Why I Created Path 2 Flight

Up-Date: The 2024 Pilot Shortage Crisis

As of 2024, the pilot shortage has reached critical levels across the U.S. commercial aviation sector. The industry currently faces an estimated shortage of over 12,000 pilots, and this gap is expected to widen as baby boomer pilots retire. According to the Regional Airline Association, regional carriers, which operate many of the country’s domestic and short-haul flights, have been hit particularly hard, with some forced to cut routes or reduce services due to lack of staff.

Airlines have responded by offering unprecedented signing bonuses, higher salaries, and even covering some training costs, but these measures have only scratched the surface. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that pilots retire by age 65, and with many pilots reaching that threshold, the industry is losing experienced aviators faster than it can replace them. Boeing’s latest forecasts predict that the U.S. will need an additional 128,000 new pilots by 2035 to keep pace with rising demand.

Without an influx of new talent, the impact will ripple out to passengers and businesses alike: reduced flight availability, higher ticket prices, and potentially longer travel times due to fewer route options. This isn’t just an airline issue—it’s an economic one, with consequences that affect supply chains, tourism, and local economies.

When starting a new business, entrepreneurs are often advised to identify a real-world problem—something that people genuinely care about—and then create a solution. Sounds simple enough, but the challenge is finding a problem that’s both relevant and compelling. If people don’t care about the issue you’re solving, even the best idea won’t succeed.

For instance, consider the problem, I need a better way to travel through the city. The solution? Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. These companies addressed a widespread need for convenient, reliable, and affordable urban transport. Ten years ago, few people would have imagined messaging a stranger to get a ride. The concept seemed unusual, even risky. Yet today, we consider ridesharing almost essential.

Aviation has long been a field of ambitious problem-solving. In 1903, two entrepreneurial brothers named Wright tackled the challenge of flight. Their success was revolutionary; now, just over a century later, aviation is woven into our daily lives, with approximately 2.6 million passengers flying in and out of U.S. airports every day.

However, while demand for air travel continues to grow, a new problem has emerged: a severe shortage of pilots. Airlines are struggling to keep up with demand, with an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the field. American Airlines President Robert Isom recently noted that mandatory pilot retirement laws, combined with low recruitment numbers, are creating a critical gap. Boeing projects that North America will need 127,000 new pilots by 2037 to meet demand, yet the number of licensed pilots has been steadily falling.

One proposed solution is autonomous flight—planes that fly themselves without a human pilot. While this technology is advancing, it’s not yet ready for widespread use. It may be 20 years or more before fully autonomous flights are operational, and there’s still a major question: would the public feel safe flying with only a computer in control? Until that trust is established and the technology is fully developed, we will still need human pilots.

So why don’t more people pursue careers in aviation? Over the years, I’ve asked countless people, “Why don’t you fly?” Most answer that they’ve always wanted to, but they don’t have the time or money. There’s a common perception that general aviation—private flying—is only accessible to a wealthy few. This perception has led to a shrinking industry, with fewer people even considering aviation as a career path.

The barriers are indeed high. Flight training is expensive, costing well over $150 per hour, and becoming a commercial or airline pilot requires 1,500 hours of flight time—often at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a daunting commitment, especially for someone who has never experienced flying firsthand.

If more people could experience the joy of flight without the initial financial and time barriers, they might consider a career in aviation. Yet when someone expresses interest, they’re often told how costly and difficult it will be before they even make it to the airport. This approach discourages potential pilots and contributes to the growing shortage.

One simple solution could make a big difference: offer affordable, accessible introductions to flight, open to people of all ages and backgrounds. Instead of pushing students immediately into licensing programs, encourage them to take a one-hour “discovery flight,” where they can experience the thrill of being at the controls without the commitment. These experiences make aviation more approachable and could help spark a passion for flying that ultimately leads to a career.

Path 2 Flight aims to do just that. We’ve created a platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and schedule a wide variety of flight experiences at local flight schools nationwide. By connecting prospective pilots with schools, commercial carriers, and professional organizations, we’re building a bridge to the aviation industry for a new generation.

While discovery flights are often overlooked as revenue drivers for flight schools, they’re a powerful way to bring new people into the field. They generate a small but steady stream of income that can support investment in new training technologies, like virtual reality (VR) simulators and electric training planes. These advancements have the potential to cut flight training costs by as much as 80%, bringing the price down to around $20 per hour—a game changer for the industry. For these technologies to take root, though, there must first be demand.

The pilot shortage is likely to affect all of us, whether we’re interested in becoming pilots or simply want reliable air travel. Like the Wright brothers, we at Path 2 Flight are working to solve a problem. We envision a future where general aviation is accessible, affordable, and inspiring, where anyone with a dream of flight can take that first step.

If you’re ready to explore the skies, consider joining us. Book a discovery flight, support your local flight school, or just learn more about the possibilities that aviation holds. Together, we can help solve the pilot shortage and build the future of flight, one experience at a time.