Flying your own plane to work

[NealRomeoGolf]

I have thought about doing this if I were to take a job at HQ. But winter weather kills that dream with a commute in Illinois. Plus trying to commute daily into Chicago Exec is not my idea of cheap or convenient.

It would be an hour flight versus a 3 hour drive. If I were single or without kids, maybe.

 

[steingar]

3.5 miles to work, I bicycle in good weather and take the car in bad.

That’s roughly my commute. And I do it regardless of the climactic conditions. I am not a little girly man who needs a car when the going gets rough. I am Steingar the Stormwalker. And them’s Ohio winters, not that mild stuff they get down in Tennessee either.

 

[Jsalter]

Know and know of several commuters. Most own businesses that require light plane travel. The others are wealthy execs that fly their own jet/Tprop to various offices. I do know a director of maintenance who commutes in a C-150 about 100 miles every day, but he of course fixes his own plane, works at the airport, and it's good weather country. But other than that I just don't see how it's practical to commute by air every day unless you're making a lot of coin and work at the airport. I fly for work and every time I swipe the credit card for fuel I think "holy God! Good thing this is a company plane/credit card!!"

 

[hindsight2020]

Know and know of several commuters. Most own businesses that require light plane travel. The others are wealthy execs that fly their own jet/Tprop to various offices. I do know a director of maintenance who commutes in a C-150 about 100 miles every day, but he of course fixes his own plane, works at the airport, and it's good weather country. But other than that I just don't see how it's practical to commute by air every day unless you're making a lot of coin and work at the airport. I fly for work and every time I swipe the credit card for fuel I think "holy God! Good thing this is a company plane/credit card!!"

Well, the OP is already commuting, so it's clear he's making enough coin to make it worth his while. That said, even at 9-10gph, doing it round trip 5 times a week can indeed add up as you point out. I did it while TDY to get home during the weekends for 4 months (Fri departure, Sun return). But that was a one hour hop each way twice a week essentially, no different than my yearly use when I wasn't TDY anyways.

I know some folks at the airlines who commute to their domicile with their personal plane mainly because Southwest lets some of their pilots utilize the company facilities to store their airplanes. Otherwise the storage fees alone would be prohibitive, or impractical if you had to land off domicile airport and then had to procure ground transpo, vice just driving the whole way. That said, some are not doing it the most efficient way (one of my acquaintances does a 2 hour leg solo in a Lance @ 16gph, something even a small 2 seater EAB could do in 3/4 time and half the gas). But it's a hobby, so costs are moot when flying is the rationalization for it.

 

[donjohnston]

Back when I was in the Chicago area and teaching regularly for Cisco, I would fly to any class within a 6 hour drive. After 9/11 I upped the distance significantly. Atlanta was my longest trip. On some of the longer trips, I would get a "provisional" airline ticket just in case of weather or an mx issue.

 

[flibmeister]

There's an air traffic controller (he might be lurking here) who used to commute into ORD in a 150 when he was a controller there.

I'll come out of lurking status for a minute to make a slight correction: it was a Cessna 140, not a 150. Followed by a Warrior, then a Bonanza. Over eighteen years, I averaged a little over two air commutes per week, which is pretty good considering Chicago weather. I rarely flew in for afternoon shifts (ORD was just too busy at that time of day), but for day- or mid-shifts, if weather permitted, I flew.

 

[Skyrys62]

I currently fly to get the hell away from work.

 

[Bill]

That’s roughly my commute. And I do it regardless of the climactic conditions. I am not a little girly man who needs a car when the going gets rough. I am Steingar the Stormwalker. And them’s Ohio winters, not that mild stuff they get down in Tennessee either.

Meh, have nothing to prove at this point and have a nice comfortable car to drive on poor weather days. But do continue tilting at windmills...

 

[steingar]

Meh, have nothing to prove at this point and have a nice comfortable car to drive on poor weather days. But do continue tilting at windmills...

My office is not imaginary, nor are the tempests that beset my surrounds. But I have learned that with a bit of kit I can keep the coldest weather at bay. Helps that Mrs. Steingar knits warm scarves. My commute is my exercise, and helps me maintain my girlish figure, such as it is.

I do have to admit, when the mercury climbs too high I do tend to relent, and let Il Negrini, my Honda CB1000r, do the commute. Can't stand arriving at work ridden with sweat, and I do like riding Il Negrini.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

That’s roughly my commute. And I do it regardless of the climactic conditions. I am not a little girly man who needs a car when the going gets rough. I am Steingar the Stormwalker. And them’s Ohio winters, not that mild stuff they get down in Tennessee either.

Funny thing, when I lived near Cleveland we'd put knobbies on our motorcycles and ride to work almost every day. I move to Cincinnati and everyone's a wimp if a flake comes down.

 

[smv]

That’s roughly my commute. And I do it regardless of the climactic conditions. I am not a little girly man who needs a car when the going gets rough. I am Steingar the Stormwalker. And them’s Ohio winters, not that mild stuff they get down in Tennessee either.

Ride when it is cold outside? Never!!

 

[n2230b]

Ride when it is cold outside? Never!!

View attachment 82535
View attachment 82536 View attachment 82537

That could be an R 1200 GS. Baddest bike on the planet. Looks like a big insect (think “Alien”) ,but,,,,,, mine is beautiful to me, (2005 w 34000 mi). With Russel Day-Long seats I can go 1,000 mi/day no prob. Gen front cover looks “fancy” though. Changed to wire spoke wheels, softer off road.
Keep that thing “outta the trees!!

 

[smv]

That could be an R 1200 GS. Baddest bike on the planet.

It is a K16GTL. Even badder. (It is a 2012 with ~105k miles).

It looks like a luxo-barge but with 160hp and 129 ft lbs torque, it is a sleeper.

Not being a GS does not keep me out of the dirt, however. I am not afraid to take it off road, when necessary.

 

[wheaties]

I commute to the main office every few weeks, several states over. Biggest issue there is the liability. I can't ask for reimbursement and we currently treat it like I'm taking my car (cause it does work out to be effectively the same cost as airfare.)

As much as it sounds cool, unless it's done as a car ride to work, the corporate liability for any work related travel will render us just another passenger.

 

[Bill]

That could be an R 1200 GS. Baddest bike on the planet. Looks like a big insect (think “Alien”) ,but,,,,,, mine is beautiful to me, (2005 w 34000 mi).

I have a '16 R 1200 GS water boxer, I love the bike. I also have the wire wheels, they're great, much less stress when I accidentally center punch that big gnarly rock when riding two track. It also excells on the road, they can achieve sportbike levels of lean angle.

 

[steingar]

When I was learning to fly I rode my bike in the coldest weather to get to the airport. I used to ride the Goldwing until it got pretty cold, did a number of rides in December. Always knocked off when there started to be frozen water on the ground. My bike now is unfaired and naked and has become a warm weather standard. Might start riding the cold again to do the IR, it's fairly quick to get to the airport from the University, and I can park a bike there (can't park a car, I don't buy the 1 AMU parking pass). We'll see.

 

[Stan Cooper]

In the 1980s and 90s Mike Busch used to fly his 310 from Santa Maria (SMX) to San Carlos (SQL) regularly when he was doing consulting work at Visa in San Mateo. He kept a beater at SQL for local transportation.

 

[Brad W]

I did this a few times using rental aircraft.... had to make some trips to visit a paper mill that was in South GA (I lived in Kennesaw, KRYY). Would have been overnight trips by car, but the cessna turned them into day trips and I got some pleasure travel in to boot! The only minor issue was coordinating our local salesman to pick me up at the airport.

There used to be a grass field in front of my current office (it's now a parking lot). I used to daydream about my last day at work after winning the lottery... I would land my helicopter there.

 

[n2230b]

It is a K16GTL. Even badder. (It is a 2012 with ~105k miles).

It looks like a luxo-barge but with 160hp and 129 ft lbs torque, it is a sleeper.

Not being a GS does not keep me out of the dirt, however. I am not afraid to take it off road, when necessary.

HEY ???!!!!

Not gonna negotiate against myself. K 1600 GTL is a “Monstah Cruzah”!! Very Bad Ass!, Its on my list, actually has been for a long time but.....
Did the 3 day off road course with BMW in Spartanburg,,,,,only machine that would take that beating was a GS. This is my 2nd GS. By Sunday night I was getting cramps in the small muscles of my feet and hands!!!! Only machine that could be put through that was a GS. BTW, the food was incredible, German chef + open fire grill was unbelievable.

Be safe!

Regards,

 

[n2230b]

PS.
Sorry about the plunger

 

[smv]

Not gonna negotiate against myself. K 1600 GTL is a “Monstah Cruzah”!! Very Bad Ass!, Its on my list, actually has been for a long time but.....

Then you may enjoy this... 2012 on the left, 2018 on the right

 

[n2230b]

Enjoy this?
There is nothing to match the elegant functionality and optical rendition of GERMAN ENGINEERING. Weapons, cars, aircraft, dogs, engines, boats, beer, etc...
Food and women also of note but..... people skills and humor leave much to be desired, as in insufferable and non-existent respectively.
Great pics! You do realize you are blessed, no? Felicitations and Godspeed.

 

[skmoore63]

I’ve been commuting to my cargo airline job in a Mooney for 5 years. Door-to-door saves about an hour but is much lower stress and far more enjoyable than driving. The Mooney is about as affordable an aircraft that can be found - “it’s small” I was told - I’m 6’3” and it is more comfortable than my car - just no graceful way to get in it out of it. It’s more expensive than driving but fully worth it. I always file IFR. Have cancelled about 20 flights on 5 years for either weather or maintenance.

 

[TennVolsPilot39]

My dad was a pro wrestler in the Tennessee territories and some of the other southeastern territories in the 60s and 70s. He also worked a full time job. He got his license and starting flying to and from the matches so he wouldn’t miss work. His Apache was burned to the ground at the airport in Harlan Ky by fans in the early, mid 70s ( people thought it was real then and he was known for being very dirty) He then bought a 310 that he kept until after he quit wrestling and stopped flying in the early 80s. He ended up with around 2k hours and and actually got his instrument and commercial along the way. Was a big reason I always wanted to become a pilot.

 

[denverpilot]

My dad was a pro wrestler in the Tennessee territories and some of the other southeastern territories in the 60s and 70s. He also worked a full time job. He got his license and starting flying to and from the matches so he wouldn’t miss work. His Apache was burned to the ground at the airport in Harlan Ky by fans in the early, mid 70s ( people thought it was real then and he was known for being very dirty) He then bought a 310 that he kept until after he quit wrestling and stopped flying in the early 80s. He ended up with around 2k hours and and actually got his instrument and commercial along the way. Was a big reason I always wanted to become a pilot.

Well... that’s quite a story!

 

[Fearless Tower]

Never flew to work on a daily basis, but as a Navy Reservist, every time I have an event down in Florida or up in Rhode Island, I fly myself.

Longest commute was from Norfolk to San Diego.

 

[gkainz]

I fantasized about flying myself when I had an office in Fallbrook, CA right next to the airport and had to spend 2 days in Camarillo, CA every month. I usually kicked myself every month for not doing it ... usually about the time I had to queue up in one of the westbound freeways that were nothing but taillights by 6 am ... alas, I never did fly it.

 

[N1120A]

For about the last 8 months I have been flying my own plane to work. I live in Southern California and the traffic is terrible. I had a PPL so I decided to buy a plane for commuting back and forth about the 100 miles from San Diego to the Riverside area. It would normally take me about 2.5 hours with traffic and sometimes up to 4 if it was a holiday or raining, etc. Now with the plane it takes me between 28 and 35 minutes once I'm wheels up.

My wife (who is fully supportive) always is amazed that I do this and asks me if anyone else does this. I always tell her of course they do but I have never actually met anyone else who does.

So, who else flies to work?

80-90% of my flying is work related. Like you, I live in San Diego. My office is in Century City, and 90% of my caseload is in L.A. and the Bay Area. When I go to the office or to court, I fly to KSMO. I fly up to Sacramento, San Jose and Oakland regularly. I would have had a hard time moving to San Diego if I wasn't a pilot. I was lucky during the time that I didn't have my instrument rating that I never had to scrub a flight (we had much less June Gloom that year). Having my instrument rating means 99% go.

I'll come out of lurking status for a minute to make a slight correction: it was a Cessna 140, not a 150. Followed by a Warrior, then a Bonanza. Over eighteen years, I averaged a little over two air commutes per week, which is pretty good considering Chicago weather. I rarely flew in for afternoon shifts (ORD was just too busy at that time of day), but for day- or mid-shifts, if weather permitted, I flew.

Did the FBO cut you a break?

I fantasized about flying myself when I had an office in Fallbrook, CA right next to the airport and had to spend 2 days in Camarillo, CA every month. I usually kicked myself every month for not doing it ... usually about the time I had to queue up in one of the westbound freeways that were nothing but taillights by 6 am ... alas, I never did fly it.

That would have been perfect.

 

[jd21476]

I fly out of Gillespie so it has less June Gloom than Montgomery.

Every time I see your picture it brings back memories. Ive had quite a few hours in 626FT prior to leaving Plusone

 

[n2230b]

Never flew to work on a daily basis, but as a Navy Reservist, every time I have an event down in Florida or up in Rhode Island, I fly myself.

Longest commute was from Norfolk to San Diego.

Norfolk to San Diego is one hell of a long commute. What did you fly? In good weather, below 4000’ and at 140 kts you see what an incredibly beautiful country we live in. I’ve done that split into 3 days. Jacksonville, NC to Meridian, MS; Meridian, MS to Odessa, TX. Odessa, TX to Santa Ana, CA.

 

[EvilEagle]

I flew to work daily for 2 years when my wife was stationed in Pensacola and I was stationed at Tyndall AFB, Panama City. We lived about 4 mins from our hangar and I could land on base at Tyndall. It was about an hour door to door when I flew or 4 hours door to door when I had to drive. It ended up being a push money-wise considering the other option was renting a second home and living away from my wife for another couple of years. Nah, not interested in that. Flying to work was great for us and got me back into GA after a long absence.

 

[Fearless Tower]

Norfolk to San Diego is one hell of a long commute. What did you fly? In good weather, below 4000’ and at 140 kts you see what an incredibly beautiful country we live in. I’ve done that split into 3 days.

I did it in two days in a T6. It was not cheap, but I was building warbird time.

 

[Art Rose]

Doesn't matter any more, but I always wanted to use my plane for shorter trips to jobsites. Trouble was, the increased productivity couldn't overcome the increased insurance costs. Always thought there was something wrong with that picture. Stupid insurance companies.

 

[dxfile]

I know a corporate pilot in Northern CA that does this. He lives outside the Bay Area and flies into one of the metro airports. He said that it does costs more, but is priceless due to the awful traffic that exists in the Bay Area.

 

[JustinD]

I’ve done it like 2 or 3 times total. Work is over 550nm straight line distance from home which is a hike in my 182. It’s faster to get on an airliner, not by much, about 4.5 flight time nonstop in my plane which is too long for me so I break it in two so it’s about 5.5 total door to door, on an airliner is 4 hours door to door, but the cost difference massive. I’ve done when I’ve needed to move the plane out of my home base for a hurricane or something but never for the sole purpose of it just being the best way to get to work. It’s too large a distance and the wx to unpredictable for the week or so span I’m at work for it to be a feasible and cost effective way of going to work and then getting home . Then again I fly for work so I don’t feel the need to fly my plane to work. I use my plane primarily for leisure and other non essential travel

 

[UngaWunga]

Enjoy this?
There is nothing to match the elegant functionality and optical rendition of GERMAN ENGINEERING.

Anyone who thinks a GS is a elegant needs to start flying Sport Pilot because you're not going to pass a FAA medical with that eyesight...

 

[Bill]

Anyone who thinks a GS is a elegant needs to start flying Sport Pilot because you're not going to pass a FAA medical with that eyesight...

I love my GS, but pretty or elegant it is not.

 

[Tusayan]

I’m a mechanical engineer with a German airplane, an R100GS (among a bunch of other bikes) and a German wife. I will tell you quietly (particularly with the last factor in mind and she just made me breakfast ) that while there was once some truth in the myth of ‘German Engineering’ for at least 25 years it’s been total nonsense, most other industrial countries do engineering better today.

I would however enjoy flying my slightly inelegant 50 year old German aircraft to work every day, all the major structural ADs have been incorporated and no wings have fallen off for decades.

 

[murphey]

Clark used to fly from Denver to the Wyoming field on a regular basis.
A few Jepp people who lived far north side of the Colorado Front Range area used to fly to work in nice
weather - most local Jepp offices are on the wrong side of KAPA 17R but someone could always go fetch
Colorado Pilots Assoc used to have all meetings at KAPA at Jet Center conf room, one board member used to fly down fromKEIX because it was faster at rush hour than driving I25. 20 min vs 2-3 hrs sometimes.

 

[Briantime]

For about the last 8 months I have been flying my own plane to work. I live in Southern California and the traffic is terrible. I had a PPL so I decided to buy a plane for commuting back and forth about the 100 miles from San Diego to the Riverside area. It would normally take me about 2.5 hours with traffic and sometimes up to 4 if it was a holiday or raining, etc. Now with the plane it takes me between 28 and 35 minutes once I'm wheels up.

My wife (who is fully supportive) always is amazed that I do this and asks me if anyone else does this. I always tell her of course they do but I have never actually met anyone else who does.

So, who else flies to work?

I think if I lived that far from work, I would move...