Jay Honeck
Touchdown! Greaser!
This could also be titled "Where have all the pilots gone?"
As many of you know, my wife and I own the Midwest's only aviation themed, all-suites hotel, the Alexis Park Inn & Suites. For the last six years, we have worked to create the ultimate fly-in destination, with each suite celebrating a different era of aviation history. We're both pilots (and now our 17-year old son is, as well) -- and know exactly what *we* want (and rarely find) when we travel by GA, and have endeavored to provide it.
To that end, we provide things for pilots that most hotels wouldn't dream of offering. A free courtesy vehicle, for instance. (My insurance guy goes NUTS about that!) A full-sized flight simulator to practice approaches or landing in. Free aviation movies, wireless internet, hot tubs -- you name it, we've got it.
For the last six years, fly-in business has been steadily growing, although, quite frankly, fly-in pilots have always represented less than 5% of our guests. Still, in the summer months especially, this would climb to maybe 10 - 15%, as more and more pilots took their flying family vacations.
This year, so far, fly-ins are way down. Last week we had a couple of A&P mechanics who were working on a local Wilga restoration, and a couple who drove in (rather than fly) -- but our courtesy van isn't moving much. It's getting depressing.
Our FBO reported his business last quarter was down a whopping 50%, which seems to jive with what we're seeing. Thankfully, we're having our best year, ever (obviously the aviation theme is popular with non-pilots) -- but if we had to rely on our fly-in guests we'd be out of business.
Mary and I have continued to travel by personal aircraft (we just returned from a 7-day flight to Texas and all points in between), and plan on attending OSH again this year -- but it *is* becoming harder as gas prices have soared.
So let's have it: Are you flying fewer cross country flights? Are you planning on taking any flying vacations this year, or are you sitting it out to see what happens with fuel prices?
As many of you know, my wife and I own the Midwest's only aviation themed, all-suites hotel, the Alexis Park Inn & Suites. For the last six years, we have worked to create the ultimate fly-in destination, with each suite celebrating a different era of aviation history. We're both pilots (and now our 17-year old son is, as well) -- and know exactly what *we* want (and rarely find) when we travel by GA, and have endeavored to provide it.
To that end, we provide things for pilots that most hotels wouldn't dream of offering. A free courtesy vehicle, for instance. (My insurance guy goes NUTS about that!) A full-sized flight simulator to practice approaches or landing in. Free aviation movies, wireless internet, hot tubs -- you name it, we've got it.
For the last six years, fly-in business has been steadily growing, although, quite frankly, fly-in pilots have always represented less than 5% of our guests. Still, in the summer months especially, this would climb to maybe 10 - 15%, as more and more pilots took their flying family vacations.
This year, so far, fly-ins are way down. Last week we had a couple of A&P mechanics who were working on a local Wilga restoration, and a couple who drove in (rather than fly) -- but our courtesy van isn't moving much. It's getting depressing.
Our FBO reported his business last quarter was down a whopping 50%, which seems to jive with what we're seeing. Thankfully, we're having our best year, ever (obviously the aviation theme is popular with non-pilots) -- but if we had to rely on our fly-in guests we'd be out of business.
Mary and I have continued to travel by personal aircraft (we just returned from a 7-day flight to Texas and all points in between), and plan on attending OSH again this year -- but it *is* becoming harder as gas prices have soared.
So let's have it: Are you flying fewer cross country flights? Are you planning on taking any flying vacations this year, or are you sitting it out to see what happens with fuel prices?
