I don't have any evidence to support this, but I bet there is some
disillusionment involved for many dropouts. They may have been prepared for
the cost, and the learning curve, but for any number of reasons, flying just
isn't what they thought it would be.

In our world today we have enough rules and regulations just in everyday
living to push borderline people over the edge. The amount of responsability,
liability and vulnerability we feel in just driving to work today is daunting.
To complete a pilot certificate and maintain it, one has to volontarily dish
oneself a heaping portion of extra rules, regulations and responsibilities.
For one who imagined flying to be a "free as a bird" sensation, this may be a
hard reality check.

Others, who may have imagined it would be "practical" to use private aviation
in personal or business transportation have to face the fact that there are
few cases where this is realistic. Airplane manufacturers have always used the
argument of how much time you'll save, whilst enjoying the experience and
spending little more than the cost of other transportation, but with the state
of roads and low cost air transportation today there are few cases where this
argument is valid.

People fly for many different reasons - and people take up flying with as many
hopes and expectations. I'll bet more than e few students, after 20 sweaty
hours in a C-152 begin to realize how many years and dollars separate them
from the publicity image of the guy in designer suits climbing leisurely into
his private KingAir at the end of a business day for the relaxing flight home,
and they decide it isn't worth it.

G Faris