Avionics News December 2013 - 14

In this monthly column, Ric Peri of the AEA's Washington, D.C., office, informs members of the latest regulatory updates.

B Y

R I C

P E R I
A EA V I C E P R ES I D E N T O F G OV E R N M E N T & I N D U ST RY A F FA I RS

Lead, Follow or
Get Out of the Way

during the frequent gas wars, I remember prices dropping to
hen the August issue of Avionics News was
25 cents per gallon. Even though auto gas has increased 10
published, along with my column explaining my
times to $3.50 per gallon, by applying the CPI calculator to
view of a new renaissance in general aviation,
adjust the 1970 avgas prices to today's dollars, we would be
the first comment I received was an old one: It simply costs
paying $10.26 a gallon.
too much. Airplanes are too expensive; fuel is too expensive;
In 1981, the $180,000 for a new Bonanza adjusts to
airport logistics are too expensive.
$463,661 today, and the $800 for flight instruction equates
The response specifically stated, "When I started flying in
to $4,827.
1970, a Cessna 150 sold for approximately $20,000 and fuel
So, while I've certainly heard the arguments, I propose it's
was approximately $1.70 a gallon; 38 hours of aircraft rental
and instruction to achieve my private
pilot's license cost just more than $800.
In 1981, a new Beech Bonanza cost
We're flying with 60-year-old designs with
approximately $180,000."
technologies (or rather lack of technologies)
In response to these comments, let's
that have been banned in the automotive
examine the Consumer Price Index
inflation calculator published by the
industry for more than 30 years. Why?
Bureau of Labor Statistics, not to argue
the point but to raise the discussion
not the price but rather what we get for the price. It's the lack
further.
of technology that discourages the next generation of pilots.
So let's look at the numbers. Starting with an original
What got me thinking about this was an article in the October
LSA, the Cessna 150, this, according to the author, sold for
2013 edition of Motor Trends. Ron Kiino wrote about the
about $20,000 in 1970. When adjusted for inflation, that
BMW 320 30 years after its introduction. What caught my
$20,000 equates to roughly $120,695, or right in line with
eye wasn't the performance of the 320, but rather the price.
today's light sport airplane marketplace.
In 1981 dollars, the $12,895 base price equates to $33,045 in
And what about aviation gasoline at $1.70 per gallon in
today's dollars, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
1970? Well, back then, I was pumping gas at full-service
inflation calculator. That is the same price for a new 320 today.
stations in Southern California, and it seems to me that
It's not just about the price of the car, but rather the
automobile gas was significantly less in cost. In fact, the auto
technology you get for the price. This is something aviation,
fuel price back in 1970 averaged 35 cents per gallon. And
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Avionics News December 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News December 2013