Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
04-12-2015, 11:06 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
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Posts: 1,898
Heyas FAN,
Yea, let me bore you with a bit of history if you've been gone from the scene a bit....
After 9/11, something wonky happened in the GA biz. Insurance rates went into orbit, and everyone got very, very tight a$$ed. It never recovered from that.
FBOs no longer wanted the liability of rentals (or schools) and changes to the tax laws eliminated many of the "good deals" for leasebacks. As a result, stuff that was nominally free (office space) or at cost (fuel, MX) when FBOs ran the rental line turned into "profit centers". The costs and hassles really spooled out of control. Because leasebacks now sucked, the number and diversity of the rental fleets plummeted.
As you found out, what rentals are available are limited, the costs high and there is lots of hassle.
Finding a good club is a not a bad deal. They tend to have fewer restrictions that what most rental places have and the availibily much better. The airplanes also seem to be better kept. I'd ask around or post on some of the GA boards.
Airplanes themselves are actually very affordable if you don't care about avionics. A lot of GA types are absolutely hardover for GPS, and the cost to upgrade is pretty dang high. Something that doesn't have the latest and greatest takes a big hit. So if you are comfortable with a VOR, and the airplane is otherwise sound, there are some screaming deals to be had for airplanes with "old radios" (IE 2 KX155s..what we used to consider as pretty dang nice). A good app running on your iPad with a portable ADSB receiver will get you more info than you ever need.
Nu
Yea, let me bore you with a bit of history if you've been gone from the scene a bit....
After 9/11, something wonky happened in the GA biz. Insurance rates went into orbit, and everyone got very, very tight a$$ed. It never recovered from that.
FBOs no longer wanted the liability of rentals (or schools) and changes to the tax laws eliminated many of the "good deals" for leasebacks. As a result, stuff that was nominally free (office space) or at cost (fuel, MX) when FBOs ran the rental line turned into "profit centers". The costs and hassles really spooled out of control. Because leasebacks now sucked, the number and diversity of the rental fleets plummeted.
As you found out, what rentals are available are limited, the costs high and there is lots of hassle.
Finding a good club is a not a bad deal. They tend to have fewer restrictions that what most rental places have and the availibily much better. The airplanes also seem to be better kept. I'd ask around or post on some of the GA boards.
Airplanes themselves are actually very affordable if you don't care about avionics. A lot of GA types are absolutely hardover for GPS, and the cost to upgrade is pretty dang high. Something that doesn't have the latest and greatest takes a big hit. So if you are comfortable with a VOR, and the airplane is otherwise sound, there are some screaming deals to be had for airplanes with "old radios" (IE 2 KX155s..what we used to consider as pretty dang nice). A good app running on your iPad with a portable ADSB receiver will get you more info than you ever need.
Nu
04-12-2015, 11:11 AM
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Light Chop
Posts: 23,286
I know there are a number of guys on here who own or owned light airplanes, and it's been a while since I've had anything to do with GA flying. What I've noticed it that the days of showing up at an FBO and renting a plane seem to be gone, replaced by clubs, fractional ownership, and outright ownership. How does one go about obtaining an aircraft that can be flown fairly economically about 100 hours per year, carry 4 + bags at least 300nm, and so on and so forth?
but splitting it in between 2 or 3 people helps. But what Nu said, best thing is to get a Sailingfun Applie Ipad and fly mostly when airports are VFR. I've been researching this a lot.
04-12-2015, 11:20 AM
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04-12-2015, 11:26 AM
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Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!
Posts: 1,898
Cessna 172N. And after you work out the numbers it's basically close to the rental price for one but splitting it in between 2 or 3 people helps. But what Nu said, best thing is to get a Sailingfun Applie Ipad and fly mostly when airports are VFR.
I've been researching this a lot.
but splitting it in between 2 or 3 people helps. But what Nu said, best thing is to get a Sailingfun Applie Ipad and fly mostly when airports are VFR. I've been researching this a lot.
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
04-12-2015, 12:33 PM
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Position: Light Chop
Posts: 23,286
I've flown my share of seriously crapped out rental GA airplanes, and have no desire to put myself or my family in one now. Nor do I relish the thought of single engine night IFR over shark infested waters during hurricane season.
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
Alman Bonanza Club Miami Florida
04-12-2015, 12:44 PM
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While we're discussing non reving I just learned that the parents of some mucky muck management guy used S2s. Not cool. Should be S3C like the rest of our folks.
04-12-2015, 12:45 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,903
I've flown my share of seriously crapped out rental GA airplanes, and have no desire to put myself or my family in one now. Nor do I relish the thought of single engine night IFR over shark infested waters during hurricane season.
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
Anything that is even remotely capable, like a 182RG or 'toga is priced in orbit or has some ridiculous rental requirements (15 hour check out, etc).
Back in the day, it used to be if you did a checkout in a complex aircraft (say a 182), you got a automatic pass on everything "below" it (say a 172 & 152)...Common sense prevailed.
Not these days...silly rules seem to be the norm....like a 5 hour checkout for a 172.
I want to say there is a group that's trying to do the "networked" club thing, but the name escapes me at the moment.
Nu
04-12-2015, 12:48 PM
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04-12-2015, 12:54 PM
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04-12-2015, 01:11 PM
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Posts: 19,599
If a passenger is requesting to go on a earlier flight they will not show up as a HK. A HK is a confirmed passenger who is not assigned a specific seat. They do show up on the travel net availability page. If someone has a ticket on a later flight but ops to try and go early they show up as a SDSB (same day standby)
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