Going inactive

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...

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Dean

On Apr 1, 12:06 pm, 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...

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Dean

There are other options...

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

wrote:

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Have fun!

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...

Two hours of flying time pays for a season pass at the local ski
area...

Dean

I think many of us have to do this from time to time. I did it twice.
When I moved to the Boston, MA area in '74. I couldn't afford to have a
home and eat, much less rent a plane. I would have like the opportunity
to fly in that area. My second time was for about 4 years when the kids
were in middle and high school. My time was pulled each direction. Then
I had a friend that loaned me his plane to get my BFR and I was back
flying. I finally was able to get my own plane when my kids graduated
from college and an inheritance. Go find a several people and split the
charges.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

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

On Apr 1, 12:06*pm, wrote:

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

Dean,
Avgas at our homebase went up to $5.30/gal last week. We were
glad to get our commercial training done last month when we paid just
over $4/gal. I tallied up our logbook and found that we flew 56 hrs
last month. I have not reviewed my credit card bill to assess the
damage. It is surely getting more and more expensive to fly.
I am sorry to hear that you are going inactive. Robert had
suggested CAP as one way to stay active. Another way is to volunteer
as safety pilot. There ought to be few IFR pilots at your homebase who
need to stay current.
Good luck.

Hai Longworth

On Apr 1, 7:24*pm, Longworth wrote:
On Apr 1, 12:06*pm, wrote:

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

* Dean,
* * *Avgas at our homebase went up to $5.30/gal last week. *We were
glad to get our commercial training done last month when we paid just
over $4/gal. * I tallied up our logbook and found that we flew 56 hrs
last month. *I have not reviewed my credit card bill to assess the
damage. *It is surely getting more and more expensive to fly.
* * *I am sorry to hear that you are going inactive. *Robert had
suggested CAP as one way to stay active. *Another way is to volunteer
as safety pilot. There ought to be few IFR pilots at your homebase who
need to stay current.
* * Good luck.

Hai Longworth

I think my best bet is to go up occasionally with my friend in his
Kiftfox 7A. It runs on autogas and burns 5gph. I can afford to split
that with him, and at least I can get some non-PIC time...

Dean

wrote

I think my best bet is to go up occasionally with my friend in his
Kiftfox 7A. It runs on autogas and burns 5gph. I can afford to split
that with him, and at least I can get some non-PIC time...

***********************
Even better, start building a homebuilt. A little at a time as you can
afford a little of this, or a little of that.

In 7 years (the average time to build a homebuilt) you will have something
you can afford to fly.

Or find some partners to get a homebuilt already built, and do it that way.
Buy it on time, and you might be able to afford payments, and still be able
buy gas to get some stick time.

That way, you can do all the work, yourself. All but the yearly inspection,
unless you built it yourself, of course.

I hope you can find a way to keep flying. If not, I hope it will not be too
long.
--
Jim in NC

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.

That sucks, Dean, but I've got an idea. In fact, I'm executing it myself.

I've gathered together six fellow pilots (most of whom already own other
aircraft) and we're going together to buy an LSA Ercoupe. Total investment
will be (at most) $4K per person. Fuel burn will be 4 - 5 gallons of mogas
per hour.

Mary and I realized that burning 25 gph at takeoff in an airplane that
carries four people at 142 knots and can haul 1460 pounds is great when
you're traveling, but makes little sense when we're flying to a nearby
pancake breakfast. Who cares if you're going more than 90 knots, when it's
the *flying* that is the point?

So, for less than the cost of a motorcycle, we're all going to get an LSA
aircraft. In the long run it will save us money AND be a lot of fun! You
might look into some similar set up?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"