The Pilot Shortage Is Real
There Has Never Been
a Better Time to Become
a Professional Pilot
The commercial aviation industry is facing its most severe pilot shortage in history. The FAA projects a deficit of more than 17,000 pilots per year in North America alone through the next decade. Airlines are not just hiring: they are competing for pilots, offering signing bonuses, accelerated upgrade timelines, and compensation packages that were unthinkable 15 years ago.
This is not a temporary blip. It is a structural, demographic reality. The mandatory FAA retirement age of 65 means that tens of thousands of experienced captains will exit the workforce between now and 2033, and the training pipeline cannot replace them fast enough. Boeing's 2023 Pilot Outlook projects a global need for 649,000 new commercial pilots by 2042.
At Alto Flight Academy, we have been preparing pilots for this industry since 1995. We offer the complete pipeline — from your first discovery flight through your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate — at Sundance Airport (KHSD), one of the most efficient training environments in Oklahoma.
Start Your Journey17,000+
pilots needed annually in North America
$120K+
average first-officer salary at regional airlines
30+
years Alto has been training career pilots
$350K+
captain salary at major carriers within 10 years
Sources: Boeing Pilot Outlook 2023, FAA Aerospace Forecast 2024, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why the Timing Is Right
Four Reasons the Aviation Career Path Wins Right Now
Pilot careers have always been compelling. But the combination of a structural shortage, rising pay, and faster upgrade timelines makes the next 10 years the single best window to enter professional aviation in a generation.
Compensation Has Surged
Regional first officers now start at $80K–$120K. Major airline captains earn $350K–$400K+. Signing bonuses of $10K–$50K are common. The pay gap between aviation and other careers has never been wider in pilots' favor.
Upgrade Timelines Are Faster
In 2010, a regional first officer might wait 8–10 years to upgrade to captain. Today, some regionals upgrade pilots in 12–18 months. Faster upgrades mean faster seniority, faster pay, and faster access to major airlines.
Job Security Is Structural
Unlike tech or finance, aviation demand is tied to human travel — a behavior that has recovered to pre-pandemic levels and beyond. The FAA retirement mandate at age 65 creates a predictable, unavoidable demand floor that no economic cycle can eliminate.
Global Reach, Local Start
A certificate earned at Sundance Airport (KHSD) is recognized worldwide. Whether your goal is a regional carrier, a major airline, corporate aviation, or international operations, the path starts with the same FAA Part 61 training we have delivered since 1995.
The Path Starts Here
From Sundance Airport
to the Airlines
Every pilot at a major airline started exactly where you are right now: curious, maybe a little uncertain, but drawn to the idea of flying for a living. The difference between the ones who made it and the ones who didn't is simple — they started. They booked a discovery flight, they showed up, and they kept going.
At Alto Flight Academy, we have guided students through every step of that journey since 1995. Our FAA Part 61 structure means you train on your schedule, not ours. Our on-site maintenance team means your lessons don't get cancelled. And our Chief Flight Instructor Hal Harris means you are learning from someone who has spent decades producing pilots that airlines actually want to hire.
The Cessna 172RG, the Beech Baron Multi-Engine, Garmin 430W/GTX 345 avionics, ADS-B In & Out with Bluetooth — the tools are here. The instructors are here. The only missing piece is you.
Enroll NowThe Numbers Don't Lie
A Shortage This Large
Creates Opportunity This Large
The pilot shortage is not a talking point, it is a documented, quantified, multi-decade structural reality. Here are three numbers that define the opportunity in front of you right now.
2033
The Mandatory Retirement Year
The FAA mandates airline pilots retire at age 65. By 2033, the largest wave of baby-boomer captains in history will have aged out — creating a structural, unavoidable demand for new pilots that no technology can replace.
649,000
New Pilots Needed Globally by 2042
Boeing's 2023 Pilot Outlook projects a need for 649,000 new commercial pilots over the next 20 years. North America alone accounts for over 17,000 new pilots per year. The pipeline is not keeping up.
$120K–$350K
The Salary Range That Awaits You
Regional first officers start at $120K+. Major airline captains routinely earn $350K–$400K annually. With seniority-based pay, every year you delay starting your training is a year of earnings left on the table.
Your Career Starts With One Flight
Take the First Step Today
A discovery flight is not a commitment. It is a one-hour experience where you take the controls of a real aircraft under the guidance of a certified instructor. For most of our students, it is the moment everything becomes real.
The pilot shortage will not wait. Every year you delay is a year of seniority, earnings, and career progression you cannot recover. The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is today.
Alto Flight Academy has been at Sundance Airport (KHSD) since 1995. We have the fleet, the instructors, and the 30-year track record. All you need to bring is the decision.
What You Get at Alto
- Complete pipeline: Private Pilot through ATP
- FAA Part 61 — train on your schedule
- Cessna 172RG for complex endorsements
- Beech Baron for multi-engine ratings
- Garmin 430W/GTX 345 avionics in every aircraft
- ADS-B In & Out with Bluetooth connectivity
- On-site maintenance — no mystery cancellations
- Chief Flight Instructor Hal Harris — 30+ years experience