Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2031)

The Civil Aviation Flight Training And Simulation Market size is estimated at USD 1.08 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.60 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.78% during the forecast period (2024-2031).

Key Highlights

• The commercial aviation industry witnessed an unprecedented downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic as travel restrictions were imposed globally, causing revenue streams to decline and leading to the grounding of a significant portion of the fleet. This situation resulted in the deferral of orders and widespread layoffs throughout the aviation sector as airlines struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic. However, with the recovery of the commercial aviation sector, the demand for pilots also experienced rapid growth.
• Due to the fact that there is a severe pilot shortage, the demand for new pilots is expected to drive the market during the forecast period. The civil aviation simulation market is an integral part of pilot training programs and plays a crucial role in the aviation industry. Flight simulators provide a realistic training environment for pilots, allowing them to acquire and maintain the necessary skills to safely operate aircraft.
• These simulators replicate the experience of flying an actual aircraft, including various scenarios, weather conditions, and emergency situations. The growing global air traffic and the subsequent need for skilled pilots are driving the demand for aviation simulators. Airlines and flight training academies rely on simulators to train their pilots efficiently, cost-effectively, and safely.

Flight Simulator Market Trends

Fixed-wing Aircraft Segment is Projected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

• By aircraft type, the fixed-wing segment held the largest market share and continued its domination during the forecast period. The procurement of new aircraft for both commercial and general aviation created a pilot shortage over the years. Although the pandemic has resulted in a drop in pilot demand, the long-term demand for commercial aircraft pilots remains strong.
• As per Boeing's 2022 edition of the Pilot & Technician Outlook, the global demand for pilots is projected to be around 602,000 during the next couple of decades. The demand for pilots fostered the establishment of several flight training institutes across the world, which procure flight simulation and training equipment to provide certified training services to aviation aspirants.
• Though the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in pilot furloughing in 2020 and 2021, airlines are now focusing on long-term growth strategies and have re-started collaborating with pilot training schools to obtain airline-specific training for pilots.
• For instance, in July 2022, Aircalin (New Caledonia) secured a contract with Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC) to provide flight crew training for its A320 and A330 pilots. Such developments are envisioned to bolster the growth prospects of the fixed-wing aircraft segment of the market in focus during the forecast period.

North America is Expected to Dominate the Market During the Forecast Period

The North American region held the largest market share mainly due to a large aviation market in the US. Air passenger traffic in the country increased at a rapid pace in the past decade, which has also generated the need for airlines to expand in terms of fleet size and new routes. American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines are the three largest domestic airlines in the US. As of January 2023, American Airlines operates the largest commercial fleet in the world with 933 aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing, with an additional 161 on order. Furthermore, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 135,300 airline and commercial pilots employed in 2021. Also, it projects that the number is expected to grow by 6% over the next decade, translating to more than 18,000 new hires annually.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in furloughing of pilots in the region in the last two years, a great demand for pilots in the region is anticipated in the latter half of the forecast period. Voluntary departures, fleet modifications, and the rapid rise in domestic travel demand created a significant demand upsurge for pilot training in the upcoming years. Hence, several airlines have taken measures to increase their pilot training capabilities. Airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have reported that they have ramped up the pilot training to help pilots return to service as quickly as possible. Such developments are anticipated to drive the growth of the civil aviation flight training and simulation market.

Flight Simulator Industry Overview

The civil aviation flight training and simulation market is moderately fragmented. CAE Inc. is the market leader mainly due to its huge geographical presence and brand image. L3Harris Technologies Inc., TRU Simulation + Training Inc., FlightSafety International Inc., and The Boeing Company are also some of the other prominent players in the market. Simulation and training providers and equipment manufacturers constantly strive to build brand reputation and reach out to geographic extremes to attract more customers.

Flight schools are looking for long-term collaborations with airlines and aircraft operators for pilot training programs, which may help them make sustainable revenues for longer durations. There is a growing demand for simulators that can be re-configured or possibly upgraded to support newer aircraft models, and the focus on manufacturing such simulators will drive the growth of the players during the forecast period.

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