 Most sectors of GA for which data are available have experienced growth in aircraft numbers and hours flown over the last two decades . The lighter end of the GA spectrum : microlights , amateur built , and airships and balloons , have in particular shown strong growth , although the last of these activities was severely curtailed during the foot @-@ and @-@ mouth outbreak in 2001 , when access to farmland was denied . After strong growth in the late 1980s , traditional flying has shown a slight decline recently , reflecting a move amongst recreational flyers towards microlight aircraft , and increased numbers of foreign @-@ registered aircraft . Recreational helicopter usage has grown primarily due to the introduction of smaller and cheaper aircraft . Glider activity has remained relatively static , although there has been a gradual increase in the number of self @-@ launching motor gliders . 
 Most sectors of GA for which data <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>are</mark></a>available <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> experienced growth in aircraft numbers and hours flown over the last two decades . The lighter end of the GA spectrum : microlights , amateur built , and airships and balloons , <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> in particular shown strong growth , although the last of these activities was severely curtailed during the foot @-@ and @-@ mouth outbreak in 2001 , when access to farmland was denied . After strong growth in the late 1980s , traditional flying <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> shown a slight decline recently , reflecting a move amongst recreational flyers towards microlight aircraft , and increased numbers of foreign @-@ registered aircraft . Recreational helicopter usage <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> grown primarily due to the introduction of smaller and cheaper aircraft . Glider activity <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>has</mark></a> remained relatively static , although <a href='dey_it' title='7'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>has</mark></a> been a gradual increase in the number of self @-@ launching motor gliders . 
Most sectors of GA for which data available done experienced growth in aircraft numbers and hrs flown over the last two decades . The lighter end of the GA spectrum : microlights , amateur built , and airships and balloons , done in particular shown strong growth , although the last of these activities was severely curtailed durin the foot @-@ and @-@ mouth outbreak in 2001 , when access to farmland was denied . After strong growth in the late 1980s , traditional flying done shown a slight decline recently , reflecting a move amongst recreational flyers towards microlight aircraft , and increased numbers of foreign @-@ registered aircraft . Recreational helicopter usage done grown primarily due to da introduction of smaller and cheaper aircraft . Glider activity done remained relatively static , although it have been a gradual increase in tdanumber of self @-@ launching motor gliders .