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These older tables of annual flight hour activity provide interesting reading. The tables were produced by the Aviation Statistics and Analysis Section of Australia's Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services from raw data supplied by the AUF, GFA, HGFA, SAAA and ASRA.
Similar information covering recent years compiled by the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics can be found at www.btre.gov.au.
1. Hours flown in ultralight activities, by State and category, 2000
1a. Hours flown in ultralight activities, by State and category, 2001 (financial year)
2. Hours flown in ultralight activities, by category, 1992 to 2000
2a. Hours flown in ultralight activities, by category, 1992/3 to 2000/1 (financial year)
3. Number of AUF registered ultralights, by category, 1992 to 2001 (financial year)
4. Number of ultralight aircraft and hours flown by principal aircraft makes, 2000
4a. Number of ultralight aircraft and hours flown by principal aircraft makes, 2000/1 (FY)
5. Number of aircraft and hours flown in HGFA activities, by category, 1992 to 2000.
6. Number of amateur-built VH- registered aircraft and hours flown, by category, 1992 to 1999
7. Number of aircraft and hours flown in gliding and gyrocopter activities, 1992 to 2000.
8. Summary number of aircraft, hours flown and average annual hours for all categories, 1999.
9. Average annual hours flown in General Aviation: 1976 to 2000
10. Comparison of General Aviation aircraft annual utilisation : 1980 and 2000
| Commercially built | Amateur built | Weight shift | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAO 95.10 | CAO 95.25 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.55 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.28 | 'Chutes 95.32 | Trikes 95.32 | Total | |
| NSW | 2,293 | 5,547 | 46 | 6,093 | 1,427 | 1,208 | 396 | 499 | 17,509 |
| VIC | 1,659 | 2,118 | 32 | 5,430 | 1,119 | 1,536 | 474 | 161 | 12,529 |
| QLD | 2,527 | 8,925 | 1,387 | 10,529 | 2,377 | 1,599 | 10 | 200 | 27,554 |
| SA | 721 | 1,247 | 0 | 3,039 | 878 | 1,041 | 33 | 30 | 6,989 |
| WA | 747 | 894 | 46 | 987 | 309 | 162 | 42 | 116 | 3,303 |
| TAS | 250 | 842 | 0 | 2,422 | 593 | 520 | 10 | 0 | 4,637 |
| NT | 142 | 342 | 0 | 446 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 1,072 |
| ACT | 83 | 54 | 0 | 21 | 187 | 48 | 9 | 0 | 402 |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 60 |
| Total | 8,422 | 19,989 | 1,511 | 28,999 | 6,977 | 6,114 | 982 | 1,061 | 74,055 |
| Commercially built | Amateur built | Weight shift | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAO 95.10 | CAO 95.25 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.55 |
CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.28 | 'Chutes 95.32 | Trikes 95.32 |
Sub total | Total | |
| NSW | 2,114 | 5,260 | 206 | 6,263 | 2,016 | 1,135 | 363 | 415 | 15,658 | 17,772 |
| VIC | 2,189 | 2,364 | 95 | 4,924 | 1,338 | 1,496 | 566 | 228 | 11,011 | 13,200 |
| QLD | 2,083 | 9,549 | 1,403 | 9,130 | 2,900 | 1,627 | - | 200 | 24,809 | 26,892 |
| SA | 699 | 1,542 | - | 3,943 | 1,002 | 787 | 92 | 36 | 7,402 | 8,101 |
| WA | 682 | 799 | 46 | 764 | 374 | 147 | 12 | 109 | 2,251 | 2,933 |
| TAS | 180 | 658 | - | 1,342 | 815 | 443 | 10 | 50 | 3,318 | 3,498 |
| NT | 142 | 202 | - | 572 | 87 | - | - | 55 | 916 | 1,058 |
| ACT | 41 | 34 | - | 21 | 129 | 48 | - | 33 | 265 | 306 |
| Unknown | - | 20 | - | 32 | - | - | - | - | 52 | 52 |
| Total | 8,130 | 20,428 | 1,750 | 26,991 | 8,661 | 5,683 | 1,043 | 1,126 | 65,682 | 73,812 |
| Commercially built | Amateur built | Weight shift | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAO 95.10 | CAO 95.25 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.55 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.28 | 'Chutes 95.32 | Trikes 95.32 | Total | |
| 1992 | 9,746 | 32,418 | 0 | 8,422 | 0 | 468 | 912 | 448 | 52,414 |
| 1993 | 10,502 | 33,134 | 0 | 10,910 | 0 | 1,130 | 597 | 546 | 56,819 |
| 1994 | 11,246 | 36,420 | 0 | 21,586 | 0 | 1,839 | 1,367 | 499 | 72,957 |
| 1995 | 11,420 | 31,059 | 0 | 24,774 | 0 | 2,902 | 1,398 | 448 | 72,001 |
| 1996 | 11,251 | 29,443 | 0 | 25,105 | 0 | 2,987 | 1,285 | 352 | 70,423 |
| 1997 | 10,252 | 30,470 | 0 | 27,675 | 0 | 4,582 | 1,200 | 900 | 75,079 |
| 1998 | 7,436 | 21,532 | 0 | 30,846 | 42 | 5,342 | 1,333 | 1,041 | 67,572 |
| 1999 | 8,458 | 23,735 | 120 | 31,511 | 2,224 | 5,623 | 1,266 | 978 | 73,915 |
| 2000 | 8,422 | 19,989 | 1,511 | 28,999 | 6,977 | 6,114 | 982 | 1,061 | 74,055 |
| Commercially built | Amateur built | Weight shift | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAO 95.10 | CAO 95.25 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.55 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.28 | 'Chutes 95.32 | Trikes 95.32 | Total | |
| 1992/93 | 10,502.0 | 33,134.0 | .. | 10,910.0 | .. | 1,130.0 | 597.0 | 546.0 | 56,819.0 |
| 1993/94 | 10,372.0 | 36,664.0 | .. | 20,422.0 | .. | 1,593.0 | 1,450.0 | 410.0 | 70,911.0 |
| 1994/95 | 12,508.0 | 32,788.0 | .. | 20,734.0 | .. | 2,613.0 | 1,503.0 | 550.0 | 70,696.0 |
| 1995/96 | 11,134.0 | 29,912.0 | .. | 26,397.0 | .. | 2,735.0 | 1,369.0 | 364.0 | 71,911.0 |
| 1996/97 | 10,590.0 | 27,743.0 | .. | 26,023.0 | .. | 3,595.0 | 1,319.0 | 620.0 | 69,890.0 |
| 1997/98 | 10,126.0 | 25,936.0 | .. | 30,582.0 | .. | 4,979.0 | 1,213.0 | 1,009.0 | 73,845.0 |
| 1998/99 | 8,286.0 | 22,403.0 | - | 30,900.0 | 770.0 | 5,526.0 | 1,084.0 | 1,222.0 | 70,191.0 |
| 1999/00 | 8,902.0 | 23,360.0 | 542.0 | 33,360.0 | 4,414.0 | 5,529.0 | 1,108.0 | 1,091.0 | 78,306.0 |
| 2000/01 | 8,130.0 | 20,428.0 | 1,750.0 | 26,991.0 | 8,661.0 | 5,683.0 | 1,043.0 | 1,126.0 | 73,812.0 |
| Commercially built | Amateur built | Weight shift | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | CAO 95.10 | CAO 95.25 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.55 | CAO 95.55 | CAO 101.28 | chutes | trikes | sub total | total |
| 1992 | 639 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 445 | 1,084 |
| 1993 | 586 | 345 | .. | 89 | .. | 34 | 31 | 13 | 512 | 1,098 |
| 1994 | 519 | 355 | .. | 118 | .. | 48 | 46 | 14 | 581 | 1,100 |
| 1995 | 501 | 364 | .. | 151 | .. | 72 | 64 | 14 | 665 | 1,166 |
| 1996 | 494 | 379 | .. | 167 | .. | 93 | 71 | 18 | 728 | 1,222 |
| 1997 | 469 | 385 | .. | 196 | .. | 114 | 67 | 23 | 785 | 1,254 |
| 1998 | 470 | 388 | .. | 209 | .. | 139 | 74 | 25 | 835 | 1,305 |
| 1999 | 458 | 386 | 10 | 214 | 88 | 136 | 69 | 36 | 939 | 1,397 |
| 2000 | 439 | 366 | 44 | 227 | 186 | 135 | 79 | 46 | 1,083 | 1,522 |
| 2001 | 398 | 332 | 65 | 209 | 286 | 131 | 76 | 47 | 1,146 | 1,544 |
The ultralight hours flown during the year reported are those returned at the time of annual renewal of each aircraft's registration. Consequently no hours will be recorded for an aircraft first registered in the reporting year or amateur-built aircraft issued with a registration number but still under construction.
| Aircraft make | Number of aircraft | Hours flown | Average annual hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncertified 95.10 | 409 | 8,422 | 21 |
| Type Approved Aircraft | |||
| Commercially manufactured CAO 95.55 (24-xxxx) | |||
| Bantam | 10 | 478 | 48 |
| Skyfox | 26 | 633 | 24 |
| Slepcev Storch | 11 | 400 | 36 |
| Other | 7 | - | - |
| Sub total | 54 | 1,511 | 28 |
| Commercially manufactured CAO 95.25 (25-xxxx) | |||
| Drifter | 88 | 6,287 | 71 |
| Light Wing | 76 | 5,795 | 76 |
| Sadler Vampire | 12 | 100 | 8 |
| Sapphire | 21 | 692 | 33 |
| Thruster | 140 | 6,860 | 50 |
| Other | 10 | 255 | 26 |
| Sub total | 347 | 19,989 | 58 |
| Commercially manufactured CAO 101.55 (55-xxxx) | |||
| Drifter | 35 | 5,885 | 168 |
| Jabiru | 91 | 14,758 | 162 |
| Light Wing | 9 | 1,540 | 171 |
| Quicksilver | 6 | 161 | 27 |
| Skyfox | 68 | 6,555 | 96 |
| Other | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| Sub total | 210 | 28,999 | 138 |
| Amateur-built CAO 95.55 (19-xxxx) | |||
| Avid | 6 | 18 | 3 |
| Boorabee | 5 | 394 | 79 |
| Fisher | 7 | - | - |
| Jabiru | 30 | 1,596 | 53 |
| Jodel | 7 | 72 | 10 |
| Quad City | 11 | 125 | 11 |
| RANS | 12 | 443 | 37 |
| Slepcev Storch | 4 | - | - |
| X-Air | 34 | 582 | 17 |
| Zenair | 10 | 82 | 8 |
| Other | 119 | 3,665 | 31 |
| Sub total | 245 | 6,977 | 29 |
| Amateur-built CAO 101.28 (28-xxxx) | |||
| CFM | 5 | 356 | 71 |
| Corby | 8 | 151 | 19 |
| Evans | 9 | 229 | 25 |
| Jabiru | 15 | 1,067 | 71 |
| Karatoo | 6 | 286 | 48 |
| Kitfox | 15 | 757 | 50 |
| Light Wing | 8 | 534 | 67 |
| Monnet | 6 | 203 | 34 |
| Murphy | 5 | 187 | 37 |
| Quicksilver | 8 | 595 | 75 |
| RANS | 20 | 908 | 45 |
| Other | 29 | 841 | 29 |
| Sub total | 134 | 6,114 | 46 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Powered Parachutes | |||
| Aerochute | 69 | 883 | 13 |
| Powerchute | 8 | 99 | 12 |
| Sub total | 77 | 982 | 13 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Trikes | |||
| Airborne | 20 | 495 | 25 |
| Pegasus | 13 | 176 | 14 |
| Other | 11 | 390 | 36 |
| Sub Total | 44 | 1,061 | 24 |
| Type approved total | 1,111 | 65,633 | 59 |
| Total all ultralights | 1,520 | 74,055 | 49 |
| Aircraft make | Number of aircraft | Hours flown |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified Aircraft | ||
| CAO 95.10 | 398 | 8,130 |
| Commercially-manufactured Aircraft (CAO 95.25) | ||
| Birdman | 5 | 103 |
| Drifter | 85 | 6,854 |
| Light Wing | 74 | 5,727 |
| Sadler Vampire | 13 | 102 |
| Sapphire | 20 | 734 |
| Thruster | 129 | 6,784 |
| Other | 6 | 124 |
| Sub Total | 332 | 20,428 |
| Commercially-manufactured Aircraft (CAO 95.55) | ||
| Bantam | 10 | 185 |
| Skyfox | 34 | 1,119 |
| Slepcev Storch | 14 | 435 |
| Other | 7 | 11 |
| Sub Total | 65 | 1,750 |
| Commercially-manufactured Aircraft (CAO 101.55) | ||
| Drifter | 34 | 4,853 |
| Jabiru | 92 | 14,004 |
| Light Wing | 10 | 1,510 |
| Quicksilver | 8 | 252 |
| Skyfox | 64 | 6,272 |
| Other | 1 | 100 |
| Sub Total | 209 | 26,991 |
| Amateur-built Aircraft (CAO 95.55) | ||
| Avid | 6 | 111 |
| Boorabee | 5 | 352 |
| Fisher | 7 | 56 |
| Foxcon | 5 | 356 |
| Jabiru | 46 | 1,730 |
| Jodel | 9 | 132 |
| Quad City | 11 | 269 |
| RANS | 13 | 454 |
| Slepcev Storch | 6 | 40 |
| Stol | 6 | 93 |
| X-Air | 36 | 904 |
| Zenair | 12 | 119 |
| Other | 124 | 4,045 |
| Sub Total | 286 | 8,661 |
| Amateur-built Aircraft (CAO 101.28) | ||
| Avid | 5 | 13 |
| CFM | 5 | 359 |
| Corby | 7 | 192 |
| Evans | 8 | 86 |
| Jabiru | 14 | 1,033 |
| Karatoo | 6 | 286 |
| Kitfox | 14 | 628 |
| Light Wing | 8 | 519 |
| Monnett | 6 | 208 |
| Murphy | 5 | 187 |
| Quicksilver | 7 | 565 |
| RANS | 20 | 795 |
| Other | 26 | 812 |
| Sub Total | 131 | 5,683 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Powered Parachutes | ||
| Aerochute | 68 | 930 |
| Powerchute | 8 | 113 |
| Sub total | 76 | 1,043 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Trikes | ||
| Airborne Windsports | 25 | 494 |
| Pegasus | 12 | 246 |
| Other | 10 | 386 |
| Sub total | 47 | 1,126 |
| Type approved total | 1,146 | 65,682 |
| Total all aircraft | 1,544 | 73,812 |
| Hang Gliders | Paragliders | 95.32 Microlights | TOTAL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
| 1992 | .. | 58,500 | .. | 5,428 | .. | 9,542 | .. | 73,470 |
| 1993 | 2,160 | 64,653 | 390 | 7,666 | 104 | 13,888 | 2,654 | 86,207 |
| 1994 | 2,020 | 50,248 | 565 | 9,349 | 255 | 18,009 | 2,840 | 77,606 |
| 1995 | 2,045 | 49,178 | 657 | 12,293 | 320 | 24,938 | 3,022 | 86,409 |
| 1996 | 2,110 | 56,456 | 720 | 18,328 | 259 | 28,431 | 3,089 | 103,215 |
| 1997 | 2,100 | 57,289 | 890 | 17,258 | 270 | 27,726 | 3,260 | 102,273 |
| 1998 | 1,850 | 50,896 | 980 | 15,146 | 353 | 21,433 | 3,183 | 87,475 |
| 1999 | 1,845 | 50,397 | 1,042 | 24,205 | 376 | 29,983 | 3,263 | 104,585 |
| 2000 | 1,887 | 50,882 | 1,067 | 24,787 | 392 | 31,039 | 3,346 | 106,708 |
| Fixed-wing | Helicopters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
| 1992 | 381 | 10,712 | 1 | (a) |
| 1993 | 403 | 14,686 | 5 | 205 |
| 1994 | 400 | 11,689 | 8 | 358 |
| 1995 | 406 | 10,631 | 10 | 112 |
| 1996 | 417 | 12,059 | 10 | 49 |
| 1997 | 448 | 11,580 | 11 | 167 |
| 1998 | 506 | 13,074 | 19 | 183 |
| 1999 | 573 | 16,759 | 34 | 407 |
| GFA gliding | ASRA gyrocopters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
No. of aircraft | Hours flown |
| 1992 | 1150 | 83,252 | .. | .. |
| 1993 | 1153 | 72,982 | 199 | 5,564 |
| 1994 | 1026 | 80,067 | 226 | 15,048 |
| 1995 | 1025 | 75,916 | 269 | 14,355 |
| 1996 | 1057 | 69,211 | 385 | 23,307 |
| 1997 | 1059 | 68,933 | 394 | 23,319 |
| 1998 | 1056 | 65,370 | 394 | 33,441 |
| 1999 | 1051 | 63,875 | 432 | 30,434 |
| 2000 | n/a | n/a | 487 | 29729 |
| Category | Number of aircraft | Hours flown | Average annual hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncertified CAO 95.10 | 409 | 8,422 | 21 |
| Commercially manufactured CAO 95.25 | 347 | 19,989 | 58 |
| Commercially manufactured CAO 101.55 | 210 | 28,999 | 138 |
| Amateur-built CAO 95.55 | 299 | 8,488 | 28 |
| Amateur-built CAO 101.28 | 134 | 6,114 | 46 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Powered Parachutes | 77 | 982 | 13 |
| Weight Shift CAO 95.32 - Trikes | 44 | 1,061 | 24 |
| Total ultralights | 1,520 | 74,055 | 49 |
| GFA gliders | 1051 | 63,875 | 61 |
| HGFA hang gliders | 1845 | 50,397 | 27 |
| HGFA paragliders | 1042 | 24,205 | 23 |
| HGFA trikes | 376 | 29,983 | 80 |
| VH- Amateur-built fixed wing | 573 | 16,759 | 29 |
| VH- Amateur-built helicopter | 34 | 407 | 12 |
| ASRA gyrocopter | 432 | 30434 | 71 |
| TOTAL | 6873 | 290115 | 42 |
| Period | Private flying | Training | Charter | Other* | Total GA | Ultralight Aviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 - 80 | 259 | 339 | 276 | 610 | 1484 | - |
| 1981 - 85 | 280 | 300 | 303 | 650 | 1533 | nk |
| 1986 - 90 | 277 | 396 | 384 | 696 | 1756 | nk |
| 1991 - 95 | 258 | 432 | 415 | 610 | 1715 | 60 |
| 1996 - 00 | 263 | 447 | 488 | 616 | 1814 | 72 |
*Other includes aerial work (301), agriculture (125), business (163) and test & ferry (27) totalling 616 thousand hours annual average during 1996 - 2000.
The annual hours flown per private pilot in General Aviation is:-
66% fly less than 50 hours per annum
20% fly between 50 and 100 hours p.a. and
14% fly more than 100 hours per annum.
| Year | Total GA hours flown | Total GA aircraft on register | Annual utilisation hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1,652,261 | 6,163 | 268 |
| 2000 | 1,714,822 | 10,279 | 167 |
The utilisation of GA aircraft declined 38% from 268 hours p.a. in 1980 to 167 hours p.a. in 2000 with a consequent 38% increase in hourly utilisation costs.