What would make you stop flying?

Snaggletooth

Snaggletooth

Line Up and Wait
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
665
Location
Texas
Display Name
Display name:
Dustin
I'm sure a topic has come up about this before, but I don't see any resent ones so here it goes.

What would it take to make you stop flying?
Example: Really scary in flight moment.

For me, it would have to be a very scary in flight happening.
When I did my first Power On Stall I almost put the plane in a spin. That scared the crap outta me, but no where near to the point of making me quit, or call it a day.
 
If I did something stupid that caused serious injury or death to someone else, I'd be inclined to stop, whether I survived or not. (yeah, I know I don't have a choice if I don't survive).
 
smigaldi said:
Exceeding the critical angle of attack.
Click to expand...

reading this makes me wonder why no one has said something along the lines of "Going below stall speed."

Perhaps I should have worded my post better. lol
 
Loss of medical

Insufficient $$$

TSA continuing toward their apparent objective of killing GA

The FAA making flying unaffordable by mandating ever more unnecessary equippage
of equipment (e.g., the ADS-B mandate in it's current form)
 
The money and rental situation pretty much shut me down for now until I can have a decent chance at owning. (Carving huge holes in the bank account while being very restricted in what you can do takes all the fun out of it - no night, no multiple days, no dirt/grass, no short runways, no mountains, etc = ish)

Other than that, nothing much I can think of as long as I'm capable of flying the plane.
 
It would take a hell of a lot to make me stop. Although I have slowed down -- I just try to remain current. I decided that I was sick of renting and if I were to ever own I'd have to get the rest of my life sorted out (house, save money, etc).

So now I just take steps towards ownership -- continually save money -- and try to make more money :)
 
A combination of three things. A slow down in the economy that empties the bank accounts. $5.00 a gallon gas. Life being so stressful that I don't feel comfortable as pilot in command.
I'm still riding along as a pax with the next door neighbor, but no pic time until life gets easier. Then maybe..
 
Last edited:
Approaching 70, not staying current, and other Priorities/interests.
 
The last time I stopped was after 9-11 when everybody else did. Hope we don't have any more of those. But with TSA on the loose I feel like we're getting nibbled to death by a duck.
 
I suppose this might...........But it didn't.

HR
 

Attachments

  • N7872G on March 14.jpg
    N7872G on March 14.jpg
    154 KB · Views: 36
For me? $$$. I think I can afford to fly (renting), or afford to build a plane (got my eye on a RV-10 kit), but not both.

So I'm currently trying to make up my mind... :-)

Chris
 
1) Wife. If she said stop, I'd stop.

(No fear of that though -- she has seen the light. 1hr to CT for Thanksgiving by air, or 4.5hrs thru NYC traffic.)


2) TSA screening for GA. If I had to go through that BS, well, I dunno.
 
Cost. Owning and maintaining a plane is expensive and if you don't own your just not going to fly. The rental situation is terrible as other have said.
 
Trapper John said:
When I make the subjective value judgement that the cost of an hour of flying exceeds the benefit.

Trapper John
Click to expand...

Total agreement on that. That is one the reasons I switched from ownership to rental. My rental choices are pretty good, and during the downturn, availability is great.

...and add loss of medical, or the need to jump through hoops, medically, to get an SI.
 
Absolutely nothing. I plan to fly until I realize that I am no longer competent. Hopefully that is a long time from now!



Snaggletooth said:
I'm sure a topic has come up about this before, but I don't see any resent ones so here it goes.

What would it take to make you stop flying?
Example: Really scary in flight moment.

For me, it would have to be a very scary in flight happening.
When I did my first Power On Stall I almost put the plane in a spin. That scared the crap outta me, but no where near to the point of making me quit, or call it a day.
Click to expand...
 
Loss of both arms and legs. I would still try to fly with my teeth.
 
wabower said:
The last time I stopped was after 9-11 when everybody else did.
Click to expand...
The last time I seriously considered doing something else was after 9/11 and all the new security measures came out. I was used to working somewhere where all the doors were unlocked and I had never seen a key for the airplanes. Then the office became a fortress, we had to do all kinds of background checks and start carding the customers, not to mention the various "security" measures developed randomly at various FBOs. It seemed like a real PITA and I didn't know if I still wanted to be involved. Of course now I've gotten used to most of it and it seems stupid that I thought that way at the time. :dunno:
 
Everskyward said:
Of course now I've gotten used to most of it and it seems stupid that I thought that way at the time. :dunno:
Click to expand...

That's why I can't see any of those issues causing me to stop flying.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
That's why I can't see any of those issues causing me to stop flying.
Click to expand...
Remember too, though, that flying is the way I make my money, not normally the way I spend it, so giving it up would have created a whole different set of issues.
 
Everskyward said:
Remember too, though, that flying is the way I make my money, not normally the way I spend it, so giving it up would have created a whole different set of issues.
Click to expand...

Also true, but as you know it's become a big enough part of my life that giving it up would mean more than just giving up a hobby, even if it would help my bank account.
 
smigaldi said:
Exceeding the critical angle of attack.
Click to expand...

Beat me too it. :yesnod:



***

The only way I'll quit flying is if I find the bottom of a smokin hole. Hopefully, there is no one underneath me! :nono: Then again I live in Nebraska. I would have to try and hit someone on the ground around here. :rofl:
 
Last edited:
This thread is somewhat timely. I got word from a colleague that he has decided to stop flying and sell his airplane. The reason he gave was that he has not had an incident in all his years of flying and he feels that he has pushed the limits and the odds are starting to turn against him. He would not elaborate more than that. But I suspect that something happened and it caused him concern.
 
DutchessFlier said:
Losing my medical
Click to expand...

Don't try to get one if you have reason to believe that you might fail...

Ok, define "Stop"...

I got married, bought a boat, house, had kids, etc. and pretty much faded away from being an active pilot. Still fly with my brother when I can. Time, Money, Priorities.

One day, when I get my head above water again, I'll be looking for something like a T'craft and fly under the LSA rules (no medical no more either).
 
The economy's done a pretty good job of it for me... not much money for flying these days. :nonod:

-Rich
 
I fly despite the TSA mess we're in now (freakin' badges, ugh).

I kept flying after I lost my job, and I still fly despite making 45% less money than I did before.

I'll stop flying when the first shovel of dirt hits my face.
 
As a group, I suspect the thing that will make the largest number of us stop flying down the road will not be health, money, competency - rather it will be when the regulatory burden becomes so unwieldly that personal flying becomes like Europe and other parts of the world. As I continue to harp on (mainly to deaf ears).
 
smigaldi said:
But I suspect that something happened and it caused him concern.
Click to expand...

Wow, what a stupid reason to qiut. Flying is as safe as you make it. Stay current and maintain your aircraft. Don't have a morbid fear of death, everyone dies at some point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top