The number of private aircraft owners in the US (immediately addressable market) is around 300,000. Overall global market is somewhat larger, but not tremendously since aircraft ownership per capita is MUCH higher in the US than any other country.
On the downside, too, the market size is admittedly shrinking slowly. Private aviation is generally less popular than it was, say 15-25 years ago (likely the result of increasing costs and regulations).
There are upsides to the aviation market, though, that may help outweigh its size: A) upscale/luxury/wealthy market - costs for everything are staggeringly high, so premium pricing applies; and B) aircraft enthusiasts are typically technology-driven and likely to be early tech adopters.
In terms of applying the software to other markets, which may be larger, we've given this some thought as well. While car/truck owners (or fleets) might benefit from this type of application, there are existing software solutions aimed at solving the problems of roadgoing vehicles.
Likewise, aircraft are fundamentally different from a regulatory standpoint. Failing to perform periodic maintenance can be illegal - and lead to fines, censure or losing certifications/licenses altogether… yet nobody is going to be arrested if they fail to change the oil in their Toyota every 5k miles.
Plus, aircraft are somewhat unique in that records and scheduled maintenance are all based on # of hours (not on mileage as in the case of cars & trucks). I have heard suggestions, though, similar software might be applied to "heavy equipment" - like bulldozers and cranes - which also have hourly logs. Market penetration seems much easier for aircraft, though, since the aviation community is smaller, more consolidated and more tightly-knit.
On the downside, too, the market size is admittedly shrinking slowly. Private aviation is generally less popular than it was, say 15-25 years ago (likely the result of increasing costs and regulations).
There are upsides to the aviation market, though, that may help outweigh its size: A) upscale/luxury/wealthy market - costs for everything are staggeringly high, so premium pricing applies; and B) aircraft enthusiasts are typically technology-driven and likely to be early tech adopters.
In terms of applying the software to other markets, which may be larger, we've given this some thought as well. While car/truck owners (or fleets) might benefit from this type of application, there are existing software solutions aimed at solving the problems of roadgoing vehicles.
Likewise, aircraft are fundamentally different from a regulatory standpoint. Failing to perform periodic maintenance can be illegal - and lead to fines, censure or losing certifications/licenses altogether… yet nobody is going to be arrested if they fail to change the oil in their Toyota every 5k miles.
Plus, aircraft are somewhat unique in that records and scheduled maintenance are all based on # of hours (not on mileage as in the case of cars & trucks). I have heard suggestions, though, similar software might be applied to "heavy equipment" - like bulldozers and cranes - which also have hourly logs. Market penetration seems much easier for aircraft, though, since the aviation community is smaller, more consolidated and more tightly-knit.