Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2014-2015 - 32

PILOT'S GUIDE

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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

Attention FAA!
Lead, follow or get out of the way

hen a recent issue of Avionics News published
Even though auto gas has increased 10 times to $3 .50
my column explaining my view of a new
per gallon, by applying the CPI calculator to adjust
renaissance in general aviation, the first
the 1970 avgas prices to today's dollars, we would be
comment I received was an old one: It simply costs
paying $10 .26 a gallon .
too much . Airplanes are too expensive; fuel is too
In 1981, the $180,000 for a new Bonanza adjusts
expensive; airport logistics are too expensive .
to $463,661 today, and the $800 for flight instruction
The response specifically stated, "When I started
equates to $4,827 .
flying in 1970, a Cessna 150 sold for approximately
So, while I've certainly heard the arguments, I
propose it's not the price but rather what we get for the
$20,000 and fuel was approximately $1 .70 a gallon; 38
hours of aircraft rental and instruction to achieve my
price . It's the lack of technology that discourages the
private pilot's license cost just more than $800 . In 1981,
next generation of pilots . What got me thinking about
a new Beech Bonanza cost approximately $180,000 ."
this was an article in the October 2013 edition of Motor
Trends . Ron Kiino wrote about the BMW 320 30 years
In response to these comments, let's examine the
Consumer Price Index inflation calculator published by
after its introduction . What caught my eye wasn't the
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not to argue the point
performance of the 320, but rather the price . In 1981
but to raise the discussion
further .
So let's look at the
numbers . Starting with an
We're flying with 60-year-old designs with
original LSA, the Cessna
technologies (or rather lack of technologies)
150, this, according to
the author, sold for about
that have been banned in the automotive
$20,000 in 1970 . When
adjusted for inflation, that
industry for more than 30 years. Why?
$20,000 equates to roughly
$120,695, or right in line
with today's light sport
airplane marketplace .
dollars, the $12,895 base price equates to $33,045
in today's dollars, according to the Bureau of Labor
And what about aviation gasoline at $1 .70 per gallon
in 1970? Well, back then, I was pumping gas at fullStatistics inflation calculator . That is the same price for
service stations in Southern California, and it seems to
a new 320 today .
me that automobile gas was significantly less in cost .
It's not just about the price of the car, but rather the
In fact, the auto fuel price back in 1970 averaged 35
technology you get for the price . This is something
cents per gallon . And during the frequent gas wars,
aviation, specifically light general aviation, simply
I remember prices dropping to 25 cents per gallon .
cannot compete with . We're flying with 60-year-

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Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2014-2015

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