Where is everyone?

A friend of mine flew his Cherokee Six from PA to MI last week, in
perfect weather, and told me that he was one of three GA planes on any
center or approach frequency for the entire flight...

Mary, the kids, and I flew (in absolute perfect VFR conditions) to
Springfield, IL this past Sunday. Cedar Rapids approach was dead (it
was us and a commuter), Quad Cities approach was dead (it was us and
one guy practicing approaches), Chicago Center was nearly dead (it was
us and a few airliners), Peoria Approach was utterly dead (it was just
us, for the entire time it took to cross his airspace), and
Springfield had only us in the pattern.

This on a picture-perfect, springtime weekend. In years past, those
frequencies would have been JAMMED with pilots looking for flight
following, picking up IFR approaches, etc.

We've got Unicom playing in the lobby here, and I haven't heard a
single plane all morning -- and it is again, perfect VFR today. Here
at the hotel, we had one fly-in guest last night (a very cool United
pilot who is re-tracing a Chicago-to-Los Angeles flight he made 30
years ago -- in the same Cessna 170 he flew in 1974!), and half a
dozen guys flew in over the weekend (thanks to a type-specific fly-in)
-- but those were the first fly-in guests we've had in several weeks.

I know gas prices are up, but fuel is still a (relatively) small part
of the cost of aircraft ownership. What else it going on here? Are
you guys flying less, too?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
I know gas prices are up, but fuel is still a (relatively) small part
of the cost of aircraft ownership. What else it going on here? Are
you guys flying less, too?

The majority of pilots are renters, so the direct operating costs
immediately rise with the costs of fuel and oil. Rental rates for a 172
are fast approaching $100/hour (wet) in most areas.
That is getting to be too much to bore holes in the sky.
I know I have restricted my flying to instrument currency and travel
trips only.

If I could write it off, I would fly more.

Our traffic count at BIL is the same now as it's been for a long time.
Sundays and Mondays are now and have always been our slowest days.




Jay Honeck wrote:

A friend of mine flew his Cherokee Six from PA to MI last week, in
perfect weather, and told me that he was one of three GA planes on any
center or approach frequency for the entire flight...

Mary, the kids, and I flew (in absolute perfect VFR conditions) to
Springfield, IL this past Sunday. Cedar Rapids approach was dead (it
was us and a commuter), Quad Cities approach was dead (it was us and
one guy practicing approaches), Chicago Center was nearly dead (it was
us and a few airliners), Peoria Approach was utterly dead (it was just
us, for the entire time it took to cross his airspace), and
Springfield had only us in the pattern.

This on a picture-perfect, springtime weekend. In years past, those
frequencies would have been JAMMED with pilots looking for flight
following, picking up IFR approaches, etc.

We've got Unicom playing in the lobby here, and I haven't heard a
single plane all morning -- and it is again, perfect VFR today. Here
at the hotel, we had one fly-in guest last night (a very cool United
pilot who is re-tracing a Chicago-to-Los Angeles flight he made 30
years ago -- in the same Cessna 170 he flew in 1974!), and half a
dozen guys flew in over the weekend (thanks to a type-specific fly-in)
-- but those were the first fly-in guests we've had in several weeks.

I know gas prices are up, but fuel is still a (relatively) small part
of the cost of aircraft ownership. What else it going on here? Are
you guys flying less, too?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
A friend of mine flew his Cherokee Six from PA to MI last week, in
perfect weather, and told me that he was one of three GA planes on any
center or approach frequency for the entire flight...

Mary, the kids, and I flew (in absolute perfect VFR conditions) to
Springfield, IL this past Sunday. Cedar Rapids approach was dead (it
was us and a commuter), Quad Cities approach was dead (it was us and
one guy practicing approaches), Chicago Center was nearly dead (it was
us and a few airliners), Peoria Approach was utterly dead (it was just
us, for the entire time it took to cross his airspace), and
Springfield had only us in the pattern.

This on a picture-perfect, springtime weekend. In years past, those
frequencies would have been JAMMED with pilots looking for flight
following, picking up IFR approaches, etc.

We've got Unicom playing in the lobby here, and I haven't heard a
single plane all morning -- and it is again, perfect VFR today. Here
at the hotel, we had one fly-in guest last night (a very cool United
pilot who is re-tracing a Chicago-to-Los Angeles flight he made 30
years ago -- in the same Cessna 170 he flew in 1974!), and half a
dozen guys flew in over the weekend (thanks to a type-specific fly-in)
-- but those were the first fly-in guests we've had in several weeks.

I know gas prices are up, but fuel is still a (relatively) small part
of the cost of aircraft ownership. What else it going on here? Are
you guys flying less, too?

Unfortunately, yes. The two closest airports to me do not have
airplanes available for rent and one didn't even have fuel for nearly a
week. The Arrow owned by the club I belong to is falling apart (engine
past TBO and every flight generates 3 more things that don't work) and
with only 4 active members left I don't think the club has the resources
to buy a newer airplane. I'll likely quit the club at the end of June.
I raised the issue of upgrading the 67 Arrow a year ago and it fell on
deaf ears with the other members. I raised it again last week and the
membership has agreed to discuss this at our next meeting, but I found
out from the treasurer that rather than raise hourly rates the club has
been burning its capital fund which is now down to an amount that won't
even replace the run-out engine let alone the entire airplane. So, I'm
going to this meeting, but I fully expect to leave the club after the
meeting.

I'll likely go on inactive status until I can again afford my own
airplane, which will be a couple of years at least given the college
bills for my kids. I'm seriously considering starting a Rotorway kit as
I could fly that from my house, do my own maintenance and burn autogas.
I live 45 minutes from the airport where the club airplane is located
as we can't get a hangar at the nearer airport (which is still 30
minutes away). This is simply too far away given my available time and
the cost of gas to both drive to the airport and to fly. And even a
short fun flight takes nearly 4 hours.


Our local airports have been slowly dieing and you can easily go an hour
between operations on a sunny Saturday. Sad...


Matt

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
A friend of mine flew his Cherokee Six from PA to MI last week, in
perfect weather, and told me that he was one of three GA planes on any
center or approach frequency for the entire flight...

Mary, the kids, and I flew (in absolute perfect VFR conditions) to
Springfield, IL this past Sunday. Cedar Rapids approach was dead (it
was us and a commuter), Quad Cities approach was dead (it was us and
one guy practicing approaches), Chicago Center was nearly dead (it was
us and a few airliners), Peoria Approach was utterly dead (it was just
us, for the entire time it took to cross his airspace), and
Springfield had only us in the pattern.

This on a picture-perfect, springtime weekend. In years past, those
frequencies would have been JAMMED with pilots looking for flight
following, picking up IFR approaches, etc.

We've got Unicom playing in the lobby here, and I haven't heard a
single plane all morning -- and it is again, perfect VFR today. Here
at the hotel, we had one fly-in guest last night (a very cool United
pilot who is re-tracing a Chicago-to-Los Angeles flight he made 30
years ago -- in the same Cessna 170 he flew in 1974!), and half a
dozen guys flew in over the weekend (thanks to a type-specific fly-in)
-- but those were the first fly-in guests we've had in several weeks.

I know gas prices are up, but fuel is still a (relatively) small part
of the cost of aircraft ownership. What else it going on here? Are
you guys flying less, too?
--

Might just be the usual period before the holiday. I don't have a feel for
the GA indicatiors, but I know the lakes have been slow around here the past
couple of weeks. But it always is before a summer holiday weekend like
Memorial Day.

Could be a trend too. I think I heard on CNN a week or so ago, that WalMart
reported the largest single month sales decline in 20 years or so.

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

What else it going on here? Are you guys flying less, too?


I'm not, and the flying school at BFM has plenty of students according to
Mike, one of their CFI's.

However, on my recent trips light GA aircraft have seemed mighty scarce on the
frequencies from Florida to Texas.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Matt Whiting" wrote

I'm seriously considering starting a Rotorway kit as I could fly that
from my house, do my own maintenance and burn autogas.
Check on the maintenance time and costs of flying a Rotorway, and also on
the TBR on the airframe, before you make up your mind.

Flying the rentals could look cheap by comparison.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Matt Whiting" wrote

I'm seriously considering starting a Rotorway kit as I could fly that
from my house, do my own maintenance and burn autogas.
Check on the maintenance time and costs of flying a Rotorway, and also on
the TBR on the airframe, before you make up your mind.

Flying the rentals could look cheap by comparison.

Yes, I sent much this request to Rotorway last Sunday. No response yet.
Maybe that IS my answer.

For me, time and convenience trump the cost, but cost certainly matters.

Being able to walk out in your backyard and flying wherever you want
would be priceless. And building it would be as much fun as flying it!

Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote:


For me, time and convenience trump the cost, but cost certainly matters.

Being able to walk out in your backyard and flying wherever you want would
be priceless. And building it would be as much fun as flying it!

Exec's are waaayyyy cool. Every year at OSH, I make it a point to stop by the
tent and drool over the display.

One of these days....

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Dan Luke wrote:
"Matt Whiting" wrote:

For me, time and convenience trump the cost, but cost certainly matters.

Being able to walk out in your backyard and flying wherever you want would
be priceless. And building it would be as much fun as flying it!

Exec's are waaayyyy cool. Every year at OSH, I make it a point to stop by the
tent and drool over the display.

One of these days....


I've been saying that for 15 years since I visited Van's on a west coast
vacation. At 47 I don't have many more "one of these days" left or it
will be too late! Starting to build something by 50 is my "drop dead"
date. :-)

I'd like an airplane, but I like my house and it is just too far from
the nearest airport and my land isn't really airport suitable. However,
a helicopter would be easy to accommodate.

Matt