On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 02:05:26 GMT, "faky" wrote:

I will second the weather stuff. I use AOPA's weather for flight planning. I
have never seen, and will never see any of the arcane weather maps that the
FAA uses in their tests. These maps exist in only in the FSS which I as a
private citizen and pilot can't visit without a background check and several
day advanced arangments.
I also think it's time for the FAA to get rid of all the abreviations in FA,
TAF, METAR, PIREP, WX, etc. These abreviations are no longer neccesary since
we aren't sending the data using morse code or 300 baud modems.

That's something that could be easily remedied but getting change in a
government bureaucracy takes eons.


"Skywise" wrote in message
...
Larry Dighera wrote in
:

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 04:16:06 -0000, Skywise
wrote in
::

The only thing that's prevented me from going for a license
is the cost. I have been interested in learning to fly since
at least the late 80's but have never had enough spare cash.

I would expect that to be the number one barrier to holding an
airman's certificate among those who are otherwise qualified.

But piloting is costlier than what you probably expect. Finding the
means to complete airman training only opens the door. Once
certificated, you're interminably committed to the cost of maintaining
currency with frequent flights.

Exactly. At one time I had enough saved to get through
school but I didn't have enough spare cash on a regular
basis to keep up the hours.

Heck, now, I can't do anything extra, even my small hobbies.

If you want it bad enough you'll do it!

First, before anything else you have to make your mind up that you are
going to become a pilot. Of course you have to have the health as
well and stay out of trouble.

Far too many just convince themselves it costs too much and they'll
never afford it, or they don't have enough to go all the way to a
license now so why bother? They'll wait until they can afford to do
the whole thing. There are many excuses for not flying *now*, but
most are just excuses. So what if you can only afford to take five or
10 lessons now? Do you want to do it or not? Sure it's cheaper in
the long run to do the whole thing at once and it takes fewer hours,
but it means you aren't flying at all.

When I was much younger I had enough money to start my training, but a
wife, two kids, and a new home in the country put a stop to that in
1963. I did fly three or four times in the intervening years, but it
was 1987 before I actually got back into flying. Then I had enough
saved up to take lessons and it only took about 6 months or a bit
less to earn my ticket and I did it while going to college full time
as well.

Yes, I know, the times don't add up until you realize I was 47 when I
quit work and went back to college full time. I earned a BS in
Computer Science with minors in Art and Math. Then started on my
Masters with a Graduate Assistantship.

If you think time is short, try fitting in flying while spending
nearly 8 hours at school and at least 8 more a day logged into the
school computer, or on your own, programming. as well as studying your
other classes.

Once you make your mind up, then develop a plan.
The main reason I didn't fly much during those intervening years was
the long drive to the airport, but if I'd had more drive (no pun
intended) I'd have done it.

So what if you can only afford to take a lesson once a month. Sure,
you aren't likely to solo at that rate, but you are learning and "you
are flying". Even if it's only once or twice a year to give yourself
a treat, you are "still flying".

Prior to quitting work to go to college full time I was carrying about
a half load at a two year college. I was taking courses that
interested me. When I went back full time I had 113 credit hours of
which only 17 counted. The point is, I had been learning and enjoying
the courses even if they didn't count. I went to college because I
wanted to do so, not because I had to.

As I said earlier, once you make your mind up that you are going to
learn to fly you are past the hardest of the hurdles. Sure, money and
time are issues for most of us, but making your mind up is number one!

Not enough money? Why? Can you remedy it? Certainly if you are
willing to commit yourself. It may take years to do so. Step number
one is get out of debt if you are in debt. Budget yourself and family
and organize time to minimize costs and trips. Job doesn't pay well?
Why not? Not enough education? Why not? Get the education and get
the job. Generally you have to expect to change locations when you
change jobs. As hard hit as the computer industry has been and with
so many out of work there are still jobs going begging and being
filled by "green cards" because the company couldn't find workers here
to take the jobs. Supporting a family and trying to make ends meet
with a low paying job? Start taking classes to qualify for a better
paying job.

There are more reasons people stay in low paying jobs than there are
reasons for those who don't fly .

It might take 20 years to get to the point of being able to take on
lessons with the expectation of flying regularly to finish up. It took
me 34! Still the occasional flight is worth it.

Flying does not have to be a rich person's sport and I would say that
half of the pilots at our airport are no more than average income with
some quite a bit less than average. Some fly ultra lights, some are
going for the new sport aviation license, some join clubs, and some
build their own.

The cost of staying Legally current doesn't have to be high, but again
it takes planning, imagination, and a bit of foresight.

I know one guy locally who built a nice little two seater who knew
when he started that he'd never be able to get a license due to his
health. He's out and around, but unable to even maintain a job, but
he built an airplane from plans and did a nice job too.

I was divorced in 80 and so far in debt I thought I'd never get out.
I met my current wife of over 20 years a year or two after that. Got
married, worked hard, saved, planned, and 5 years later went back to
college. Graduated, got a good job, put every cent I could to work,
worked seven years and retired. I'm not wealthy, but my wife and I
can do pretty much what we choose within reason.
(The 75 foot yacht is definitely out of the question)



Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
Brian
--
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