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Stealth Pilot
Guest
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 Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:01 pm Post subject: Get orf your bums and get out there flying! |
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Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
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Mal.com
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Get orf your bums and get out there flying! |
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send money now and I will sigh.
"Stealth Pilot" <tailwind (AT) iinet (DOT) net.au> wrote
| Quote: |
Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
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Stephen James
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Get orf your bums and get out there flying! |
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On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:01:57 +0800, Stealth Pilot
<tailwind (AT) iinet (DOT) net.au> wrote:
| Quote: |
Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
Now, all you fine gentlemen and women pilots out there, go out and do |
exactly what Stealth is telling you to do. He has my vote.
GA in this country is dying. So take that "rainy day" money out of the
tin under the bed and go flying. Go out and remind yourselves how much
fun flying is.
For all you non pilots, go to your local Flying School and take a
Trial Instruction Flight, a Joy Flight, whatever, see how enjoyable
flying is.
With a little luck, and no hay-fever, I'll be flying this weekend. So
forget the costs, you can't take it with you, get out and aviate.
Regards to all
Stephen
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Ben Matthes
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Get orf your bums and get out there flying! |
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On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:01:57 +0800, Stealth Pilot
<tailwind (AT) iinet (DOT) net.au> wrote:
I had plans to fly this week, but pitot head filled with dirt! No good
for telling airspeed. But I have had that fixed now, airplane is
flying again - but not with me. The membership have taken "my"
airplane flying every day for the remainder of the week and into next
week, now I cant get a look in:-/
Pity about Pt Pirie ang Wyalla, maybe the BAe people dont go there
anymore, that would certainly keep the fuel flowing. I bet the avtur
facility wont close at whyalla though, will it? too many kerro burners
go in there.
On another note, the second to last flying school at Canberra closes
for good on 5 Feb. This will leave one (Brindabella Airlines). Locals
tell me that 10 years ago there were 7 flying schools here, but that
was also in the days when ADFA gave students a flying allowance for
them to spend where they liked (on flying that is). Now they go to
Tamworth and do it all there.
Maybe that's the future of GA in Oz? Apart from Stealth (and the CAC),
the skies will be full of aicraft operated by foreign-owned
multi-nationals with foreign students on board?
"kay sara sara" as Doris Day would say.
| Quote: |
Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
|
Ben Matthes, Canberra, Australia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisements... contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.
-- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Nathaniel Macon, January 12,1819.
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Stephen James
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:49 am Post subject: Ramblings on GA |
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On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 11:14:52 +1100, Ben Matthes
<cac_airboss (AT) coldmail (DOT) com> wrote:
| Quote: | On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:01:57 +0800, Stealth Pilot
[email]tailwind (AT) iinet (DOT) net.au[/email]> wrote:
I had plans to fly this week, but pitot head filled with dirt! No good
for telling airspeed. But I have had that fixed now, airplane is
flying again - but not with me. The membership have taken "my"
airplane flying every day for the remainder of the week and into next
week, now I cant get a look in:-/
Pity about Pt Pirie ang Wyalla, maybe the BAe people dont go there
anymore, that would certainly keep the fuel flowing. I bet the avtur
facility wont close at whyalla though, will it? too many kerro burners
go in there.
On another note, the second to last flying school at Canberra closes
for good on 5 Feb. This will leave one (Brindabella Airlines). Locals
tell me that 10 years ago there were 7 flying schools here, but that
was also in the days when ADFA gave students a flying allowance for
them to spend where they liked (on flying that is). Now they go to
Tamworth and do it all there.
Maybe that's the future of GA in Oz? Apart from Stealth (and the CAC),
the skies will be full of aicraft operated by foreign-owned
multi-nationals with foreign students on board?
"kay sara sara" as Doris Day would say.
Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
Ben Matthes, Canberra, Australia.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisements... contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.
-- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Nathaniel Macon, January 12,1819.
|
Parafield to is an unhappy sight these days. Lots of empty grassed and
hardstand parking areas. From being one of the busiest aerodromes in
Australia in the early 90s to the 10,000 or less movements a month now
is dreadful.
If it wasn't for BAe and The Uni of SA flight schools the movements
would be more like 4000 movements a month.
Parafield Airport Limited, or what ever they are called these days,
could have has many light industrial and retail complexes as it could
fit around two rwys (03/21 and 08/26) No need for parallel rwys, no
need for ATC, reduced services all around. Sorry to seem so
pessimistic but it is a sorry sight out there these days.
At least some of the satellite aerodromes, Aldinga, Goolwa, Murray
Bridge etc are doing pretty well. I was surprised by the development
that has been happening at Aldinga....good to see.
It would be interesting to see a comparison made between the cost of
say, the hire and fly rate of a C172 and the average salary of 25
years ago against today's cost/average salary. Is the reduction in
private flying the result of some phenomena or is it just too
expensive these days?
I've heard pilots talk about the effect the rural community/economy
has on flying training, better years financially, more farmer's kids
learning to fly, more aircraft being bought and sold. The follow on
effect through the rest of community must also have an effect.
Others have talked about the number of older RPT pilots retiring as
stimulating an interest in flying training. I guess other factors as
Virgin and Jet Star must have a stimulating effect. I guess also it
just comes down to the cost of obtaining a PPL or CPL these days.
My first flying training, in a Victa 100, was charged out at $11.50 an
hour, with an instructor. Mind you that was in 1965 and I've no idea
what the average salary was in those days. But there were no direct
ATC or aerodrome operator costs levied then.
I guess it would cost $35,000 - $45,000 to get a CPL with instructors
rating or CIR. No HEX to help with the flying costs and I'm certain
most of the banks wont back you with a loan. So it would mean rich
parents, a lottery win or 1-2 hours a week flying training for a
number of years while trying to hold down a regular job.
Sorry if I seem too morose but I agree with Stealth, GA is dying and
it is a sad thing. I can only hope it is the result of some temporary
phenomena that will pass.
Regards
Stephen
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Rob
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: Re: Ramblings on GA |
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Stephen James wrote:
| Quote: |
It would be interesting to see a comparison made between the cost of
say, the hire and fly rate of a C172 and the average salary of 25
years ago against today's cost/average salary. Is the reduction in
private flying the result of some phenomena or is it just too
expensive these days?
|
I know the related has doubled in 10 years from a C172 price to a C150
price. Not sure what the C150 price was back when we hired the C172.
Also noted the there was lack of GA aircraft around compared to even 5
years. There were none tied down, whereas there used to be 20 odd. The
two old hangers had 6+ now contained two C150's. (Even in another hanger
there were 2 Barons, Pitts, CT24 and B206 - thats down to a Baron and
Pitts.)
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Ken Cusack
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:32 am Post subject: GA is almost dead here (YMMB) also. |
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Moorabin Airport (YMMB) had another flying school close last week -
Moorabbin Flight Training Academy (MFTA - Scott Talman Owner/CFI) - at the
top of Northern Ave.
This sadly leaves only a handful left. I was told there was 19 schools in
1970 - now about 7 only.
Acres of green space everywhere. When I started lessons in 1975 you used
to first look at all the parked aircraft to see which one would be the
easiest to get out - to keep push and shove to a minimum. Now I could
taxy around blindfolded and not hit any aircraft - just empty buildings
!!!
In 1975 the reciept shows $28per hour solo for a new Warrior. The exact
same plane today in 2005 is $148 per hour solo.
There's now only one six place single engine aircraft left to hire on the
whole airport - Lance WHG at RVAC - unless other schools have something
that's not listed on their WWW sites.
Back to the Bar at the Aero Club - sob sob....
KC
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Peter Creswick
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:09 am Post subject: Re: GA is almost dead here (YMMB) also. |
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Ken Cusack wrote:
<snip>
| Quote: | In 1975 the reciept shows $28per hour solo for a new Warrior. The exact
same plane today in 2005 is $148 per hour solo.
/snip
KC
|
That equates to a 529 percent increase in 30 years, which equals an
inflation rate of 5.71 percent per annum compounded for those 30 years,
which seems cheap, really cheap, way too cheap, unrealistically cheap.
I wonder how they have made provision for procurement of a replacement
aircraft at current prices ? By my number crunching, clearly they have
not, and presumably few other schools did or for that matter could
either, which may explain why most of them have gone out of business.
Operating costs are one thing, overheads are another, but crucially, and
lots of people seem to underestimate and under provision for it, capital
investment, indeed, reinvestment, is vital for the long term viability
of the company / club / whatever.
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Andrew Puddifer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Get orf your bums and get out there flying! |
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Tell ya what Stealth, pay my mortgage for a month and I'll go flying
for you.
Regards, Andrew.
Stealth Pilot wrote:
| Quote: | Just returned from a flight across australia with the nipper.
the new engine for the <barf><koff> mooney destroyed a magneto and
something else during runup so was too sick/disassembled to take so
the flight was done in a grumman tiger. respectable little aeroplane
about 10 knots faster than the tailwind with twice the fuel burn.
during the entire flight I saw absolutely no one out there flying
except miscreant chinese students. no GA at all.
we have lost the Port Pirie refuelling bowser through poor patronage
and there are murmurings about the Whyalla facility as well.
for gods sake guys get off your arses, get happy and go flying!
if we are to enjoy the benefits of a healthy GA environment then we
need to patronise it. no turnover results in no infrastructure.
on a tetraethyl lead note....
environmentalists will be pleased to note that the task of bedding in
new set of rings and a top overhaul resulted in us flying full rich
for the entire flight. at 9,000ft we were positively sooting along :-)
make yourselves the promise.
this weekend I will go flying.
next week end I will go flying.
every week repeat the promise and do it!
Stealth Pilot
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| Back to top |
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viz
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:58 am Post subject: Re: GA is almost dead here (YMMB) also. |
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On 27/1/05 4:32 PM, in article
e2%Jd.136334$K7.123403 (AT) news-server (DOT) bigpond.net.au, "Ken Cusack"
<"biggles"@xxxxozemail.com.au delete all x's> wrote:
| Quote: |
Moorabin Airport (YMMB) had another flying school close last week -
Moorabbin Flight Training Academy (MFTA - Scott Talman Owner/CFI) - at the
top of Northern Ave.
This sadly leaves only a handful left. I was told there was 19 schools in
1970 - now about 7 only.
Acres of green space everywhere. When I started lessons in 1975 you used
to first look at all the parked aircraft to see which one would be the
easiest to get out - to keep push and shove to a minimum. Now I could
taxy around blindfolded and not hit any aircraft - just empty buildings
!!!
In 1975 the reciept shows $28per hour solo for a new Warrior. The exact
same plane today in 2005 is $148 per hour solo.
There's now only one six place single engine aircraft left to hire on the
whole airport - Lance WHG at RVAC - unless other schools have something
that's not listed on their WWW sites.
Back to the Bar at the Aero Club - sob sob....
KC
|
What a timely post - just talking to the missus about a conversation that I
had today with a close friend who part owns an Aztec. He and I are both
thinking about hanging up the headset - the bang-for-the-buck has gone. Even
after a very nice flight in the Sneaker down the coast yesterday...
Costs are too high, there are not enough well maintained touring aircraft
available (the Mooney got sold), and I am looking for other challenges.
Talking to the missus, will do my last IFR renewal soon, do the flight with
the Sneaker into Avalon and that will be it I think. I wanna buy a boat real
bad after selling my old one (15 years of pure fun), and buying a boat at
$60k and flying IFR twins don't mix...
I may look at gliding, I want to do tailwheel and aeros - and low flying
(anyone know anyone in the Sydney basin who is a *good* teacher???). That
may be enough to keep me in aviation, who knows...
Illawarra and Chieftain Aviation look like they will amalgamate with AFTS,
moving into the Chieftain building - and that takes care of two of the
oldest flying schools on the field...
I do have a bitch - obviously there is no money in rental aircraft -
otherwise there would be more. There are only training aircraft to be found
on the field and only training schools. What rental aircraft that are
available are in poor condition. And then there is the hiring rate
structure. Schools rent out at start up to shut down, OK for the cheaper
aircraft, but for aircraft that cost $250/hour dry ($350+ wet, plus landing
fees, plus enroute charges = $400/hour) some rental places charge chock to
chock at a $100 - $150/hour premium - for what? Better they charge a
*management* fee and let a little more money go to the owner so that he gets
a return on his plane.
F'rinstance - I hire the Seneca on airswitch wet at $244/hour plus
$105/hour for fuel. This is a Seneca III; a well known club on the field
rents out a Seneca II for $500+/hour; a II model is only a nominal 4 seater
(if that) because it has a MZFW, where the III does not. This is dear flying
and the owner may wonder why he does not have customers...
All thoughts welcome!
/viz
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Ben Matthes
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Ramblings on GA |
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On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 12:19:40 +1030, Stephen James
<Stephen_172 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:
<snip>
| Quote: | Parafield to is an unhappy sight these days. Lots of empty grassed and
hardstand parking areas. From being one of the busiest aerodromes in
Australia in the early 90s to the 10,000 or less movements a month now
is dreadful.
If it wasn't for BAe and The Uni of SA flight schools the movements
would be more like 4000 movements a month.
Parafield Airport Limited, or what ever they are called these days,
could have has many light industrial and retail complexes as it could
fit around two rwys (03/21 and 08/26) No need for parallel rwys, no
need for ATC, reduced services all around. Sorry to seem so
pessimistic but it is a sorry sight out there these days.
At least some of the satellite aerodromes, Aldinga, Goolwa, Murray
Bridge etc are doing pretty well. I was surprised by the development
that has been happening at Aldinga....good to see.
Yes I agree Stephen, when I was back there in early Jan I couldn't |
believe just how quiet PF is, and how the place has changed over the
years. When I was learning at Hartwigs in 1989 (and it was much
busier then) they used to tell me that it in the preceeding years you
needed to queue to get into the circuit! they had both circuits full
and you taxiied out and waited for someone to land beofre your turn.
(It was never that busy when I was there, but it came close).
I think the airport charging regime has had a lot to do with it,
that's why all the satellite aerodromes you mentioned are doing so
well. I have read somewhere that airpaort charges have increased by
hundreds of %, and Adelaide and Parafield (owned by the same people)
are right up in the top of the list for biggest increases.
It has been a couple of years since I visited Aldinga, but when I was
there, there were 7 new hangars! And Callington (where Coop flies
from I understand has had some good growth also).
Interestingly, colleague at work (who learned to fly at PF also!)
tells me that it was not that long ago that the Commonwealth used to
subsidise Aero Clubs! It was a hangover from WWII and it was the
belief that it was a worthwhile source of trained pilots, useful in
time of national emergency, that kept the $ coming well after WWII.
| Quote: | It would be interesting to see a comparison made between the cost of
say, the hire and fly rate of a C172 and the average salary of 25
years ago against today's cost/average salary. Is the reduction in
private flying the result of some phenomena or is it just too
expensive these days?
I've heard pilots talk about the effect the rural community/economy
has on flying training, better years financially, more farmer's kids
learning to fly, more aircraft being bought and sold. The follow on
effect through the rest of community must also have an effect.
Others have talked about the number of older RPT pilots retiring as
stimulating an interest in flying training. I guess other factors as
Virgin and Jet Star must have a stimulating effect. I guess also it
just comes down to the cost of obtaining a PPL or CPL these days.
My first flying training, in a Victa 100, was charged out at $11.50 an
hour, with an instructor. Mind you that was in 1965 and I've no idea
what the average salary was in those days. But there were no direct
ATC or aerodrome operator costs levied then.
I guess it would cost $35,000 - $45,000 to get a CPL with instructors
rating or CIR. No HEX to help with the flying costs and I'm certain
most of the banks wont back you with a loan. So it would mean rich
parents, a lottery win or 1-2 hours a week flying training for a
number of years while trying to hold down a regular job.
Sorry if I seem too morose but I agree with Stealth, GA is dying and
it is a sad thing. I can only hope it is the result of some temporary
phenomena that will pass.
Regards
Stephen
Here in Canberra the local area chapter of the SAAA has 27 aircraft |
being built, of various types, but a good number of RV's as well.
That's not a bad effort I reckon!
But I think its also the nature of the industry is changing. The
ultralight and experimental category is where its all happening these
days. I was surprised to find that Engineering people I know and know
of are as busy as hell! One operator at PF is very busy and he has no
CASA approvals, he just does Experimental cat stuff.
Personally I'd like to see the untralight category raised to 5700kg
:-)
So I think its still happening out there, just in different ways. SP
may not have anyone to share the sky with until all the homebuilts are
completed;-)
cheers:-)
Ben.
Ben Matthes. Canberra, Australia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aircraft Manager, Canberra Aero Club.
http://www.canberra-aeroclub.com.au/
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Stephen James
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Ramblings on GA |
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On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 20:44:02 +1100, Ben Matthes
<cac_airboss (AT) coldmail (DOT) com> wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 12:19:40 +1030, Stephen James
[email]Stephen_172 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com[/email]> wrote:
snip
Here in Canberra the local area chapter of the SAAA has 27 aircraft
being built, of various types, but a good number of RV's as well.
That's not a bad effort I reckon!
But I think its also the nature of the industry is changing. The
ultralight and experimental category is where its all happening these
days. I was surprised to find that Engineering people I know and know
of are as busy as hell! One operator at PF is very busy and he has no
CASA approvals, he just does Experimental cat stuff.
Personally I'd like to see the untralight category raised to 5700kg
:-)
So I think its still happening out there, just in different ways. SP
may not have anyone to share the sky with until all the homebuilts are
completed;-)
cheers:-)
Ben.
Ben Matthes. Canberra, Australia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aircraft Manager, Canberra Aero Club.
http://www.canberra-aeroclub.com.au/
|
Thanks Ben, you have raised my spirits somewhat.
I guess with the costs of "normal" GA spiraling upwards sports
aviation could be the future.
If that is the case I better get my butt down to Strathalbyn, Aldinga,
Goolwa etc and do a bit of "networking".
Hmmmm, ultra lights, home builts, sport aircraft.......sounds good to
me. Maybe I'm not too old to start over again.
Regards
Stephen
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MC
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:55 am Post subject: Re: GA is almost dead here (YMMB) also. |
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viz wrote:
| Quote: | Costs are too high, there are not enough well maintained touring
aircraft
available (the Mooney got sold), and I am looking for other challenges.
I do have a bitch - obviously there is no money in rental aircraft -
otherwise there would be more. There are only training aircraft to be found
on the field and only training schools. What rental aircraft that are
available are in poor condition. And then there is the hiring rate
structure. Schools rent out at start up to shut down, OK for the cheaper
aircraft, but for aircraft that cost $250/hour dry ($350+ wet, plus landing
fees, plus enroute charges = $400/hour) some rental places charge chock to
chock at a $100 - $150/hour premium - for what? Better they charge a
*management* fee and let a little more money go to the owner so that he gets
a return on his plane.
|
Well.., as you know, at Bankstown the effective parking fees and
hanger/building rentals have increased substantially every year.
(pre and post privatisation).
This has meant that schools have to somehow cover *their* costs and
basically A/C rental costs have increased.
On the high utilisation (ie training) A/C this increased cost is not
so bad, but for the lower usage A/C (ie higher performance) it ends
up as a substantial increase in the rental rate.
A lot of owners have voted with their wings and gone elsewhere
where the parking fees are not close to their insurance rates,
and this has resulted in a lot of vacant grass parking areas which
BAL (BaCH) seems intent on redeveloping for non-aviation use.
Therefore what remain, are aircraft with a reasonably high
utilisation rate and these tend not to get a lot of cosmetic
attention and hence *appear* somewhat 'tired' and shabby.
| Quote: | F'rinstance - I hire the Seneca on airswitch wet at $244/hour plus
$105/hour for fuel. This is a Seneca III; a well known club on the field
rents out a Seneca II for $500+/hour; a II model is only a nominal 4 seater
(if that) because it has a MZFW, where the III does not. This is dear flying
and the owner may wonder why he does not have customers...
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I agree., seems silly., but maybe that owner doesn't want *too* many
people flying their A/C but wants just enough to help defray the fixed
costs of the insurance and parking.
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Stephen Melis
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:04 am Post subject: Re: GA is almost dead here (YMMB) also. |
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"viz" <viz@*nospam*.pacific.net.au> wrote
| Quote: |
I do have a bitch - obviously there is no money in rental aircraft -
otherwise there would be more.
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I sold mine two months ago after owning it any enjoying flying it for nearly
5 years :(
Sold, as I just couldn't keep up the paying the maintenance, even when it
was online and even when I paid myself the same hire rate. It still didn't
pay for itself. The finanical forcast showed unless there was a real price
hike then it would never pay for itself and if there was a price hike then
no one would hire it so it still wouldn't pay for itself. A real no win
situation.
So this is user pays....
Well....I stopped paying!
GA is dead! The Government, CASA and ASA are in the process of killing it
and they are ignoring all the warning signs. In the USA the Government must
support GA and must make it thrive, there is a mandate/bill/proceeding/etc..
for it, unfortunately there is not such thing in Australia.
I've Hung up the headset, and unless there is a real reason, such as winning
lotto, I probably won't go flying again. :(
However, I've spend my last few hours flying money and invested in a flight
simulator with yoke & pedals and a very realistic PA-28 with very detailed
Australian scenery. Although not as real but I can keep myself sharp for
when times get better, if they do?
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RT
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Ramblings on GA |
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| Quote: | On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:01:57 +0800, Stealth Pilot
[email]tailwind (AT) iinet (DOT) net.au[/email]> wrote:
I had plans to fly this week, but pitot head filled with dirt! No good
for telling airspeed. But I have had that fixed now
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Stealth - you're going to HAVE to do something about your landings.
Permanently bending u/c legs and breaking off tailwheels is one thing, but
getting dirt in the pitot of a high wing a/c is a new high/low/whatever and
suitable for the Guinness Book of Records!
Damnit man - you're not supposed to fly AT the bloody earth - you fly TO
it!!!!!
<sigh........>
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