Right now, airlines can’t find enough pilots.
The demand is outpacing supply. Retirements are soaring. And in just a few years, the industry could face a full-scale pilot crisis.
By 2025, global airline revenues will pass $1 trillion. Over 5.2 billion passengers will take to the skies. But who’s flying all those planes?
The U.S. needs 18,500 new pilots every year just to keep up.
That’s why Elad Segal is on a mission. He isn’t just training pilots—he’s redefining aviation education.
At NW Wings Aviation, he’s building elite training programs, hands-on mentorship, and real-world experience to produce top-tier pilots in an industry desperate for talent.
But here’s what makes his story different:
He didn’t grow up in aviation. He pivoted at age 32, left a career in the ministry of transportation, trained at Hillsboro Aero Academy, and within years, became a leader in aviation education.
Now, he’s not just teaching students to fly. He’s filling the talent gap in an industry on the edge of transformation.
Want to know how he did it—and why his work is critical to the future of flight?
Let’s get into it.
Breaking the Mold: Entering Aviation at 32
Most aviation professionals start young. By their late 20s, many have already built a decade of experience.
Not Segal.
At 32, he was already established in a different career. He had a stable job, a family to support, and a future mapped out. But something was missing.
His love for flying had never faded. And in 2014, he took his first step toward a radical career shift—earning his first flight certification.
The turning point? Realizing that flying wasn’t just a passion. It was a skill he could master and teach to others.
From there, the climb was steep, but his commitment was unshakable.
| Year | Milestone |
| 2016 | Started rigorous training at Hillsboro Aero Academy. |
| 2017 | Became a Ground Instructor, balancing training with teaching. |
| 2018-2021 | Rose to Check Flight Instructor & Assistant Chief for Ground Training at Hillsboro. |
| 2020-2021 | Expanded into aviation education as a Faculty Lecturer at Portland Community College. |
He wasn’t just learning to fly. He was becoming an educator, a mentor, and eventually, a leader in the field.
NW Wings Aviation: More Than Just a Flight School
By 2021, Segal had reached another critical moment.
He could stay comfortable—continuing as an instructor—or he could break out and build something bigger.
He chose the latter.
NW Wings Aviation started as a small flight training school but quickly expanded into a full-scale aviation services business, offering:
✔ FAA Part 61 Pilot Training
✔ Scenic Air Tours across the Pacific Northwest
✔ Ferry Flights, Aircraft Management & Aviation Consulting
But building a business from the ground up in aviation? That’s a whole different kind of turbulence.
The Challenges of Starting a Flight School
Launching a flight school is fraught with difficulty. Among a raft of challenges, owners have to deal with:
- Regulatory Complexities – The aviation industry is heavily regulated. Meeting FAA compliance standards wasn’t just required—it was essential.
- Financial Struggles – Aircraft are expensive. Renting space, buying planes, and maintaining operational sustainability required strategic financial planning.
- Customer Trust – Established flight schools had decades of credibility. Convincing students to choose a brand-new academy wasn’t easy.
- Fierce Competition – The Pacific Northwest is packed with elite aviation schools. To stand out, Segal had to offer something different—a more personalized, safer, and higher-quality training program.
Yet, despite the challenges, Segal found solutions.
And within just a few years, NW Wings Aviation had built a reputation for excellence.
Aviation’s Biggest Crisis: The Pilot Shortage
Here’s a reality check—there aren’t enough pilots.
The problem? The industry isn’t training pilots fast enough to keep up with surging demand and mass retirements.
That’s where NW Wings Aviation steps in.
- More than just training pilots—it’s mentoring professionals to lead in aviation, preparing them for real-world challenges.
- Focused on quality over quantity—producing highly skilled aviators, not just certificate-holders.
- Hands-on, tailored training—ensuring pilots graduate with practical experience, not just classroom knowledge.
By integrating advanced safety protocols, leadership training, and regulatory compliance, NW Wings Aviation is shaping pilots who are ready for the future of flight.
Segal's work has become essential as the aviation industry races to fill positions.
What’s Next? Scaling Higher Than Ever
NW Wings Aviation isn’t slowing down.
Instead, it’s gearing up for major expansion—and the next few years will be pivotal.
- Opening a second location in Oregon – With demand for pilot training rising, this expansion will double capacity, allowing more students to train in a structured, high-quality environment.
- Expanding Ferry & Survey Flight Services – More than just training pilots, NW Wings is set to provide specialized aviation solutions, from aircraft repositioning to aerial survey operations.
- Growing the Youth Aviation Program & STEM Initiatives – Exposing kids to aviation early is key to building the next generation of pilots. This program will introduce young minds to flight training, aerodynamics, and career pathways in aviation.
- Earning FAA Part 135 Certification – This milestone will allow NW Wings Aviation to offer charter flights, expanding beyond training into commercial air transport.
With each step, Segal is strengthening the aviation industry, ensuring it remains resilient, future-ready, and capable of handling the growing demand for skilled pilots.
And this is just the beginning.
Final Thoughts
Airlines can buy more planes. Airports can expand. Technology can advance. But without highly skilled pilots, none of it matters.
The industry doesn’t just need more pilots. It needs better pilots—professionals trained in safety, leadership, and adaptability to meet the demands of modern aviation.
That’s where Elad Segal and NW Wings Aviation are making an impact.
By focusing on elite training, real-world mentorship, and industry compliance, Segal isn’t just filling the pilot pipeline—he’s reshaping how the next generation of aviators are trained.
As the aviation industry evolves, the future won’t be built by technology alone.
It will be built by the pilots trained to fly it forward. And Segal is ensuring those pilots are ready.
