BrianR
Pre-takeoff checklist
As a private pilot of three months' duration, I think I've moaned here previously about how the 172 in which I completed my checkride and was renting was damaged by another pilot a week after I got my certificate. Problem was/is, the (minor) repairs and engine teardown for the prop strike have had the airplane out of service going on three months now.
This has prompted me to explore other options. While I'd love to buy a plane or join a partnership, it's just not in the cards for the immediate future. I need to retire some debt before I consider that type of financial commitment, so ownership will have to wait at least 3-4 years most likely.
When I say I live in the middle of nowhere, I'm not kidding. It's a 30 minute drive to the airport where I was renting. There are several medium/smaller cities, all about an hours' drive away. While there are a few flight schools/FBOs within 30 minutes, they all suffer from the same problem as where I've been going: they're all one-man shows, with a single aircraft. As a result, the planes are frequently not available, and it's a PITA to even find out if they are - you have to get the owner on the phone, which is often not an easy proposition.
I was paying $120/hr wet for a 172N. It's a bit long in the tooth, but a nice enough airplane, with the 180 hp STC, a KLN 89B GPS, STEC 50, etc. He also has a 1971 C150 for $85/hr, which I've been flying, but it's not my favorite airplane. The seats are so worn out it's like sitting on concrete, and it's virtually impossible to take a normal-sized passenger and full fuel. In other words, as far as I'm concerned it's ok for tooling around the pattern alone, but to go anywhere, or take friends/family flying, not so much.
So, there's a flight school in Syracuse, an hour away, with three 172SPs. They are all very nicely equipped. They rent for $99/hr dry, with local 100LL going for about $6 a gallon...meaning it would cost on the order of $150 an hour to rent the things. They are nice, but not that nice.
I have located two flying clubs, sort of in the area - one in Syracuse <http://www.syracuseflyingclub.com/> and one in Ithaca <http://ehfc.net/index.html>. Syracuse is about an hour away, Ithaca a little further, and not a convenient drive (lots of hills and back roads).
I attended a recent meeting of the Syracuse club. There weren't many members present - just the officers and two or three others. They said there are 27 members, 22-23 of whom fly at least occasionally. Seemed like a pretty easy going group. The club has been in existence for 25+ years. They have a two airplanes, an '82 Warrior and a '78 Skylane. The Warrior will have about 180 hours this year, the Skylane just under 300. The Warrior is billed at $95 per hour, the Skylane at $127. Every member I talked to said there are rarely any scheduling conflicts, the planes may be taken for several days if scheduled in advance, the planes are well-maintained and both are very well equipped. Non-refundable membership fee is $500, and monthly dues are $75.
The East Hill club, by comparison, charges $400 up front plus $700 refundable deposit, and monthly dues of $50. They have more airplanes than the Syracuse club, with eight aircraft: two 152s, three 172s, a Mooney 201, a Citabria and a LSA. The hourly rates are slightly higher as well. $85 for the 152s, $95 for the Citabria and the LSA, $103 for the 172s and $132 for the Mooney. They have considerably more members than the Syracuse club. Their requirements are a bit more onerous as well: no grass fields, night flights only with annual night checkride, annual checkride in each plane. The Syracuse club only requires an annual checkout for the 182, otherwise the FARs regulate. This club also has been around for many years, and seems to enjoy an excellent reputation. Both clubs offer online scheduling, a big plus as far as I'm concerned. Both provide full insurance coverage for members.
I anticipate that in the immediate future, I will be flying between 50-75 hours annually. I plan on 3-4 trips per year in the 200 nm range, and probably 1-2 around 800 miles. The rest will be local flying. Haven't decided if I'll pursue an instrument rating.
So here's my dilemma. Do I just keep renting, or join a club which requires a one hour (or longer) drive each way, in exchange for more and better access to nicer airplanes? How do the prices seem compared to other parts of the country? What am I overlooking? How much less would you fly if you had to spend two hours on the road to do it? What would you do?
This has prompted me to explore other options. While I'd love to buy a plane or join a partnership, it's just not in the cards for the immediate future. I need to retire some debt before I consider that type of financial commitment, so ownership will have to wait at least 3-4 years most likely.
When I say I live in the middle of nowhere, I'm not kidding. It's a 30 minute drive to the airport where I was renting. There are several medium/smaller cities, all about an hours' drive away. While there are a few flight schools/FBOs within 30 minutes, they all suffer from the same problem as where I've been going: they're all one-man shows, with a single aircraft. As a result, the planes are frequently not available, and it's a PITA to even find out if they are - you have to get the owner on the phone, which is often not an easy proposition.
I was paying $120/hr wet for a 172N. It's a bit long in the tooth, but a nice enough airplane, with the 180 hp STC, a KLN 89B GPS, STEC 50, etc. He also has a 1971 C150 for $85/hr, which I've been flying, but it's not my favorite airplane. The seats are so worn out it's like sitting on concrete, and it's virtually impossible to take a normal-sized passenger and full fuel. In other words, as far as I'm concerned it's ok for tooling around the pattern alone, but to go anywhere, or take friends/family flying, not so much.
So, there's a flight school in Syracuse, an hour away, with three 172SPs. They are all very nicely equipped. They rent for $99/hr dry, with local 100LL going for about $6 a gallon...meaning it would cost on the order of $150 an hour to rent the things. They are nice, but not that nice.
I have located two flying clubs, sort of in the area - one in Syracuse <http://www.syracuseflyingclub.com/> and one in Ithaca <http://ehfc.net/index.html>. Syracuse is about an hour away, Ithaca a little further, and not a convenient drive (lots of hills and back roads).
I attended a recent meeting of the Syracuse club. There weren't many members present - just the officers and two or three others. They said there are 27 members, 22-23 of whom fly at least occasionally. Seemed like a pretty easy going group. The club has been in existence for 25+ years. They have a two airplanes, an '82 Warrior and a '78 Skylane. The Warrior will have about 180 hours this year, the Skylane just under 300. The Warrior is billed at $95 per hour, the Skylane at $127. Every member I talked to said there are rarely any scheduling conflicts, the planes may be taken for several days if scheduled in advance, the planes are well-maintained and both are very well equipped. Non-refundable membership fee is $500, and monthly dues are $75.
The East Hill club, by comparison, charges $400 up front plus $700 refundable deposit, and monthly dues of $50. They have more airplanes than the Syracuse club, with eight aircraft: two 152s, three 172s, a Mooney 201, a Citabria and a LSA. The hourly rates are slightly higher as well. $85 for the 152s, $95 for the Citabria and the LSA, $103 for the 172s and $132 for the Mooney. They have considerably more members than the Syracuse club. Their requirements are a bit more onerous as well: no grass fields, night flights only with annual night checkride, annual checkride in each plane. The Syracuse club only requires an annual checkout for the 182, otherwise the FARs regulate. This club also has been around for many years, and seems to enjoy an excellent reputation. Both clubs offer online scheduling, a big plus as far as I'm concerned. Both provide full insurance coverage for members.
I anticipate that in the immediate future, I will be flying between 50-75 hours annually. I plan on 3-4 trips per year in the 200 nm range, and probably 1-2 around 800 miles. The rest will be local flying. Haven't decided if I'll pursue an instrument rating.
So here's my dilemma. Do I just keep renting, or join a club which requires a one hour (or longer) drive each way, in exchange for more and better access to nicer airplanes? How do the prices seem compared to other parts of the country? What am I overlooking? How much less would you fly if you had to spend two hours on the road to do it? What would you do?
