Are People Still Flying As Much Around You?

Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in personal
flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern, nowadays.

Worse, we've notice far fewer people talking to ATC -- which indicates that
this may not be a local phenomenon. On Sunday, for example, we flew 90
minutes over to Rantoul, IL, and back, and heard maybe three other planes,
the whole way, outside of "working" aircraft. (And one of them was Jim
Burns, who was with us!)

We *do* tend to fly at "off" times (Sunday afternoons; Wednesdays and
Thursdays, mostly) -- but the change we're noticing has been pretty dramatic
since gas prices spiked. There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many
people flying.

Anyone else noticing this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 15:05:35 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote in
3focf.315149$084.6932@attbi_s22::

There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many people flying.

Do you think it may be due to the recent tornado activity in Iowa?

What I've really noticed is the number of beautiful clear calm days that
I've stopped by the airport for this or that and it's been totally
deserted.... nobody in the pattern.... nobody in the terminal.... nobody in
their hangers.... nobody anywhere. Nobody seems to be saying "Wow, what a
beautiful day!! Great day for flying or hanging out at the airport!" In
years past, these type of days would bring out all kinds of people to just
watch or take a ride around the patch.
Jim


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3focf.315149$084.6932@attbi_s22...
Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in
personal
flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern, nowadays.

Worse, we've notice far fewer people talking to ATC -- which indicates
that
this may not be a local phenomenon. On Sunday, for example, we flew 90
minutes over to Rantoul, IL, and back, and heard maybe three other planes,
the whole way, outside of "working" aircraft. (And one of them was Jim
Burns, who was with us!)

We *do* tend to fly at "off" times (Sunday afternoons; Wednesdays and
Thursdays, mostly) -- but the change we're noticing has been pretty
dramatic
since gas prices spiked. There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many
people flying.

Anyone else noticing this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Boy, I can tell you that here in the Washington, DC area ADIZ, flying
has dropped off substantially. Airports have lots of open spots on the
apron and in hangars, the DPE reports a 50% decrease in the number of
checkrides, and our flying club, which used to have a couple year
waiting list, now has 14 vacancies out of 60 spots.

Mark
Student pilot, KGAI

I've noticed it as well. I attribute it to (not necessarily in order):

1) higher fuel prices;

2) most GA pilots fly VFR and don't use ATC and are counfused about the
TFRs all over the place that can get them busted;

3) purchase, maintenance, rental, and instruction costs have outpaced
growth in discretionary income (I don't have enough data to back this
up);

4) people now work longer hours and so have less free time (e.g., my
job used to permit me to skip a few hours during the day to fly - I can
no longer reasonably expect to do that so I put off flying until
weekends; however, I have other commitments on weekends because of
family and so flying loses); and

5) the post-9/11 Homeland Security rules make it less likely that
immigrants will get flight training.

Jay Honeck wrote:
Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in
personal flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern,
nowadays.

Insurance all but unobtainable, parts manufacturers dwindling, fuel prices
skyrocketing, chicken little Bush administration closing down as much
airspace as they can, lawsuits, complaints, airport closures, planes
crashing more than ever... Yes - flying is moving back to the domain of the
privileged few.

Jay Honeck wrote:
Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in personal
flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern, nowadays.

Worse, we've notice far fewer people talking to ATC -- which indicates that
this may not be a local phenomenon. On Sunday, for example, we flew 90
minutes over to Rantoul, IL, and back, and heard maybe three other planes,
the whole way, outside of "working" aircraft. (And one of them was Jim
Burns, who was with us!)

We *do* tend to fly at "off" times (Sunday afternoons; Wednesdays and
Thursdays, mostly) -- but the change we're noticing has been pretty dramatic
since gas prices spiked. There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many
people flying.

Anyone else noticing this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

One of the flying group owners of the group I belong to told me they're
selling off one of the older 172's. I aksed if they were going to
replace it and he said "Not unless I have to. Nobody's flying anything
right now. Gas prices are killing us."

I do know that early this year if I didn't call a week or two in
advance I had trouble scheduling a 172 for training (the group had 4).
Now I routinely call a day in advance and have my pick. And most of the
time all the others are sitting on the tie downs when I go out to fly.
I just hope the group stays together long enough for me to finish my
PP.

John Stevens
Solo Student, ~35 hours

Jim Burns wrote:

What I've really noticed is the number of beautiful clear calm days that
I've stopped by the airport for this or that and it's been totally
deserted.... nobody in the pattern.... nobody in the terminal.... nobody in
their hangers.... nobody anywhere. Nobody seems to be saying "Wow, what a
beautiful day!! Great day for flying or hanging out at the airport!" In
years past, these type of days would bring out all kinds of people to just
watch or take a ride around the patch.
Jim


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3focf.315149$084.6932@attbi_s22...

Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in

personal

flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern, nowadays.

Worse, we've notice far fewer people talking to ATC -- which indicates

that

this may not be a local phenomenon. On Sunday, for example, we flew 90
minutes over to Rantoul, IL, and back, and heard maybe three other planes,
the whole way, outside of "working" aircraft. (And one of them was Jim
Burns, who was with us!)

We *do* tend to fly at "off" times (Sunday afternoons; Wednesdays and
Thursdays, mostly) -- but the change we're noticing has been pretty

dramatic

since gas prices spiked. There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many
people flying.

Anyone else noticing this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"





On the other hand last Saturday it was a nice day in the DC area and I
wanted to fly up to New York City. You need to call Potomac approach on
a land line to get a transponder code to fly in the Cadiz. I spent 25
minutes trying to get thru a constant busy signal. I finally gave up
and called the complaint line and got thru to someone who told me they
were very busy and that's why they did not answer.

John

Saturday in Ohio ,
Weather was not great. Very windy and a low ceiling that morning. It was
really supposed to have gotten worse as the day went on. Turned out it
actually cleared up that afternoon but was still pretty windy. Had two Cubs
flying , a Pitts, one glider, and me in the Champ. Not as busy as usual but
busy considering the winds.
Rates went up a few bucks an hour for rental (fuel prices), but still a
great deal.And still a month long wait if you cancel a flight! Maybe where
the cost of flying is reasonable , people fly? Just a grass field with more
traffic than I see at most Municipal Airports.

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:3focf.315149$084.6932@attbi_s22...

Mary and I have noticed a substantial (and depressing) drop off in

personal

flying of late. Often we are the only plane in the pattern, nowadays.

Worse, we've notice far fewer people talking to ATC -- which indicates

that

this may not be a local phenomenon. On Sunday, for example, we flew 90
minutes over to Rantoul, IL, and back, and heard maybe three other
planes,
the whole way, outside of "working" aircraft. (And one of them was Jim
Burns, who was with us!)

We *do* tend to fly at "off" times (Sunday afternoons; Wednesdays and
Thursdays, mostly) -- but the change we're noticing has been pretty

dramatic

since gas prices spiked. There just doesn't seem to be nearly as many
people flying.

Anyone else noticing this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The reasons in this thread have been covered. Outdoor weekends here
under the Twin Cities TCA once had the near drone of light aircraft.
Now piston engines are rare & there mostly seems to be only turbine
traffic associated with MSP - even on nice days. At my favorite rural
Wisconsin airport I don't see anywhere near the traffic of say 5 years
ago. Mindless maintenance and medical requirements, TFRs, ridiculous
lawsuits, and now ADIZs continue to expand unabated. My family is not
intererested in flying or even inheriting the 172M I've had for 28
years. Student starts are way down elsewhere. The skies are
disturbingly silent.