150's and 172's about the only planes flying!!

"nrp" wrote...

Itinerant traffic at KSSQ has gone to about zero, even with the
excellent VFR WX this spring.

There's a perfect storm working against us prop pounding GA guys:
1. The age of the average flyer/owner is transitioning from the peak earning
years into the fixed income period. A scary phase to own a 30+ year old
money hole.
2. Avgas costs are up at around $4/gal, that's almost a 100% increase in 10
years. Makes forward looking projections very difficult.
3. Administrative, operational and insurance hurdles have risen to a point
where they seem to dominate every hanger/coffee discussion. This involves
everything from changing the 4ft high airport fence to one 8ft barb wire
topped with coded security gates. Airport authorites increasing insurance
minimums for aircraft in hanger and tiedowns. And limiting access rules for
personal cars and family tours.

I may see more of this as I'm in a suburban enviornment, but this is where
the people (read that as future pilots) are, and I see nothing inviting them
in.

AOPA has finally ramped up the Project Pilot program to focus on getting new
blood into our ranks, but their goals need to be much bigger. I'm talking
100,000 new pilots in the next ten years big. I really want to say 100k in
five years should be our growth goal, but 100k in ten years will at least
keep us alive.

One of the real bright spots the last two years has been the Sport
Plane/Pilot arena. Two years ago at SNF I saw ULs with bicycle parts, but
now I'm trying on real airplanes and some of them I can actually fit into.
They have reduced the kite/glider feel (increased wing loading??), and are
starting to demo them at less than WOT settings. My last ride the guy even
pulled out a homemade power table, and at 65% that plane felt pretty smooth.
All at 4 to 5 gallons/hr for the same speed as a c172/pa28 (minus the two
extra seats and baggage).

I hope the LSA/SP bring in a new breed of hobby flyers who can stay in for
the long haul. This is not intended to put down the Airline Capt wannabees,
but I do not think that "new student pilot model" has served Rec GA well.
The guys who go career aviation don't tend to do much small GA flying, and
I've seen too many bitter outcomes from the student to private to CFI (time
building) pyramid scheme.

Just my thoughts,... YMMV.