AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024 - 22

FLYING LIFE
Rich man's hobby?
Ways to get in an airplane for less
BY NATALIE BINGHAM HOOVER
I RECENTLY RECEIVED AN EMAIL from a reader who was hanging
up his headset after nearly 1,000 hours of flying time. John, let's
call him, had his private pilot certificate for a decade and was
90 percent of the way through his instrument training when the
cost of flying became prohibitive. He talked about a time when he
could rent an airplane for $100 per hour and that same airplane
was now renting for $180. He wondered if maybe flying had
become a rich man's hobby. I'm sure many of us can sympathize.
Current inflation rates are driving up the cost of everything.
Unfortunately for many, that means flying will get pushed to the
wayside. You simply cannot give up your meal money for flying,
no matter how strong your passion. Luckily, you are speaking to
an expert on the subject-a broke college student (at least I was
when I learned how to fly). I ended up working with the flight
school and taking out a loan through one of their partner banks.
I flew every morning, then waited tables at night to pay living
expenses. I've now worked on the flight training/general aviation
side for almost two decades, and here's what I know:
For one, it is not practical to try to save up a little and fly a
little as you get extra money. It's very hard to progress this way
and ends up more expensive. There will be too many pauses in
the flight training process, so you will constantly be relearning
skills. So, save up enough on the front end, then get started,
or secure a loan for the entire rating. Yes, it's a lot of money.
But think of it as an investment in your future. If you are just
a recreational or hobby flyer, maybe a loan is not an option for
you. Join the Civil Air Patrol or a flying club. I spoke with my
local CAP squadron leader, Jim Harris, to find out what that
program looked like. This must be aviation's best-kept secret.
Did you know CAP will pay for two proficiency flights a month
for adult members? And for their junior cadet program (ages
12 through 18), they cover a large portion of the cost of private
pilot flight training after certain requirements are met. For more
information, visit the website (gocivilairpatrol.com). Looking
for less of a time commitment? Flying club members generally
pay a monthly membership fee plus a minimal hourly amount
to fly the airplane. With 10 or so people sharing the expense of
one aircraft, flying clubs are a budget-friendly way to keep you
in the sky. See the AOPA website to find a flight club near you
(aopa.org/flyingclubfinder).
22
AOPA PILOT / January 2024
Here's an outside-the-box option if you have a specific
aviation goal in mind and need hours fast. For example, you
want to get your instrument rating over the course of one
summer, or maybe you need 1,500 hours to get your airline
transport pilot certificate and that dream flying job. Buy a slow,
relatively inexpensive airplane, fly the wings off that thing,
then sell it six months later once you have achieved your goal.
I've known a couple of flight instructors who have done this.
Luckily, airplanes tend to hold their value, especially in this
current market.
Or here's a more common method: Rent an airplane from
the local flight school and time build with another person. You
have to do this right, though, if you both want to log the flight
time. For example, one pilot can wear a view-limiting device
and the other can serve as safety pilot, or one pilot needs to hold
a CFI rating and the other can receive cross-country training.
There's nothing like cutting your costs in half to help with the
aviation budget.
How about a scholarship? There are more out there than
you might think. AOPA grants roughly a million dollars in
scholarships annually. Many other groups, like Organization
of Black Aerospace Professionals and Women in Aviation
International, grant generous scholarships as well. For an
extensive list of your scholarship options, visit the AOPA
website (aopa.org/scholarships).
There will always be an excuse to keep you from pursuing
what you really want. I finished writing a novel two years ago
and have yet to dedicate enough hours to polish it for publishing.
I keep telling myself I don't have enough time. Kids. Jobs.
All that. But if we want something bad enough, we are willing
to make sacrifices. Maybe that means getting creative with the
schedule or budget to make room to go after what we really want.
So, back to you, John. Please
don't give up on aviation. We
pilots are not the quitting
kind. Here's hoping you can
start prioritizing your dream
and then find the resources to
make it happen.
myaviation101.com
NATALIE BINGHAM HOOVER
began flying in 2004. After
corporate and airline work,
she now serves as an FAA
designated examiner and chief
instructor of a flight school in
Mississippi.
http://www.aopa.org/scholarships http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com http://www.aopa.org/flyingclubfinder http://www.myaviation101.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2024
