FAA to ground 80% of Glider Training Fleet... it's just a question of when

Yes, it's expensive up-front but they have a long life and will pay that investment back.

If capital cost were no problem, we would not have a problem.
T8

Buying the cheapest glider without regard for value is part of what got us into this jam.

If capital cost is the problem, utilization is the answer. As an
economist, it's a bit funny to see a $120,000 asset sitting on the
ground except for 12-5 pm on weekends 6 months of the year. An ASK 21
would pay for itself really quickly if training started at 7 am --
much better for students anyway -- and went on until dusk, 7 days a
week, and then moved to Florida/Arizona/Texas/California for the
winter. That it doesn't -- that commercial operators don't give
discounts for off peak utilization for example -- has always struck me
as a bit of a mystery. Capital cost must not be that big a deal in the
end...


John Cochrane