brien23
Cleared for Takeoff
With GA on a death spiral will medical reform help or is it too late.
One thing it will do is get grandpa back in the air for flights with his grandchildren. It could spark more interest. That could be a topic for another thread.I'm still kinda scratching my head on this whole med reform stuff. I just don't see wtf that's gonna do for GA overall.
Medical reform was never the answer to begin with. The death spiral is a result of younger generations not getting into aviation. Medical reform only lengthened the spiral.
I've got 10-12 kids showing up Saturday for four hours building an Ultra-Lite Pietenpol earning credits that will be applied against the rental of a C-150 for training and CFI's ready to donate some time. No real interest by youth today.![]()
^^^If you could play Pokemon Go in the sky, there would be more young pilots.
I'm still kinda scratching my head on this whole med reform stuff. I just don't see wtf that's gonna do for GA overall.
I see some issues, such as a former studen of mine that told me only after he failed his medical he was on anti-depressants and ADD meds. Now this guy can continue getting his ratings and never disclose it. My understanding is this guy can go to his family physician and get approval, and his family physician having zero knowledge of his issues.
Not with a failed medical on his record.
Still opens the door for someone similar to him that hasn't gone for or failed a medical to start flying.
[snip]
With the medical reform there's one less cut. That's how I look at it. Will that bring GA back from the brink? I doubt it. But that coupled with part 23 reform, so those who want to repair their own machines can do so; and those who want non-certified avionics can use them. Will that be enough? Perhaps, and perhaps not. All I can say is if things continue the way they are I don't expect GA to outlive me.
Still opens the door for someone similar to him that hasn't gone for or failed a medical to start flying.
Guessing you have a good feel for this since you fit that demographic.And I couldn't disagree more. I think GA is on the upswing (after a long decline) I see a lot of younger pilots around too. Flight schools are constantly turning out new ratings. CubCrafters just released the first part 23 certified piston single in 12 years and sales are doing very well and Oshkosh has been having record attendance.
You have to have passed a third class medical in the previous 10 years or you're still sport pilot only.
I will say I see tons of 50+ year old pilots and a surprisingly large amount under 30. I don't see very many in their 30's or 40's though. Maybe they're just busy with life to be out at the airport?Guessing you have a good feel for this since you fit that demographic.
I've never posted a poll before but I'm thinking about it.
I think that's a reasonable explanation.I will say I see tons of 50+ year old pilots and a surprisingly large amount under 30. I don't see very many in their 30's or 40's though. Maybe they're just busy with life to be out at the airport?
If anything requiring a medical gave aviation a shot in the arm. Without that there would be no where near the amount of new airplanes as most of them now are LSA.
How about your report back when all 12 kids finish their PPL? Showing interest and actually going through with it are two totally different stories. Every kid with a toy airplane has shown interest in aviation. And sorry, but 10-12 kids will not make up for the attrition rate of older pilots.
. The root problem I think is over regulation. It drives the cost up and creates problems for many of us.
I've got 10-12 kids showing up Saturday for four hours building an Ultra-Lite Pietenpol earning credits that will be applied against the rental of a C-150 for training and CFI's ready to donate some time. No real interest by youth today.![]()
Don't know if I could live in your pessimistic world. I do know nothing will happen if those of us in aviation now do nothing to get young folks excited about it. I'll keep on working at it, thanks.
How many 17 year olds have the means to pay for flight lessons much less the dedication to complete them?
It's not pessimistic it's seeing the reality. I never said to stop doing what you are doing as I think young eagles is a great idea and have done some flights my self. The harsh reality though is that young eagles is just a free airplane ride for most (nothing wrong with that). Most young adults that get their pilots license between 16 and 18 are ones who have a family member who already flies. My opinion is that young eagles are targeting too narrow of a group, or there needs to be another program for older kids/young adults. The age cutoff is 17 right? How many 17 year olds have the means to pay for flight lessons much less the dedication to complete them? Some organization needs to take the initiative to go after the post college age people. The ones who can likely afford the cost of lessons and an airplane and have matured enough to dedicate the time to studying.