General Aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as “all civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire”.
Approximately 350,000 aircraft and 700,000 pilots are involved in these activities worldwide, according to IAOPA Europe, which is the European branch of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA).
GA encompasses private flying and recreational flying, which includes balloon, glider and sport aircraft operations and accounts for about one-quarter of the GA sector’s 40 million annual flight hours. Other GA activities include Pilot training, Business aviation, Agricultural operations, Emergency services, Civil search and rescue, Law enforcement, Fire fighting, Aerial survey, Aerial photography, News gathering and Sightseeing.