Earning a pilot certificate is a proud thing. Anyone who has attained the status of Pilot in Command knows the delight of the ego boost that comes with it.
We are substantive human beings. We’ve reached an important personal goal. It wasn’t gifted to us. We earned it through hard work, study, practice, and more than a few nervous moments.
Then there’s the financial strain. Few of us can honestly say flight training fit nicely into our budget. A period of savings was necessary, along with extra shifts at work or an additional part-time job devoted specifically to covering the cost of building flight time. And let’s not forget the scourge of taking on debt. So many of us take that route. As I did.
Once certificated and cut loose by the FAA, it is a great treat to experience the elation of taking a break from the day-to-day by going flying. We mostly stick to the local area. We book two-hour blocks of time with the local FBO or flight school, very possibly flying the same aircraft we did our training in.
When we’re confident enough, we invite friends and family to accompany us. Who doesn’t want to see their house from the air? Our sense of pride swells. The additional superlative we gain when people say, “Oh, they’re a pilot,” fills us with a sense of accomplishment and acceptance.
Life is good.
We’ve figured out how to afford an hour or two of flight time each month. We’re building an ever more solid basis for a relationship with new friends at the airport. Everything is going so well, until…
This is where the big disconnect can happen. Where discontent can creep into our flying life. Within a year or two we start to realize the local area isn’t quite as enthralling as it once was. Flying circles through the practice area or visiting the same destinations no more than 100 miles distant can start to become stale. Dull, even. The magic starts to seep out of our aeronautical adventures until we eventually drift away from flying altogether.
But wait, there is a solution for this problem.
Even a slow airplane can travel long distances far more quickly than ground transportation can. On flights of 500 nautical miles or less, the average general aviation trainer or rental airplane can often beat the airlines to our destination.
The airplane can be a highly attractive and reasonably efficient way to travel. Especially in terms of the time invested.
And that’s where the problem lies. Time. Few flight schools or FBOs are excited about renting out an airplane to take your special someone on vacation hundreds of miles away. Your week-long getaway might only require 10 hours of flight time. That’s a treat for you, but a significant loss for the business renting out the airplane. That trip accounts for fewer than two hours a day. Rental operators generally hope to see a bit more usage than that.
Their solution is often to implement a daily minimum. Three hours is fairly common. Which means your week away now requires a rental of 21 hours of flight time rather than the 10 you actually flew. That vacation just got a whole lot more expensive.
May I suggest an alternative you may initially find to be unworkable, but believe me, it is very much an attainable goal for those of us who set our sights on achieving it.
I’m talking about airplane ownership. If it’s yours, you can take it for as long as you want at no additional cost. You can fly when you want, to the destinations you want. You can even fly internationally if that floats your boat.
The question is, how can you afford an airplane? If you crunch the numbers, you may be surprised to find you could. For those who determine they can’t, I will offer this alternative view — get creative.
There are three ways to either own an aircraft or to have ownership-like rights in an aircraft. Each method is less expensive than the previous option and carries less responsibility. Understandably with less expense and responsibility comes reduced freedom. But you’re probably not looking for access to an airplane 24/7/365. In which case, ownership just got a whole lot more affordable.
The three options are these:
Private ownership
You have access to the aircraft whenever you want. You also have full responsibility for the hangar fees, maintenance, insurance, and such. This option offers the highest level of freedom, but carries the greatest level of responsibility. It is a very attractive option but may be beyond your financial capabilities at the moment.
Have no fear. Option Number 2 awaits.
Co-ownership
The math is easy. With two owners sharing the aircraft, all costs are cut in half. With four the expense is just one-quarter. Few of us fly so often we can’t share the airplane with others and still have as much access as we want. In many ways this is similar to sharing a rental aircraft, except you know and have a relationship with your fellow owners. No strangers are taking the aircraft. And you can set rules that allow co-owners to take the airplane on extended trips with no penalty.
Join or form a flying club
This is a more social method of gaining access to an aircraft or multiple aircraft owned or leased by the group. Some clubs are limited to a handful of members to maximize utilization of the aircraft. Some grow to 100 members or more. The economy of scale pushes costs down to the point that membership might cost no more than a few hundred dollars, the aircraft is available for extended trips, and the hourly cost is reduced from what you would pay a for-profit rental aircraft of similar type.
Each option is entirely viable. They’re legal. And they make the case that whether your budget is in the six-figure range, or limited to a few hundred dollars a month, you could be flying farther and for longer if you wish. And you can do it without breaking the bank.
I’ll expand on each option in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Or feel free to write me for more personalized suggestions.
This summer might be the best, most aeronautically satisfying one yet.
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