Results from JSfirm’s (Booth 4925) annual business aviation survey indicate that flight hours are up, but companies are continuing to feel the effect of the ongoing pilot shortage. Of the 279 companies surveyed this year, 67 percent reported an increase in flight hours, marking a 12 percent increase over last year. At the same time, 62 percent reported operations being affected by the shortage, up 26 percent over last year's total.

“Over half of the companies surveyed reported a continuous increase in flight hours, while the shortage of pilots is impacting their operations,” said Jeff Richards, operations manager for JSfirm. “The pilot hiring demand will continue to trend upwards for years to come. There has never been a better time to join the aviation industry.”

Of the companies surveyed, around 55 percent operate under Part 91, 11 percent operate under Part 135, 21 percent operate under both, and the remaining participants indicated operating under other conditions. The majority of flight departments in the survey employed between one and ten personnel. In the next 12 to 24 months, around 30 percent of operators indicated they would refurbish existing aircraft, 23 percent said they would acquire new aircraft, and another 30 percent expected to acquire preowned aircraft.