Student Drop-Out Rates...why?

You'll notice I've not mentioned the Number One reason people mention for
quitting: Money.

To ignore the money issue is to ignore the elephant in the room.

Right. However, we can't change the money situation. We CAN change
the other variables that are causing the appallingly high student drop
out rate in aviation.

An investment in a used Harley or Corvette will earn a greater return than a
similar amount invested in an aircraft, and both can be reconditioned in
your home garage, have cheaper (but often identical) parts and qualify for
"owner maintenance".

Well, I don't think a Corvette is going to appreciate as much as a
common single engine plane. I bought my Warrior for $32.7 K and sold
it for $40 K, after flying the pants off of it for four years.

Now, of course, I put a TON of stuff into it -- mostly with sweat
equity. I think you are under-estimating the amount of stuff an owner
can do to enhance the quality and value of an airplane.

Cosmetics make a HUGE difference in the value of an airplane, and it's
one of the easiest areas for an owner to address. Replace the ratty
interior, fix the cracked plastic, reupholster the seats, buff out the
paint, put some ArmorAll on the rubber, and shazam -- you've got a MUCH
more valuable aircraft.

I would love to have my own aircraft (and have the
cash) but have listened carefully to the experiences of other owners and
have run the numbers for myself and I just can not justify the cost (or the
financial risk), especially after considering that the ongoing burdens of
insurance, fuel, regulation, hangar and maintenance are going nowhere but
up.

Sounds like you're a candidate for a homebuilt aircraft?

The private fleet is getting more than a little long in the tooth and I
must question where the new buyers are coming from to continue to subsidize
the keep of our aging hangar queens that we can not afford to fly due to the
rapidly increasing costs of fuel (approaching 6$C/usgal) and maintenance.

Gasoline is only now getting back to the price it was (in real terms)
back in the 1980s. As painful as I'm finding it to refuel our plane
(and we burn car gas!), I must remind myself that the last 20 years
have really been a tremendous bargain.


I continue to fly as much as possible but there are not many interesting
aircraft available for rent and the level of liability we assume as renters
is frankly scary.

In what way?

Until I find a way to make the cost of flying more reasonable, I will
consider it a luxury that I will consume as long as I find it enjoyable and
in the amount that I can afford. None of my thoughts are likely to make any
of my friends wish to take up the addiction.

Yes, you should probably keep them to yourself, lest we scare away any
new pilots!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"