RICHMOND, Ky. — According to consulting firm Oliver Wyman, the demand for pilots in North America is strong in 2023. The firm estimates a demand for around 17,000 pilots this year, with as many as 24,000 needed by 2026.

Per federal regulations, commercial airline pilots have to retire at 65 and in the next five years, 13% of pilots will be forced to retire.

Eastern Kentucky University’s aviation program prepares the next generation of pilots with over 100 students in their graduating class this academic year in both the fall and spring semester.

EKU senior Jesse Olmstaed said she always knew she wanted to fly a plane.

“Since I was little, I just remember that I’ve always wanted to be a pilot. That’s what I told my parents I wanted to do,” Olmstaed said. “For my 10th birthday, they gave me a discovery flight and since then I haven’t found anything else that I quite enjoy as much.”

Olmstaed is a flight instructor with EKU’s program and once she logs 1,000 flight hours, she can go on to many possibilities.

“I will continue to do that until I get enough hours and experience to go either fly; there’s tons of opportunities for airlines, corporate, charter; it really depends on your life goals and what you want to do,” Olmstaed said.

Much like Olmstaed, Rachel Reid has had a private pilot’s license since high school and before every takeoff makes sure her plane is in top flight shape. She checks for any abnormalities on the wings and body of the aircraft.

“Everybody does it a little differently. I like to feel for dents, especially on the underside of things, things you’re not going to visibly see on top,” Reid said.

According to Pilot Institute, less than 10% of all pilots are women, but since 2018 it’s a number that continues to grow.

“I remember my freshman year, I lived on our living-learning-community for aviation and the girls floor there was like five of us in total and now like I’ll go into some of my classes and there’ll be so many more women and that’s weird cuz my freshman year I’d be the only girl in some of my classes,” Reid said.

But the need for pilots in general is growing. The Academy of Aviation estimates over 800,000 pilots will be needed over the next 20 years.

Chief Flight Instructor Sean Howard said it’s affected by demand, supply and attrition. According to Howard, consumer demand for flights is increasing 6% a year, while the national training industry supplies 95,000 pilots a year. Through attrition, the industry loses around 15,000 pilots every year.

“Even though we are ramping up, we the national training system is ramping up supply, it’s not keeping up with the attrition and consumer demand,” Howard said.

EKU’s program is Kentucky’s only four-year aviation program, where once they log 1,000 flight hours, students can walk into a six-figure job.

“As demand increases, that raises the salaries for all professional pilots,” Howard said. “There’s not many industries right now that can offer that level of pay in that amount of time.”

Enrollment to the program keeps growing, with over 170 freshmen enrolled for next school year.

Degree options include a B.S. in professional flight, aerospace management and aerospace technology.

The program is based at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in rural Madison County, about 20 minutes from campus.