Best zero time to regional route

[acpilot]

That's a helluva contradiction. Great advice.

Anything can contradict "live within your means."

-buying a nice car
-living in a large house
-owning a boat
-having a vacation property
-taking nice vacations
-...or any other hobby requiring means.

Owning a plane of any size is a lifestyle decision. If you really want it, it's possible to own a plane and not break the bank. If you love flying GA and enjoy working on machinery, it's a no brainer.

It is good advice.

 

[Bringupthebird]

Owning a plane of any size is a lifestyle decision. If you really want it, it's possible to own a plane and not break the bank.

A single engine airplane will cost you about $600/mo on average in fixed costs which is about what a family of 4 will pay for a lower level (which is really all there is) Obamacare plan. Hence by definition that is Affordable

 

[acpilot]

Sounds about right.

...or $300 in a 50/50 partnership. Or $200 if you own a third. Run 80/87 trough an A-series, E-series, -200, -320, or -470 to keep the variale cost down, too.

Like I said, if you really want it, it's doable.

 

[LearLove]

A single engine airplane will cost you about $600/mo on average

My 152 costs me 600/month to fly 50 hours per year.

Hangar - 245
Ins - 50
Fuel 50X5X6.1/12=130
MX (annual, oil changes and msc mx) = 2000/12=170

245+50+130+170=595

 

[pilotyip]

I figure my C-172 cost me about $7,000-$8,000 a year before I fly the first hour. I instruct in mind so my insurance in much higher.

 

[paid4training]

I have my own airplane I instructed out of it for about 3 years. I racked up a lot of time and experience. But more importantly I treated my students like clients and cared about their training and it eventually led to a pretty nice part91 gig. I will be putting my little cheerokee(misspelled for a reason) up for sale so I can focus primarily on the 91 job. I sweated and prayed for the next phone call so I could pay next months payment and had several students try to kill me. Was it worth it? I think so.
Did all of this happened as I planned?? No,hell no!!! I wanted to fly 121 and thought what I am doing now would be beyond my reach. I still at times wonder if I should quit this 91 gig and go regional 121. Then I get a scheduling message about an up coming flight and I put those old dreams of regional flying back on the mental shelf. Things don't happen as u think they should, be open to all the possibilities and NEVER gripe about your current flying job within earshot of anyone other than close friends and family. You never know who's listening!!!
It's Either you love flying as a career because you think it's like PanAm or you love it because it's the coolest st!t in the world and every time you are sitting at home you can't wait for your next flight!!! That is what you need to decide, don't listen to anyone else out there. This is a job and like everything else it is not what it used to be.

 

[Bringupthebird]

Run 80/87 trough an A-series, E-series, -200, -320, or -470 to keep the variale cost down, too.

Sure if we were back in 1975. MOGAS, maybe, but the right non-ethanol flavor is scarce.

 

[Bringupthebird]

My 152 costs me 600/month to fly 50 hours per year.

Hangar - 245
Ins - 50
Fuel 50X5X6.1/12=130
MX (annual, oil changes and msc mx) = 2000/12=170

245+50+130+170=595

You left out payments. Ask who ever gave you your 152 to send me a nice Saratoga TC.

 

[LearLove]

You left out payments. Ask who ever gave you your 152 to send me a nice Saratoga TC.

No payment. I'm no genius but you gotta be a real dumbass if you take a loan out to by an airplane. Bought it in 2011 for 22k cash. My rule with toys (airplane, motorcycle, mountain bikes, skis and guns) is cash only. The only thing I owe money on is my house and it will be paid for in 6 years even at our crappy pay rates.

 

[acpilot]

Sure if we were back in 1975. MOGAS, maybe, but the right non-ethanol flavor is scarce.

No it's not. You just need to know where (and when) to find it. You corner station miggt offer it during winter months...in AZ anyway. Try the Valero and Chevron stations at Higley & McKellips.

60% of my CFI hours were earned flying planes with fuel from one of those stations. During the summer months we had to go to the station on the 87 north of the 202.

You appear to have some first-hand knowledge of the PHX area so I'm guessing that you know where these places are.

 

[airplane wizard]

No payment. I'm no genius but you gotta be a real dumbass if you take a loan out to by an airplane. Bought it in 2011 for 22k cash. My rule with toys (airplane, motorcycle, mountain bikes, skis and guns) is cash only. The only thing I owe money on is my house and it will be paid for in 6 years even at our crappy pay rates.

What's wrong with a loan for a toy? Costs you some $$ in interest but then you have the cash for a rainy day. Better than taking months to sell something if you need the cash.

 

[SplitBar]

My 152 costs me 600/month to fly 50 hours per year.

Hangar - 245
Ins - 50
Fuel 50X5X6.1/12=130
MX (annual, oil changes and msc mx) = 2000/12=170

245+50+130+170=595

Thats $144 an hour for a 152. Why not just rent for much cheaper?

 

[LearLove]

Thats $144 an hour for a 152. Why not just rent for much cheaper?

I value having my own airplane. Some people have boats, some people have shore houses ect. I have my plane and the friends/lifestyle that comes with it. It's my shore house not an spreadsheet.

 

[LearLove]

What's wrong with a loan for a toy? Costs you some $$ in interest but then you have the cash for a rainy day. Better than taking months to sell something if you need the cash.

If your OK with owing someone money then fine. I don't like that. I went down that road in my 20's and discovered it wasn't for me. I paid off my car and credit cards then put 86K in the bank (US air stock options, LOA money and j4j CA helped) before I bought my plane, house and moto. I put 20% down on my house and like I said paid cash for the rest of the toys and still had 27K in the bank at the end of 2011 (it also didn't hurt that I bought the plane and house at the bottom of the market in 2011). By the end of 2013 I should have 40k cash plus my 401K which I've dove 15% since I was 25.

I learned a lot of lessons from the guys who came before me (read 99 and 2000 hires) at mainline about managing your financial house.

 

[brokeflyer]

first, stop wanting to be a professional pilot.

then go to senator/congressman school and learn how to really fck people over.

take all the money and buy yourself all the flight time you want.