Just found this article:
In a press release, Tom Peghiny of Flight Design USA put it this way:
"80 percent of our recent new aircraft customer sales were to new pilots rather than from the existing pilot community."
He called it, "…a key development pointing to a new and growing market for LSA." "...... four out of five of my recent sales are to new pilots as well. They are typically guys 45 to 65 who are successful, and about half are early retirees or successful career-changers. Most had tried getting a license before and now were getting around to it," Peghiny said.
BUT _that_ news was tempered by a quick call to another large light sport manufacturer, Tecnam:
Phil Solomon, CEO of Tecnam North America, said it is certainly the trend he would like to see, but for now 70 percent of HIS customers are existing pilots.
His customers are still the older pilots who are downsizing..........
.....Complicating that at the moment is the fact that flight schools are having trouble getting loans to buy trainers, he said.
AND Michael Coates of Pipistrel USA said he has not seen a majority of new pilots among his customers. "That's not my experience," Coates said. "_Everyone_ we have sold to has [at least] a private license. Most have 30+ years of experience."
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