There are really three classes of pilots in the world: military pilots who fly as part of their military duties, commercial pilots who get paid to fly and general aviation pilots who fly for reasons of their own, such as business, fun or some level of excitement.
For this month’s aviation column, I’m writing about general aviation pilots, who are, to some degree, an endangered species.
Why are general aviation pilots so endangered? Put simply: cost. I’ve personally joked for quite a few years that a drug habit is cheaper than aviation as a hobby. Sadly, this is mostly a true statement. Costs of aircraft, compliance with new rules and technology and restrictions at airports are making it progressively more difficult for people to enter the hobby, let alone participate.
A local example is Scottsdale airport. This airport caters to high-rollers and business jets. You touch down there in a landing, there’s a landing fee. Fuel is double the price of almost anywhere else in Arizona – not the most welcoming environment to a small aircraft operating on a limited budget.
My life story as a pilot is very similar to the numerous telephone calls I’ve had from general aviation pilots wanting to get back into flying.
I started flight training when I was 19 in my sophomore year of college. Airplanes were affordable and flying had been a lifelong dream of mine to be a pilot as my father was. I grew up with airplanes in the family, as he was a homebuilder, so having an airplane around was normal, or so I thought.
I quickly progressed through my pilot certificates and ratings, but as I’ve heard many a pilot say, life happens. In my case, love, marriage and a family when I was quite young at 21. Fortunately for me, this relationship lasted. As of January this year, we’re still together and in love after 40 years.
We had three kids very close together. I was finishing school, working several jobs and trying to find time to be with my wife and family. Was there time, let alone money, for flying? Obviously not.
The years passed quickly and I progressed in my career. Money became less of an issue and I cautiously returned to my passion after a span of years had passed. Like many others before me, this return was like riding a bike and my skills came back quickly.
As with many other young families, the next big expenditure was the house. We needed to get the kids into a better school district, we were tired of paying rent and wanted to build equity.
So, the choice came down to flying or buy a house? You all know which choice won out. So again, another few years passed and flying time became extremely intermittent at best.
Many general aviation pilots have these cycles in life – the house, the kids, the car(s), school for the kids – that can take away from flying for a period of years, maybe even a decade or longer.
Some pilots will give up in frustration and let the dream fade away. Others are a bit more stubborn or passionate and keep coming back to flying, again and again.
For those of you reading this column and seeing yourself, it is possible to come back or live the dream. I’m one of those pilots who had a decade or so before life got to the point I could fly again. We call those pilots “rusty pilots,” as the skills are likely there, but knowledge of the new technology, regulations and procedures requires the rust being knocked off. Today’s airplanes we use as trainers are far better aircraft than what I learned to fly in when I was 19. They’re comfortable, safer and easier on a student pilot, let alone a rusty pilot.
If you’re on the fence about coming back to flying, I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN DO IT! Or, if you’re a person who put your dream off for years and you’re now retired, you can also do it. We’ve had quite a few older student pilots that are checking off a life bucket-list item.
This is why Leighnor Aircraft is in business: to keep those dreams alive, to pass the passion and excitement of flying on to future pilots and to remove general aviation pilots from the endangered species list. QCBN
By Lance Leighnor
Lance Leighnor has four decades of experience in general aviation aircraft, and active management of rental aircraft since 2011. Lance is the managing member of Leighnor Aircraft. He can be reached by phone at 928-499-3080, by email at lance@LeighnorAircraft.com or via the Leighnor Aircraft website at LeighnorAircraft.com.
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