What is a pilots license for?

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tom11011

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tom11011
Hi Group,

I've been considering getting my pilot's license after taking a demo flight out at my local airport. I received a coupon for a birthday gift and gave it a shot last month. Up until 3 months ago flying had never even crossed my mind.

I have about $5,000 saved up that I was thinking about using it to make a down payment on a boat loan. But then I took that demo flight and I am now having second thoughts about a boat and maybe using the money to get a pilots license.

But I am at a cross roads on this decision, I cannot figure out what I would do with a private pilot license. I have no interest in flying as a job, in fact I'm quite happy working in the IT/Computer field.

I could probably budget about $300 per month right now to fly, but I don't know what I would do.

What are you supposed to use a pilots license for other than a job?
 
Getting from point A to point B. Doing aerobatics. Taking friends to get a $100 hamburger at some airport restaurant. Pick up chicks.
 
Think about it. What are you going to do with a boat? Cruise around a bit, come back. What can you do with an airplane? Go from point A to point B a whole lot faster than a car. And trust me, and airplane will burn up at least as much money as a boat will.
 
Go to air shows. Take yourself on vacation in other states. Have fun with taking your non flying friends flying. Having both a boat and an airplane ,I'm not a good one to give advice.
 
Because you can FLY. Don't let all that physics stuff about flying fool you about what keeps a plane in the air.... Lift, drag, blah, blah, blah.... No, it's money that keeps the plane in the air.
If you get smitten, then you'll find a way to make it happen. After a few lessons, you might find out if you have the bug. Something like 80% of those who start training never finish with a pilot certificate. Some folks stop just after they solo, after realizing flying is serious business and they can't handle the responsibility.

$300 a month is not much. It'll get you a couple of lessons a month, which may not be enough. Learning to fly takes repetition and muscle memory. Twice a month may not work for most people.

I started to learn to fly several times before finally doing it 30 years later. You know what they say about a boat... "a hole in the water you throw money into". The same could be said about flying. But cutting those holes in the sky is SO much fun.
 
...here's an example from just last weekend for me.

I live in Austin, TX. I went to college in Lubbock, TX. My wife and I were invited to come back and perform on a show at a music theater (a reunion show of sorts) where we performed and actually met almost 20 years ago.

I've made the drive a dozen times - it's brutal...6 hours...mostly 2 lane highway...cops everywhere...the last 2.5 hours of the drive is through the Texas panhandle...so basically red dirt as far as the eye can see...

Instead, we climb into the plane and we're there in 2 hours. Not only that, flying an airplane is a LOT less stressful vs driving a car. Once you get up at altitude and you're cruising...trim it up, put the autopilot on and enjoy the sights. We hook up a music player to bluetooth and enjoy some tunes. No 'driving', no trying to pass people, no slowing down for other traffic, no stop lights, no worrying about cops, etc...

We landed, unloaded the plane, drove across town and checked into our hotel so my wife could change clothes, met some relatives for dinner, went and had a drink and then went back to the hotel. We were laying in bed watching TV and I said...if we were driving we'd JUST NOW be getting here.

Sure, it costs about twice as much to fly and even a few bucks more if you have to rent a car once you're there...but IMHO, it's worth it. When I drive that I'm just f'ing exhausted by the time I get there...crick in the neck, sore as heck. Flying - not so much...and you land and get the A+ treatment at the FBO to boot.

I also take buddies out to the coast to go golfing, we fly all over Texas to golf or grab a $100 hamburger or BBQ lunch. Way more fun (and impressive :)) than owning a boat.

I've got some trips planned to head to Shreveport (casino's) with buddies for the weekend, New Orleans, etc... places that it would just be a giant PITA to drive to go - you can get there in a few hours in a plane...and it's a blast vs grinding it out in a car for 6-8 hours at a time.
 
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Ok, I'll be "that guy".

It depends on your family situation.

A summer full of afternoons on the lake is a great way for kids to grow up. A couple of families, some coolers of food and drink, a tub/wakeboard/surfboard/slalom ski and you have memories for a lifetime.

Boating, by its nature, is a very social activity, and, the more people you have with you, the more fun it is. Flying, for some reason, is a very solitary activity. Hang around an airport and see how many planes unload with 4 people in them. How many with 3 people, 2 people, and, finally, just the pilot.


As for costs? all depends on what type of boat/plane you get, how you use it.
 
Wow that was quick, thanks for all the responses. Do most private pilots own their own airplane? How much do you spend on flying? Do you charge people to take them flying? I'm trying to figure out how to do this economically. I have money to get a license but am not too clear on what happens after getting it.
 
tom11011 said:
Wow that was quick, thanks for all the responses. Do most private pilots own their own airplane? How much do you spend on flying? Do you charge people to take them flying? I'm trying to figure out how to do this economically. I have money to get a license but am not too clear on what happens after getting it.
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No easy way to fly economically. Not like a boat,you can share some costs . But you can't charge out all the costs.
 
Same thing as with the boat loan, spend a lot of money. What size/type of boat are you looking at and for what use? If it's a spend time with the family thing, the boat will serve better than a plane typically because you can just park in some nice water and have family fun splashing around in the water, or pulling kids on tubes or skis, diving,or god forbid, fishing.... If you get a cabin boat you also have accommodations covered when you go places.

Airplane you go from airport to airport; aerobatics are rarely shared and if they are, typically you can only take one person with you. The main thing people do with a small plane is transport themselves and possibly family somewhere in the 200-500 mile range frequently. These are the trips where you spend a couple-few hours traveling rather than all day. Good for people with regional remote offices they need to be at weekly or people who have vacation/weekend homes on the river or beach that get much more use because of the fast transportation. Many people who have no defined need for aviation often quit after getting their ticket (many before, because these days you'd have to be a pretty sharp cookie to get your ticket for $5k) because it's too expensive (and kinda boring) to just fly around the same area just to fly. Once they have checked "become a pilot" off of their bucket list, they have no more desire and/or occasion to fly.
 
If you don't have a burning desire or a burning need to fly the boat is better. I like boats, but flying is more dangerous and I love danger.
 
tom11011 said:
Do most private pilots own their own airplane?
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I have no data to back me up, but I'd say that most pilots don't own their own aircraft. Whether or not it airplane ownership would be right for you really depends on you, your mission for the plane, and your financial situation.

Private planes can cost from the mid-teens all the way to multi-million dollars. Most people buy used since aircraft new off the assembly line can be cost prohibitive for most pilots. After you own the aircraft, you also need to consider the operating cost. This includes not only the gas you burn, but maintenance costs as well. Unless you get an amateur build experimental (a viable option BTW), virtually all maintenance will need to be done by an airframe and power plant mechanic. At the very least, and annual inspection will need to be done each year.

I've purposely avoid tossing out firm numbers since the cost is really dependent on the aircraft and your usage. You'll definitely want to research all the options, and costs, before buying a plane.

BTW... Buying a plane to learn in CAN be an economical way of learning to fly. Again, it depends on your situation.
 
ClimbnSink said:
If you don't have a burning desire or a burning need to fly the boat is better. I like boats, but flying is more dangerous and I love danger.
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Dude, I'll take you out with some weather moving in and you can decide which you think is more dangerous lol. I think your perspective is skewed.:rofl:
 
Henning said:
Dude, I'll take you out with some weather moving in and you can decide which you think is more dangerous lol. I think your perspective is skewed.:rofl:
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Well, if it's bad in a boat it's usually REALLY bad in an airplane!! :D
 
N747JB said:
Well, if it's bad in a boat it's usually REALLY bad in an airplane!! :D
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I find it to be exactly opposite, if it's bad in a plane, it's REALLY bad in a boat. Everybody is vomiting and getting injured on a boat. Planes will bounce you in your seatbelt, a boat will throw you into a bulkhead, down a ladder, or even overboard, and you're gonna be in it for 10 or more times longer.
 
Henning said:
Dude, I'll take you out with some weather moving in and you can decide which you think is more dangerous lol. I think your perspective is skewed.:rofl:
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Well yeah those boats, I mean trailer boats inshore.
 
I'd argue most active pilots own in some fashion or other; typically as partnerships and flying clubs. Most folks who only rent get burnt out of flying after a while, as rentals generally reduce the practicality of flying to go places. Renting is fine to get started, but after a while most folks start looking for clubs, partnerships or sole ownership to continue flying.

Speaking of expenses, sure you can share expenses, but you can't have people pay you to fly them places without essentially creating your own flying business.

To your original question...there are plus and minuses for both. If you're the type of person who's weekend isn't complete without knocking back a half a case of beer, boating is probably more your style. If you're someone who enjoys the atmosphere, technical challenges and going to new places, flying might be more your thing.
 
My advice, worth every penny you pay for it: Assuming you have already spent time in boats, take a few flying lessons. Then you'll know whether you want to spend the money on a boat, or get your pilot certificate (or both).
 
tom11011 said:
Hi Group,


What are you supposed to use a pilots license for other than a job?
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Hi Tom.

Gotta drivers license? :D

I've used mine for work, I'm in IT was well. I've flown myself and my family to skiing, surfing, dinner, vacation, pretty much anything you would use a car for except it's about 1/3 the travel time.

I gotta boat too. All I do on that is cruise out to the middle of the lake and swim and drink.
 
There are as many different answers to your question as there are pilots. Some pilots want to do $100 hamburgers, some want to do long trips with their families. Some want to do aerobatics, some want to do charitable flying. The real answer is what do you want to do with your flying? At $300/month to budget, you're talking about a rental or a partnership to be able to do any flying at all, and you'll be also looking at a 172 or smaller, with an LSA or small experimental perhaps providing you the best bang for your buck. Maybe an ultralight is for you, or perhaps gliders? Those would give you the most flight time in your budget. Plus, they're just fun. I really have enjoyed flying a glider the few times I've done it.

I don't have a job flying, but because I am able to fly (and have a commercial pilot certificate), it has opened up doors that I would never have imagined and been a wonderful thing for me. I know many others who've said the same.

Another thing is that you may not know what you'll do with flying in the future, but if you're at the point of being young and single, now is a great time to get your certificates. I started flying when I was 23. Had I waited a few more years, it simply wouldn't have happened. Now with a family, it's a great travel tool, all the other benefits aside.
 
tom11011 said:
Hi Group,

I've been considering getting my pilot's license after taking a demo flight out at my local airport. I received a coupon for a birthday gift and gave it a shot last month. Up until 3 months ago flying had never even crossed my mind.

I have about $5,000 saved up that I was thinking about using it to make a down payment on a boat loan. But then I took that demo flight and I am now having second thoughts about a boat and maybe using the money to get a pilots license.

But I am at a cross roads on this decision, I cannot figure out what I would do with a private pilot license. I have no interest in flying as a job, in fact I'm quite happy working in the IT/Computer field.

I could probably budget about $300 per month right now to fly, but I don't know what I would do.

What are you supposed to use a pilots license for other than a job?
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You don't sound real motivated? If you require a bunch of strangers on an internet forum to convince you to take up flying perhaps you'd be happier with a boat?
 
I'm with others. Fly for a couple hours. With $5k you should be able to know if it's for you or not. I did pinch hitter and the flying bug bit hard. I'm now working on my IR. The way I figure it I've spent $45k so far since 2010 - I know not suppose to add it up but 400 hours x $100/hr for the plane gets me around $40k but then there is the instructor fee and exam fees.
 
saracelica said:
I'm with others. Fly for a couple hours. With $5k you should be able to know if it's for you or not. I did pinch hitter and the flying bug bit hard. I'm now working on my IR. The way I figure it I've spent $45k so far since 2010 - I know not suppose to add it up but 400 hours x $100/hr for the plane gets me around $40k but then there is the instructor fee and exam fees.
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$45,000 whoa!! Are you a commercial pilot?
 
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peerlesscowboy said:
You don't sound real motivated? If you require a bunch of strangers on an internet forum to convince you to take up flying perhaps you'd be happier with a boat?
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Well that is a real possibility, but the truth is I was curious what you can do with a license, ie what does the time and money get you.
 
tom11011 said:
Well that is a real possibility, but the truth is I was curious what you can do with a license, ie what does the time and money get you.
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What's the slogan....??

A mile of road will get you a mile of travel, but a mile of runway will get you the world.
 
tom11011 said:
Well that is a real possibility, but the truth is I was curious what you can do with a license, ie what does the time and money get you.
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Another way to spend lots of money lol. Seriously, faster travel time in the medium range.
 
Once you have your pilot's certificate, you'll have it for life. Can't say the same about a boat. The same questions apply to people that have boats though. Why do you want a boat? My mom has a boat and it was a ton of fun growing up. We created a lot of memories with it. Flying is very much the same thing. It's a memory creator and, as others have said, it's a fun way of transportation even if you're only going to the next town over for pancakes or a fly-in. I will forewarn you that $5,000 is about the minimum you will invest in learning to fly. Depending on where you go and how long it takes you to learn, a safer bet would be in the $7-10,000 range. $300 per month will also get you about 2-3 hours per month of flying once you get your certificate (pros don't call it a license). Like I mentioned before though, once you have it, you have it. I'm sure it's the same money wise with a boat. Tough choices! I think if I were you, I'd take 3 lessons. It's just enough for you to start to get comfortable with the idea and get into the meat and potatoes of what you're dealing with. Make sure your Instructor knows you just want to give it a try. During and afterwards take a look at the boat and its pros and cons. Weigh your options from there. Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, you'll live close to one of POA's great pilots who'll gladly take you up for a ride if you ask nicely. I've been flying with many of these guys. Most don't bite. Oh, and we don't care which you decide, you're always welcome on here. :)
 
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ClimbnSink said:
Boats are better for that
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WAAAY over the top better lol, not even in the same league. Airplanes scare more women away than they attract, and the ones that are attracted to aviation are bat **** crazy.
 
Tristar said:
Once you have your pilot's certificate, you'll have it for life. Can't say the same about a boat. The same questions apply to people that have boats though. Why do you want a boat? My mom has a boat and it was a ton of fun growing up. We created a lot of memories with it. Flying is very much the same thing. It's a memory creator and, as others have said, it's a fun way of transportation even if you're only going to the next town over for pancakes or a fly-in. I will forewarn you that $5,000 is about the minimum you will invest in learning to fly. Depending on where you go and how long it takes you to learn, a safer bet would be in the $7-10,000 range. $300 per month will also get you about 2-3 hours per month of flying once you get your certificate (pros don't call it a license). Like I mentioned before though, once you have it, you have it. I'm sure it's the same money wise with a boat. Tough choices! I think if I were you, I'd take 3 lessons. It's just enough for you to start to get comfortable with the idea and get into the meat and potatoes of what you're dealing with. Make sure your Instructor knows you just want to give it a try. During and afterwards take a look at the boat and its pros and cons. Weigh your options from there. Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, you'll live close to one of POA's great pilots who'll gladly take you up for a ride if you ask nicely. I've been flying with many of these guys. Most don't bite. Oh, and we don't care which you decide, you're always welcome on here. :)
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You may have the certificate for life, but a medical condition can invalidate its usefulness. I know people who are third generation in the same boat. As with everything, mileage varies with users.
 
I have both a boat and a plane.

I have come to learn that boat truly stands for "Bust Out Another Thousand"

I have also learned that even though that acronym is accurate...boating is STILL helluv a lot cheaper then flying!

If I had to give up one...the plane for me might loose. A day..or longer...on the lake with friends in the sun can't be beat! I love flying, but it is a different kinda thrill than boating for me!

...and the FAA doesn't care if your friends pick up the whole tab for gas in the boat for the day!
 
Henning said:
Airplanes scare more women away than they attract, and the ones that are attracted to aviation are bat **** crazy.
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If flying defines me as crazy, I wouldn't want to be any other way!!


Also, it is true that loosing a medical is a risk you have to take but considering there's thousands of pilots out there taking that risk, it must be worth it. However, if you are worried, there is sport where you don't need a medical. The downside to that is finding a sport airplane to learn and fly. So yes, as in every sport, there are challenges. It's a part of balancing the pros and cons.
 
Flying doesn't define you as crazy, it's just coincidental.

As for flying without a medical and for cheap, he can buy an ultralight for the $5000 and forgo a pilot's cert altogether.
 
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