Military flight training schools market is estimated to grow 3 percent over next 10 years

Boeing's first proposal for a simulator within the T-X system, which became T-7A Red Hawk.

The global market for military flight training schools has enjoyed excellent results over the past decade and this positive trend is set to continue. This market is largely influenced by several factors, including the increase in the use of flight simulators and the number of training centers for military pilots. We believe that the business for the sector will grow further and it will be interesting to observe how new technology, such as Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence, will affect the market in the years to come.

With the introduction of modern and advanced combat aircraft, nations are increasing the budget for military pilot training programs. As a result, the demand for military flight training is increasing, which, in turn, is fueling the growth of military flight training schools.

According to our data, this will lead to an expansion of the flight school market of around 3% over the next 10 years. However, this trend could be challenged by some "blocking factors".

Various instruments and services, such as hardware, software, flight instructors, and classrooms are used during the training of pilots. However, the costs depend on the type of aircraft and the training provider. The training cost is increasing in various countries year on year. These costs could hinder the creation of new training schools and the growth of the market. In addition, there are strict requirements for acquiring a pilot license. Pilots need to have more flight hours before they can fly fighter aircraft. The increasing number of flying hours is increasing the cost of training. The military is currently starting to make extensive use of drones and UAVs for combat operations. This means that not only is training becoming expensive; however, the demand for pilots is decreasing. These factors are hampering the military flight training schools market.

The United States holds a leading share of the military flight training school market. The nation has extensive availability of technologically advanced products. Requirement of military flight training school systems in the U.S. is increasing rapidly due to various requirements in aerospace and defense. The presence of several major manufacturers in the region is likely to play a key role in driving the market for military flight training schools.

Along with the US, India could also tip the balance. The nation needs about a thousand pilots a year to conduct military operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft. This is likely to lead to the setting up of military flight training schools.

Looking to Europe, Portugal is also considering opening a new flight school, while Greece is modernizing the existing one. Furthermore, NATO is considering establishing a shared European Flight Training Center, with a large involvement of the defense industries.

Key players operating in the global military flight training schools market are ATP Flight School LLC, Airways Aviation, Boeing, CAE Inc., Elbit Systems, ELITE Simulation Solutions AG, FlightSafety International Inc., Indra Sistemas SA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Phoenix East Aviation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Thales Group, and Upper Limit Aviation Inc.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Image: Eric Shindelbower/Boeing