Pilot numbers

[Garthur]

As of today the number of pilots by license in the US.

Student 94,816
Recreational 218
Sport 3,933
Private 204,788
Commercial 115,654
ATP 109,955

TOTAL 529,364

FYI

 

[Jim Logajan]

FAA civil airmen statsitics page has historical numbers:
http://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics/

 

[Jim Logajan]

Are these only with current medical? Cuz I thought a license was for life, so not sure how we could drop by 50% unless we all die. Also, how does the FAA take into account dead people? Do they even know that you die?

The FAA statistics defines an active airman this way:
"An active airman is one who holds both an airmen certificate and a valid medical certificate. Airmen who must have a valid medical to exercise the privileges of their certificate are all airplane pilots, rotorcraft pilots, flight navigators, and flight engineers. Glider pilots are not required to have a medical examination but the numbers represent only those who had a valid medical certificate on record at the Aeronautical Center."
So far as I know, their database is not updated when a pilot dies. The medical certificate would eventually just expire, decreasing their count.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Based on the geriatric condition of most of the pilots I meet I'd say our numbers could decline way more than 50% in a big hurry.