On Apr 1, 10:17*am, "Robert M. Gary" wrote:
On Apr 1, 9:06*am, wrote:

Well, I just received an email from the local flying club stating that
the we rates for Archers is now $90 per hour.

Given that I haven't had a salary increase since 2001, the cost of
living has gone up over 22% since then, and my wife is back in school
getting her B.S. degree, I simply cannot afford to fly anymore. *I am
going inactive as a pilot until my financial situation is good enough
that I can justify it. *I doubt I will be able to fly again sooner
than autumn of 2009. *This will be the first hiatus I have taken from
flying since I received my license in 1991...

A couple things to consider. First, assuming your wife is getting her
B.S. in something marketable (not underwater basket weaving) hopefully
things will improve when she graduates. Second, you might want to
check out CAP. Although in many areas (including mine) its still
expensive for a pilot to get trained to fly missions (figure $120/hr
wet for 10+ hours), you can stay very active in aviation by getting
certified as a mission observer. You will sit in the right seat and
work the mission radios and equipment and you'll stay in the loop.
There is no cost in getting trained for air duties other than pilot.
Plus you can attend funded training weekends in which you may get an
hour or two of stick time funded.l

-robert

It is a nursing degree... she wants to become a school nurse. The
beauty of that is that here schedule will be the same as the kids, so
NO DAY CARE EXPENSES!!!! That is a biggie. She has an Associate
Degree as an R.N. but the school system requires a Bachelors Degree.

In the meantime, we are tightening our belts, so flying must go.

Dean