The Future for Pilots
The pilot shortage is real. The opportunity is now. Start your journey at Van Nuys Airport.
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 LA Flight Academy, we have been preparing pilots for this industry at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), one of the most efficient training environments in California. We offer the complete pipeline: from your first discovery flight through your Commercial Pilot certificate.
Four Reasons the Aviation Career Path Wins Right Now
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 Van Nuys Airport (VNY) 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 deliver.
From Van Nuys 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.
At LA Flight Academy, we have guided students through every step of that journey. 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 Pilot Jack Keshishian leads a team dedicated to producing pilots that airlines actually want to hire.
The Cessna 172S, the Piper Archer, the Beechcraft Twin Engine, Modern Avionics: the tools are here. The instructors are here. The only missing piece is you.
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
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.