Redbird Migration: Boeing Bullish On GA

Although Boeing is rightly thought of as an aerospace giant, it’s increasingly expanding into general aviation with a recently established discrete business unit called Boeing Global Services. At Redbird’s 9th annual Migration training conference in Denver, Boeing’s William Ampofo summarized how the $17 billion business unit is increasing its footprint in light aircraft and business GA, with a strong emphasis on future pilot needs.

Headquartered in Dallas, Global Services employs about 23,000 people and includes Jeppesen, Aviall and the recently acquired ForeFlight and KLX, a supply chain business that Boeing renamed Boeing Distribution Services and which supplies parts and components to both Boeing customers and competitors.

Boeing is also partnering with Redbird on training initiatives to fill a pilot pipeline that Ampofo predicts will swell to a need for 330,000 pilots worldwide by 2030. Boeing also forecasts that some 40,000 new commercial aircraft will be fielded in the next 20 years. “There a downward pressure on infrastructure to do this, mostly in people,” he said. That includes not just pilots but maintenance technicians and related occupations. The Migration conference will continue through Thursday.