As long as I have a window I will always love flying.
Liability
Noise pollution kooks
War on “the rich”.
It’s really a lack of utility because of competition.
Used to be that a light airplane could take you places you couldn’t get to on the carriers.
With the rise of commuter carriers flying high speed turboprops and jets to just about every little town, that’s no longer true.
And the seat cost on the commuters may be high relative to driving or equivalent distance city pairs in major hubs, but it’s still FAR cheaper then owning and maintaining your own beast.
Been there done that...
My impression is this is the most heavily federally regulated pursuit I could have selected.
Of course, this leads to probably the most costly pursuit I could have selected.
To complete private pilot training takes minimum $5,000 - $7,000. That's probably low balling it. I quit counting as I pay as I go. My goal right now is to complete my Private Pilot's license.
After that, I don't know. I have to worry about my bienniel physical which health insurance does not cover and of which there is a host of ailments that can ground a person.
Purchase and maintenance of a private, two or four seat small plane is also federally regulated, which drives cost, to the point I'm not even considering purchasing.
Pilot's are regularly harassed by law enforcement officials due to perceived threats of small planes. They happen to use airports.
Like I said, I'm not sure how much flying I'll do once I get my ticket.
I’m still toying with the idea of getting a pilot’s license.
ping
I have read this before - that there are less than a million GA pilots in the US - yet I seem to meet them all the time. I have held a basic single engine, land, airman’s certificate for a good many years, so I am one of them, but it sure seems like there are more than 2 pilots per one thousand Americans to me.
The “FAA” and the Litigation “Industry” will always take “care” of the Airline and Corporate “Pilots” and keep the air “Safe” for “Them”!
A Cessna 172 is a common, basic first airplane for a pilot who has recently obtained a pilot’s license and has no specific work related needs for it, although a 172 can certainly serve work related transportation needs for some unless they might normally need a large pick up to haul a lot of very heavy items around.
A new Cessna in the early 70s would cost approximately the equivalent today of about $90,000. Today a new 172, with better radios and avionics, but still roughly the same plane in terms of speed, carrying ability, etc is pushing $300k.
I got my ticket 25 years ago at KVNY when it was still affordable, $2000 TOTAL, $60 per hour wet with instructor, $30-$40 WET no instructor. Renting planes for a few hours was never a problem, but try renting one for the weekend and watch out. We had a Flying Club in Burbank which was great and we could take planes for the weekend, but that ended when Burbank threw out ALL General Aviation 20 years ago. Van Nuys barely has any GA today also. All General Aviation seems to be here at Whiteman now for the most part.
I bought my 180hp 1979 172 about 13 years ago and then used that to get my instrument rating, My Wife and I flew to our home in AZ every week for 10 years, Annual Cost was about $10K-$15K for everything but when your boy Obama got elected AvGas TRIPLED in price. SO I had to cut back. What used to cost $100 max for a round trip is now an easy $300
Airplanes are expensive and they will never get back to being affordable to the average joe. There are way too many lawyers and laws. Not to mention the constant currency devaluation we have going through since 1971.
Regardless of that though, You are still better off BUYING a good used 152 or 172 which you can get for $20K to $60K and use that for ALL your Training. I paid $45K for mine, but I also paid cash for it, NEVER FINANCE A TOY, so I had no other payments other than operating expenses:
$100 month tie down
$1100 and up for a Hangar if you can find one, I am in my hangar now with my 172 and the Velocity I am about 90% done building.
$1500 for the annual if nothing major wrong.
$800 per year for FULL Coverage insurance.
and just in FUEL it will run $45-$65 per hour to fly it.
Instructor will run you $30-$40 per hour
Rental 172 is $160-$200 per Hour Wet
In the long run you are better off Buying a Plane than renting, If you REALLY want to fly. even though it will be 30-40 years old and will cost you a lot up front.