Commuting in a plane...

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern California so the weather is less of an issue.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Paul

Paul,

You might dig up some back issues of the various aviation magazines.
There have been a number of stories of folks who commute to work in
airplanes, most all are in the southwestern potion of the U.S. (read
arid areas), and a lot of them shared rides, so there were two - four
people in the airplane each way, keeping the cost down. Types tended
to be Cessna 172s or 182s although there were some Cherokees. For
commuting distance, the airplane speed doesn't matter a lot as a very
fast airplane only shaves a few minutes off the speed of a much slower
airplane.

Friend of mine is commuting one day a week in a Cessna 150 that is IFR
equipped. Hour and ten minute flight versus two hour forty minute
drive. He has an autogas STC, so the cost isn't all that bad. If
there are thunderstorms or ice, he drives.

All the best,
Rick

wrote:

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

Not daily, but I am commuting Monday, back Thursday. I have been doing
this weekly since late February of this year and in the Northeast US, where
weather is a factor. One-way distance is about 160nm.

Door to door time comparisons between flying and driving demonstrate that
in my case, flying is about 1/2 hour faster when considering the drive to
the airport, aircraft pre-flight, taxiing and departing the airport
(especially if it is a larger airport), taxi/tie-down/securing the
aircraft, and ultimately driving from the destination airport to the
office/site. Of course, I prefer flying over driving not for any small
time savings, but instead for the experience and thrill of the commute.

I know that southern CA traffic is bad, but have no idea to what degree. I
would estimate that you would need an automobile commute of about 1 1/2 to
2 hours to make flying a faster option, if time savings is your goal. What
is the duration of your typical 70 mile commute by car?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern
alifornia so the weather is less of an issue.

Where in S. California are your originating and destination airports?
My father used to live in San Diego and I recall experiencing many days of
"June Gloom," or low overcast and fog. At least near the coast, it seemed
that there were many IFR and low IFR days in southern CA.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

There used to be an occasional contributor to this group who commuted daily
in the southern CA area and, IIRC, he flew a Cardinal; that is, until he
had a catastrophic engine failure and landed in a school baseball field,
hitting the backstop. Fortunately, no one was killed, but last I read he
faced a lawsuit from one of his passengers.

Given the short distance, I would think a smaller Cessna or Piper would fit
that mission.

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Are you looking to make these factors comparable to driving, or just
comparable relative to any aircraft capable of such a mission?

For some numbers, a typical C172 or PA28 is about $55 to $75/hour to
operate and cruises between 110 and 125 knots. Thus, a 70 mile (statute?)
distance is around 38 minutes total flying time.

My Bonanza is approximately $150 or so to operate and cruises about 180
knots. It would make this commute in roughly 25 minutes or so, which goes
to show you that for such a short trip, there is not a great reduction in
time for the added cost when compared to the C172/PA28, especially over
many flights.

--
Peter
























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"Peter R." wrote in message
...
wrote:

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

Not daily, but I am commuting Monday, back Thursday. I have been doing
this weekly since late February of this year and in the Northeast US,
where
weather is a factor. One-way distance is about 160nm.

Door to door time comparisons between flying and driving demonstrate that
in my case, flying is about 1/2 hour faster when considering the drive to
the airport, aircraft pre-flight, taxiing and departing the airport
(especially if it is a larger airport), taxi/tie-down/securing the
aircraft, and ultimately driving from the destination airport to the
office/site. Of course, I prefer flying over driving not for any small
time savings, but instead for the experience and thrill of the commute.

I know that southern CA traffic is bad, but have no idea to what degree.
I
would estimate that you would need an automobile commute of about 1 1/2 to
2 hours to make flying a faster option, if time savings is your goal.
What
is the duration of your typical 70 mile commute by car?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern
alifornia so the weather is less of an issue.

Where in S. California are your originating and destination airports?
My father used to live in San Diego and I recall experiencing many days of
"June Gloom," or low overcast and fog. At least near the coast, it seemed
that there were many IFR and low IFR days in southern CA.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

There used to be an occasional contributor to this group who commuted
daily
in the southern CA area and, IIRC, he flew a Cardinal; that is, until he
had a catastrophic engine failure and landed in a school baseball field,
hitting the backstop. Fortunately, no one was killed, but last I read he
faced a lawsuit from one of his passengers.

Given the short distance, I would think a smaller Cessna or Piper would
fit
that mission.

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Are you looking to make these factors comparable to driving, or just
comparable relative to any aircraft capable of such a mission?

For some numbers, a typical C172 or PA28 is about $55 to $75/hour to
operate and cruises between 110 and 125 knots. Thus, a 70 mile (statute?)
distance is around 38 minutes total flying time.

My Bonanza is approximately $150 or so to operate and cruises about 180

I thinking of buying a Bonanaza (currently own a P28-180) How did you come
up with the $150 hour cost to fly?


knots. It would make this commute in roughly 25 minutes or so, which goes
to show you that for such a short trip, there is not a great reduction in
time for the added cost when compared to the C172/PA28, especially over
many flights.

--
Peter
























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For one or two people, on a 70 mile flight, a 150/152 or a Katana would be
inexpensive choices.

wrote in message
...
Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern
California so the weather is less of an issue.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Paul

Aluckyguess wrote:

I thinking of buying a Bonanaza (currently own a P28-180) How did you come
up with the $150 hour cost to fly?

My Bonanza burns about 16 gallons of fuel per hour at $4.50 per gallon
(average in the northeast US) = $72. Oil consumption right now is
negligible, perhaps one quart every 40 hours.

My Bonanza is equipped with a turbonormalized IO-520 engine with a 1,700
hour TBO. Having just replaced the over-TBO engine with a factory rebuilt
and rebuilt turbo components, I came up with a parts and labor per hour
engine reserve of about $21.

Insurance is about $3,000/year for a $180k hull (aircraft has TKS system,
young engine, new avionics, tip tanks, new paint) and my 300 hours of time
in type. Thus, if I fly about 250 hours per year (higher than average
given the cruise speed), this works out to $12/hour.

Hangar costs me $260/month, which is $12/hour. So what is that so far?
$105 per hour.

Oil changes, routine maintenance, and annuals have been running about $5000
per year, which is another $20/hour. I don't do much of my own maintenance
(oil changes, etc.) yet since time with my family right now is more
important than the $200 or so it costs me to have the mech. do it every 40
hours or so.

Avionics have been costing me about $2500/year right now (my Garmin GNS430
went TU twice in 14 months, naturally out of warranty both times, for a
total cost of around $1200 to have it repaired by Garmin). That works out
to $10./hr so now up to $135/hr.

It is worth noting that I have only owned the aircraft for about 1 1/2
years so I don't have a lot of data by which to base my maintenance and
avionics costs just yet.

And finally, as an owner of an aging aircraft, I am facing some of the long
term preventative maintenance items since my airframe has about 3900 hours
on it, such as replacement of the landing gear braces, aux fuel pump, fuel
bladders, etc. I have no idea of the per hour for this, but you can see I
am really close to $150 without even factoring in all of these costs.

Someone who flies less would easily hit the $150/hour mark, assuming
comparable insurance, hangar fees, and annual costs.


--
Peter
























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On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 14:13:18 -0800, wrote:

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

Hi Paul,

My job requires significant travel in "spurts".

For offices near by or less then 100 STATUTE miles, it does not pay for me
to fly. The time it takes to get to the airport, preflight, land, get a
car at the destination airport and drive to the office, it would be more
efficient for me to drive.

Offices over 100 STATUTE miles, then it pays for me to fly as these offices
would require an overnight and more then a 3 hours drive time round trip.
My furthest office is 540 statute miles round trip, and 260 NM round trip.
Kinda no brainer straight lines are more efficient and I get there in about
an hour's flight time. I get to sleep in my own bed that night too!

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

I own a Sundowner which trues out at 110 knots.

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Hmmm, aviation and minimizing costs. Don't think that computes too well.
I do get re-imbursed $1.07 per nautical mile from my employer, which
definately covers my fuel and car rental expenses.

Hope this helps.

Allen

There are three people I know of in the Washington, DC area. One of the
is me. One uses a Cessna 150 and comes in from Hagerstown, MD to
College Park. Another Comes in from Orange, VA to Potomac Airfield
(temporarily closed by TSA). The last from Culpeper, VA to Hyde Field.

My drive would be 2:10 door to door, my flight 1:10 door to door each
way. Total gallons of fuel used is about the same weather I fly or
drive. However I get two hours a day back.
Michelle


wrote:

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern California so the weather is less of an issue.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?

Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Paul

Ok so it is getting late.
One commutes in a Cessna 150, One in a Cessna 182 and the last in a
Maule M-7.
Michelle

Michelle P wrote:

There are three people I know of in the Washington, DC area. One of
the is me. One uses a Cessna 150 and comes in from Hagerstown, MD to
College Park. Another Comes in from Orange, VA to Potomac Airfield
(temporarily closed by TSA). The last from Culpeper, VA to Hyde Field.

My drive would be 2:10 door to door, my flight 1:10 door to door each
way. Total gallons of fuel used is about the same weather I fly or
drive. However I get two hours a day back.
Michelle


wrote:

Has anyone here done a daily commute in a plane?

This would be a commute of about 70 miles and it would be in Southern
California so the weather is less of an issue.

What aircraft would be best for this kind of cummute?
Trying to maximize speed and minimize costs...

Paul

Michelle P wrote:
Ok so it is getting late.
One commutes in a Cessna 150, One in a Cessna 182 and the last in a

but you do fly for a living, don't you? i.e., the door to door
scenario in your case involves an airport at one end, right? so
in that case I can see how it can definitely be advantageous; not
sure it works as well for someone who somehow has still to commute
to the airport at one end (unless you live in an airport community...),
and find a way from the airport to work at the other end...

--Sylvain