I think a better analogy would be a manual screwdriver vs an impact driver. The driver always twists the screw in faster, but sometimes it's quicker to do it by hand rather than find a battery and a bit. Occasionally the impact is too powerful and the screwdriver is a better choice. Sometimes you just really enjoy twisting the screw in by hand even though the impact is obviously a better choice. That makes you a weirdo....and here we all are
Sometimes, though, it's about the mosquitoes...It’s about the journey, not the destination
I can't get $500 round-trip to anywhere. These days it's $800 minimum. And not being at a major hub means 6am flights. And I'm tired of 300+ lb seat companions that spill into my space.I know I'm an airline pilot.... BUT ....
C'mon! There are times when GA is way better and times when commercial is the way to go. I'd argue that it’s dependent on a lot of factors; many that aren’t known till the day of departure. We airplane owners do a fair bit of justifying our ownership by any means necessary but some claims are outlandish.
I’m going to a conference in FL next week. It’s about 2000 miles from my airport to the local GA at the destination. Even at the extreme it’d be two 6 hour legs each way in the Bonanza. Call it 13gph of fuel at $5.50/gal is $1,716 just in gas for the trip. On those long trips (esp. in Feb in a piston) there’s a better than average chance that the plan will change many times enroute and could add several days on the trip. Crossing the front range of the Rockies….. what if some mx item comes up and I’m in the middle of Oklahoma…. those are killer long days to get there and turn around to go home 3 days later….
Or… for around $500 round trip I can fly on several different airlines, sleep enroute, not worry about the weather or fuel stops have a very high chance of getting there within an hour or two of when I’m scheduled, know that my airplane is safely tucked in my hangar, etc. That’s a no-brainer for me, even though I have to deal with the idiots at TSA, airport food, “traveling public”, etc.
Now if I was going to the middle of Oregon, Nevada or Utah the Bonanza wins (unless it’s snowing, freezing fog, terrible winds, etc, etc)
I’m all for using the airplanes we have, I am also a realist. The airline is a tool, as is a GA airplane. They each have their uses. You can probably use a flat head screwdriver and get a Phillips head screw in something but wouldn’t it be easier to just use a Phillips?
Haha, I haven’t tried all of those but after 21 years in the military, I can basically sleep anywhere.I think being able to sleep in a modern airliner's economy class seat is a superpower unto itself. Can you also sleep on rocks? on beds of nails? in Lurquilla, typical walmart shopper's armpit?
I was a little surprised that the tickets were $500 ish. I was expecting around $800 or so.
For bonus points, do your training while the engines are still run-out. Simulated engine failures are hard on engines. Doing them before you overhaul the engines will increase your chance of all real failures happening with an MEI on board.
Hammer. Always use a hammer.
I have done a few airline trips (Million Miler on one airline, just under 2 Million Miler on another, and about 1/2 million on another), and I can fall asleep while they are still boarding.I think being able to sleep in a modern airliner's economy class seat is a superpower unto itself. Can you also sleep on rocks? on beds of nails? in Lurquilla, typical walmart shopper's armpit?
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I think distance from a commercial hub is a critical factor in the equation. Our nearest hub airport is a 10-hour drive. I know people who routinely make that drive to fly out, even in the winter when it can be more like 15 hours. I have flown GA to a reliever airport near the hub so I could fly international because the airline’s website wouldn’t even let me book a full itinerary from a nearby spoke airport to where I was going. Nearby here means a choice of 3 airports, which are 1-, 2-, and 3-hour drives away. And spoke here means all-regional-jet service.
I just looked on Travelocity for my trip next week, BOI-MCO and there were about 6 different options in the $500 +/- $20 range and one at $389.
You won’t catch me saying that GA always wins. But you will often catch me saying that GA can win and encouraging people with big GA dreams to live them out.
Must be nice. I live at a sleepy Charlie airport and work takes me to another sleepy Charlie. The least I've paid is $750. It is typically $850 plus. I think this last round was over $1000.
I’m not your friend, pal!
You'll regret this day, friend!
I’m totally with that and encourage people to travel via GA when it makes sense or if they just want a bit of adventure.
Well with the pilot shortage standards have fallen a little. It worked out for pilots like myself but it’s definitely requiring some time for everyone else to get comfortable.
what's this be at the airport 2+ hours before? if i have a flight in ATL that boards at 9am i park my car in the lot at 8am, carry on only, PreCheck through TSA and I'm at the gate when they call for Priority seating.
No. Many people don’t know. And they tend to form a line/mob directly in front of everywhere I need to go, including the precheck line. Maybe ATL is different. I’ve only been there once, to sleep on the floor when my plane to ORF had to divert for weather. But I’ve never been to a commercial airport where I haven’t had at least one experience that makes it impossible to rely on getting from the parking lot to the gate in 40 minutes every time.
Not sure if you are serious..??otoh - do you really trust that the flight crew will get the job done correctly?
Hey ...I'm sitting right here!
It depends on the airline. I have had one try kill me and a bunch of others.otoh - do you really trust that the flight crew will get the job done correctly?
