Did I miss the Era of GA?

Twenty years ago I almost got into flying, I'd even taken my Discovery
Flight and was all set to dive in. Then my wife-to-be put the kabosh on it
saying it was too much money.
Now money isn't so much an issue anymore and I'm all set once again to
follow my dream of having my PPL.
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and future
of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

Here's one article, like many others that I've read, that expresses many of
the issues that sounds so dismal for GA. I'm now seriously considering
scrapping the idea of a PPL once again but I'd like to hear from some people
out there if the situation is not really as bad as this sounds.

http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso...eral-aviation/

Thanks

On Mar 15, 9:47 am, "Google Madness" wrote:
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and future
of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

The concerns are real; GA is under a lot of pressure. I could
certainly be depressed about it if I let myself be.

But instead, I dove in and got my PP-ASEL a few months ago. I'm
having a blast.

I've dabbled in fishing, diving, skiing, and a host of other
activities long enough to know that the single phrase you're likely to
hear most often is: "You should have been here yesterday!" (or last
week, or last year, or a decade ago). Well, maybe so. But I'm
here today, and it's not half bad.

Gary

Gary wrote:

But instead, I dove in and got my PP-ASEL a few months ago. I'm
having a blast.

I've dabbled in fishing, diving, skiing, and a host of other
activities long enough to know that the single phrase you're likely to
hear most often is: "You should have been here yesterday!" (or last
week, or last year, or a decade ago). Well, maybe so. But I'm
here today, and it's not half bad.


Excellent! You sir, are a true American. Would that there could be more
like you.

Semper Fi

"Google Madness" wrote in message
news7cKh.3341$I56.128@trnddc06...
Twenty years ago I almost got into flying, I'd even taken my Discovery
Flight and was all set to dive in. Then my wife-to-be put the kabosh on it
saying it was too much money.
Now money isn't so much an issue anymore and I'm all set once again to
follow my dream of having my PPL.
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and future
of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

Here's one article, like many others that I've read, that expresses many
of the issues that sounds so dismal for GA. I'm now seriously considering
scrapping the idea of a PPL once again but I'd like to hear from some
people out there if the situation is not really as bad as this sounds.

If you're concerned, don't buy a plane.

There's no good reason not to start training. Flight training is still
flying. It's all good stuff.

How would you feel if GA actually does go away in ten years and you have to
say to yourself, I could have........

"Steve Foley" wrote in message
news:KxcKh.4470$8o1.1674@trndny01...
"Google Madness" wrote in message
news7cKh.3341$I56.128@trnddc06...
Twenty years ago I almost got into flying, I'd even taken my Discovery
Flight and was all set to dive in. Then my wife-to-be put the kabosh on
it saying it was too much money.
Now money isn't so much an issue anymore and I'm all set once again to
follow my dream of having my PPL.
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and future
of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

Here's one article, like many others that I've read, that expresses many
of the issues that sounds so dismal for GA. I'm now seriously
considering scrapping the idea of a PPL once again but I'd like to hear
from some people out there if the situation is not really as bad as this
sounds.

If you're concerned, don't buy a plane.

There's no good reason not to start training. Flight training is still
flying. It's all good stuff.

How would you feel if GA actually does go away in ten years and you have
to say to yourself, I could have........


Since I played MSFS when I was a kid the default was always Meigs Field and
I am only 150 miles southeast of Chicago. I decided that I was going to fly
to Meigs after I got my Private just to bring my dream full circle. Well I
got my private about a month after King Daley plowed up Meigs Field. So I
guess the moral of the story is that there is no time like the present.

-----------------------------------------
DW

Other than cost SEL IFR and VFR flying is not that different than when I
started in 1976. Better avionics degrades map/compass/vor navigational
skills but I don't see many other differences.

As for cost when I started in 1976 my rental was a 3 year old IFR equipped
C177RG which was $25/hr wet and C150s were $15/hr wet. Instructor $12/hr (at
least that hasn't changed).

Today I spend about $15/hr for insurance. $50/hr fuel. Other costs
hanger/annual/reserve and occassional maint make up the rest.

So if cost (within reason) is not a problem then I would suggest starting
your training.

Howard
"Google Madness" wrote in message
news7cKh.3341$I56.128@trnddc06...
Twenty years ago I almost got into flying, I'd even taken my Discovery
Flight and was all set to dive in. Then my wife-to-be put the kabosh on it
saying it was too much money.
Now money isn't so much an issue anymore and I'm all set once again to
follow my dream of having my PPL.
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and future
of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

Here's one article, like many others that I've read, that expresses many
of
the issues that sounds so dismal for GA. I'm now seriously considering
scrapping the idea of a PPL once again but I'd like to hear from some
people
out there if the situation is not really as bad as this sounds.


http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso...eral-aviation/

Thanks

Google Madness wrote:
Twenty years ago I almost got into flying, I'd even taken my Discovery
Flight and was all set to dive in. Then my wife-to-be put the kabosh
on it saying it was too much money.
Now money isn't so much an issue anymore and I'm all set once again to
follow my dream of having my PPL.
But, I've heard so many depressing things about the state of ( and
future of ) GA I'm wondering if the era of GA has passed me by.

Here's one article, like many others that I've read, that expresses
many of the issues that sounds so dismal for GA. I'm now seriously
considering scrapping the idea of a PPL once again but I'd like to
hear from some people out there if the situation is not really as bad
as this sounds.
http://www.megginson.com/blogs/lahso...ts-to-general-
aviation/
Thanks

There have been doomsday predictors for GA predictors since the early 80's.
In some ways they have all been right in other ways they have all been
wrong.

Let's look at the blog you posted.

1. The end to Avgas: I've been hearing this for years. But every week the
truck still shows up at the airport and dumps a load of 100ll. If he stops
I'll start bringing my own Mogas. If I get to the point that I can't find it
without Ethanol in it I'm OK because the plane I'm building will run ion it
if I have to.

2. (In)Security: We are currently in a war. This war is probably going to go
on a while but there has never been an attack with GA aircraft. Yes there
are more security procedures but they really aren't effecting that many of
us. Part of me thinks the best thing that could happen is some terrorist
slams a 150 into the side of a nuke plant. The outcome would show that there
isn't a threat from light aircraft.

3. Airport closures:Yes airports have closed. More will but there are still
lots of them out there.

4. Maintenance: Airplanes have never been cheap to buy or operate. Yet I'm
building a plane that is capable of carrying me and a passenger with full
fuel and a little over 100 Lbs. of baggage for 4 hours at 135 mph while
burning 5 gph. The nice part of building is I'll be able to work on it
myself.

5.User fees: The numbers he quoted are significantly higher than any plan
I've seen legitimately put forward. The plan being debated now is to raise
the tax on Avgas 50 cents a gallon which will increase my cost by around
$2.50/hour. So, if I fly 100 hours/year the cost will average out to around
$0.68 per day. I can live with that and should I decide I can't I'll switch
to Mogas. There are some user fees being promoted that would charge you at
the largest airports but as I said there are plenty of airports out there.

Now some positive things happening in GA.

1.We have access to technology that you couldn't have seen in F-15 years 20
years ago.

2.The FAA with a lot of pushing from EAA and AOPA have created the LSA
license and aircraft certification standard that will allow you to buy a
brand new 2 place aircraft comparable to the one I'm building for less than
$100K. Take a 16 hour course and you will even be able to work on you own
LSA aircraft.

3. The homebuilt industry is at an all time high. There are 1000's of people
building planes that out perform in one way or another anything that has
been built by Cessna or Piper.

You didn't mention why you wanted to fly but if it is for business, travel,
or just punching holes in the sky there are lots of options and they aren't
going away anytime soon.

Gig 601XL Builder writes:

2. (In)Security: We are currently in a war.

The United States is not currently at war.

2.The FAA with a lot of pushing from EAA and AOPA have created the LSA
license and aircraft certification standard that will allow you to buy a
brand new 2 place aircraft comparable to the one I'm building for less than
$100K. Take a 16 hour course and you will even be able to work on you own
LSA aircraft.

Of course, you can't do much with it. And if you want an LSA because you
failed the medical for a regular PPL, you're out of luck (that's a really
bizarre rule).

3. The homebuilt industry is at an all time high. There are 1000's of people
building planes that out perform in one way or another anything that has
been built by Cessna or Piper.

This assumes that a homebuilt would satisfy your particular interest in
aviation.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

To the Google Maddness, the original poster,

Please excuse this interruption to what has been a very good thread. You
see, Mxsmanic is a fat troll expat American that lives in Paris. He has no
personal life other than to play on MS Flight Simulater and then come in
here and act like he is an expert in all things aviation. He also is only
capable of earning less than $700 per month.

Please don't allow him to sway you in any way or in any way discourage you
from asking further advise in this forum. At last count you had received 16
on topic answers so one out of 17 ain't bad. Every group on USENET has at
least one of these as do most communities in the real world. Now I'm going
to break my rule a reply to the troll only to clear up any possible
incorrect info for you.


Mxsmanic wrote:
Gig 601XL Builder writes:

2. (In)Security: We are currently in a war.

The United States is not currently at war.

2.The FAA with a lot of pushing from EAA and AOPA have created the
LSA license and aircraft certification standard that will allow you
to buy a brand new 2 place aircraft comparable to the one I'm
building for less than $100K. Take a 16 hour course and you will
even be able to work on you own LSA aircraft.

Of course, you can't do much with it. And if you want an LSA because
you failed the medical for a regular PPL, you're out of luck (that's
a really bizarre rule).


A pilot with a private certificate can do anything in an LSA airplane they
could do in a normally certified one. Including IFR and Class B airspace if
the aircraft is suitably equipped.

A pilot that has only an LSA certificate is under some limitations. No night
flight and my only fly aircraft with two seats that have a max gross weight
of 1340 lbs. Also, it has the benefit of not requiring a 3rd class medical.
Other limitations and information on the Light Sport rules can be found at
http://www.sportpilot.org/


3. The homebuilt industry is at an all time high. There are 1000's
of people building planes that out perform in one way or another
anything that has been built by Cessna or Piper.

This assumes that a homebuilt would satisfy your particular interest
in aviation.

Since the homebuilt market includes everything from low and slow single seat
aircraft to composite 4 and 6 place cross country speed demons I'm quite
sure there is a plane that you might not want to build but at least dream
about.

Don't really want to reply to an MX post, but for the benefit of the
original poster:

Of course, you can't do much with it. And if you want an LSA because you

"I'm doing this for the fun, fly the good days, and work to pay for it
on the bad".

You can have just as much fun in Day VFR as Night or IFR, infact, I
expect that most people don't really WANT to fly in IFR, or even
marginal VFR conditions anyway, and nobody HAS to fly anywhere,
anytime.

LSA (Ultralight/Microlight in other countries) is "where it's at"
presently in terms of advancement and development in recreational
aviation. To see that you only have to look at the large number of
new aircraft being designed with such specifications, and the teeny
numbers of new certified recreational aircraft being designed.

The US is only really just getting it's feet wet with that now, it's
been this way for a good number of years in the rest of the world.

failed the medical for a regular PPL, you're out of luck (that's a really bizarre rule).

Yes, that is a bizarre rule, no argument.