manual handling and becoming proficient in
core flying skills. By the time a pilot completes professional training the emphasis is on system
and crew management. During a pilot’s professional career as a commercial airline pilot he/she
will be required to demonstrate regularly proficiency in certain handling skills, and under certain
conditions, i.e. conducting a safe take-off with the loss of one engine, or, flying an ILS
approach to go-around at decision height, also with one engine inoperative.
It is important for airlines to monitor the skill levels of pilot handling, perhaps through flight data
monitoring programmes and line flying and simulator observations; then to use this feedback to
adjust training syllabi. It is also important for airlines to integrate automation use and
degradation into training to reflect operational conditions involving manual handling skills –
automation not just a theoretical subject.
It may be necessary to provide pilots with additional flight simulator training specifically aimed
at addressing pilot handling skills deficiencies.
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