AEA Pilot's Guide 2021-2022 - 31

unfortunately called a chief flight instructor who could
have fit right into the period mindset of the television
program Mad Men.
Before he'd answer any of her questions, he had
a few of his own - and some of his questions sent
my normally easygoing bride into a rage. A rage so
profound that it lasted days until my return from that
year's AirVenture Oshkosh.
" Are you married? " the CFI
asked. Why does that matter,
she responded.
" Does he know you want to
do this? " Yes, but again, what
does that have to do with the
question, she responded.
" What does he think of you
flying? " Her patience almost
gone, she asked whether the
CFI was going to answer any of
her questions.
" Only after I'm sure it's alright
with your husband. "
That's the point at which she
told the CFI she'd continue her
search for a CFI in hopes of one
whose attitudes were closer to
the late, 20th century.
Another CFI told her she'd
have to use his school's
airplanes, airplanes with an
flaps and trim and land the airplane; and take off again.
My primary instructor schooled her on emergency
procedures for the possibility of pilot incapacitation,
how to call on the radio and which frequency, as well as
the appropriate transponder code. We even made up
a briefing card covering all the steps and kept it in the
glove box of our plane.
So what's the holdup for many would-be aviators?
Mostly a case of bad information
and mistaken perceptions - like the
cost of the plane.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THIS: WITH CAREFUL
SHOPPING FOR THE
PLANE BEST SUITED
FOR THE FLYING
PLANNED, A NEW
PILOT CAN BE AN
AIRCRAFT OWNER
FOR LESS MONEY
THAN THE RIDE
DRIVEN TO
THE AIRPORT.
There are ways to help correct
these issues and, occasionally, help
move a prospective pilot over these
hurdles and into flight training.
Myth busting: Airplanes
are too expensive for
average people
This one makes me chuckle
every time it comes up: I'd love
to learn to fly but airplanes cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Well, that's true; new airplanes,
even light sport aircraft, do run
from low six figures and up. But
few people need or want a brandnew
aircraft. Buying a solid, wellmaintained
used airplane provides
a way to aircraft ownership for
integrated avionics package in the panel. " That rents for
$125 an hour. "
But what about the other 172 with an analog panel,
she asked. It rented for $65 an hour, almost half of what
the digital-panel airplane fetched.
" Well, we prefer to teach in airplanes that reflect what
you can buy new today, " was the response.
Strike two.
These are real-world examples encountered over
and over again with the usual results being a prospect
walking away - as my late wife did.
Turned out to be moot questions; she couldn't pass
the third-class medical exam. But she still wanted to
know her way around the cockpit. Our solution: Book
her dual instruction up to the point where she could
lower the gear on our retractable single; handle the
about the cost of many SUVs and large pickup trucks.
The price range here: $60,000 and down to as
little as the mid-$20,000 range. The plane won't be a
speed demon and won't likely have a fancy electronic
instrument panel. But it will be equipped to fly, typically
on instruments, with all the required equipment for its
category and class.
Our first plane, a 1969 Piper Cherokee 140D, cost
the same as the Isuzu Trooper we drove in those days:
$18,000. It only cruised at a bit more than 110 knots
- about 125 miles per hour - but it got this pilot and a
passenger across the country much faster than driving.
Surprisingly, we could fly it to visit family in only
about 90 minutes longer than the available airline trips,
Continued on following page...
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