So, you want to learn to fly? ...
Well, why don't you buy an airplane!?
It sounds like a line from a cheesy airplane salesman doesn't it?

The experience of learning to fly can be one of the most exciting, challenging, rewarding and frustrating experiences --- all at the same time!

Let's examine the state of affairs and pose the question... 
                                      "Should a Student Pilot Buy Their Own Airplane?"

To get us started, let's don't limit it to Student pilots but also include those who have not even signed up as students but have always had the desire to be pilots and transport themselves through the air.

I'm sure some of you are going to misinterpret my intent and start running for cover because of the fear of untrained student pilots on the loose terrorizing our skies. I'm actually going to ask each of you to seriously consider this question in light of your experience and have you provide your feedback to me.

What's the Problem?
Let's take stock of where we are. First, we are in an industry that desperately needs more people to join our ranks as pilots. Second, training methods (excluding career pilot tracks) for private pilots have remained virtually unchanged for over 30 years.  The average age of the training fleet is in excess of 36 years old. Fourth, think about all the people you know that are 40 or 50 something guys that have been dreaming of flying most of their adult lives and they have simply just never gotten "Around-To-It". Fifth and far from least, learning to fly takes time and the seemingly magical scheduling of a rental plane and instructor all squeezed into a hectic work week such that you're looking at what appears to be an impossible task.  Spice it up with the weather and unscheduled maintenance for the aging aircraft and you've got a serious challenge and what I'd call a real problem. 

So You Want a Drivers License?
Let's put the whole thing in a different context. I want you to think in terms of an airplane as you do a car. It is a vital means of transportation and your job is to learn how to drive it. Imagine you are approaching the age where you can get your drivers license and your Dad reports that he is going to sell all the families cars and possessions and move to an island without motorized vehicles before your 16th birthday. Your closest place where you can go to get access to a vehicle to learn to drive is a day long boat ride to the next island. It looks as if you your dreams of learning to drive are dashed because the hurdles to accomplish this task are just too great. 

After three months on the island your Dad unexpectedly reports that on the next freight boat your family will take delivery of a beautiful new Volkswagen Bug with 4 gears and no air conditioning. Boy, are you happy and voila, problem solved within short order you'll be piloting the VW all over the island.

Dad, Can I Borrow the Airplane?
So do you see the point? No easy access to the vehicle...no easy access to learning. It seems almost too simple. I'll put it into terms that are less hypothetical. When I was 19 years old my Dad bought a Piper J-3 Cub. I promptly trotted home for summer school for classes and learning to fly. I would go to the airport at 6 AM on the way to class for my first lesson and then fly in the afternoon before I came home. The little yellow Cub burned 4 gallons of auto gas an hour at about a buck a gallon (ok, so it was over 25 years ago!).  I was able to pay for my private ticket as a starving student. Why? Because my family had an airplane. I don't know any other kid in my college that got his pilot's license that summer but I'd be willing to bet that if their Dad's has purchased an aircraft many of them would have done exactly what I did.

Access Equals Results
Try telling your teenager that there are no vehicles for them to learn to drive in that you are going to supply. You won't let them in yours and they will have to save their money and rent or buy their own before they can learn to drive. I doubt very seriously if any one of those teenagers would rent a car to get their drivers license. They'd work their butts off, save every penny and buy the first car they could afford before their 17th birthday!  Why? Because they are motivated. Consider this statement again...If you want to learn to fly...buy an airplane. It doesn't sound so crazy now does it?

A True Story...
All this sounds wonderful but what about in the real world now in the 21st century? Rather than give hypothetical examples, let's take a look at George (A true story). George is in his forties and has done well for himself in a niche in the software field. He has "always wanted to learn to fly" (If I've heard that once I've heard it a thousand times!). Once he decided to get started learning to fly, he called his insurance man and reported, "I am planning to buy an aircraft...which one should I get?". The insurance man said, "I don't know, I'll call the underwriter and see what they think and which ones they like." He came back and reported the underwriters suggested there were only 2 aircraft he should consider from an insurance (read safety) standpoint...the Cessna 172 and the Diamond DA40. Since the DA40 is a 150 Knot airplane and the C172 is only about 120 Knots and George's dream was to be able to fly his family around and for some business it was an easy choice between the two airplanes.

So What Happened?
So, George bought a brand new Diamond DA40 as a fresh student pilot! What happened next is really worth noting of if you are in a similar position to George.  He obtained a local instructor and began his training. He was able to easily schedule his training to suit his busy schedule because the availability of the aircraft was never a consideration. He progressed quickly and got his private pilots license. He continued on with his instructor to obtain his instrument rating and completed all of this in less than a year an a half all while continuing in his very busy profession. He now flies confidently where he wishes and has made trips as far as St. Louis from Raleigh NC and is planning on adventures to the Bahamas with is family next.

How Does That Feel?
I contrast the above example another fellow I know laments about how it feels to rent at the local airport to build his time. He is a smart guy that can do the math as easy as the next guy and knows it's cheaper for him to rent than it is to own. All the same he described in detail how he is not flying the number of hours he'd like because he does not like to write the check each time he lands.  Also, he is not making the trips to his favorite weekend destinations because he'd have to pay the minimum daily rate for the airplane each day on the ground. I admitted I felt the same way and even though I paid more my experience of ownership was always vastly more rewarding.

Let's Tell Prospective Pilots the Truth
I personally believe it's important to tell prospective flyers like George the truth. Flying (and aircraft ownership) takes a commitment of time, attention and resource...BUT, it is not out of reach for anyone that has the desire, a down payment, a decent job to pay the bills and most importantly a vision of what it will feel like to achieve their dream.

Flying is no harder than many things we do in today's modern world.  I'm still constantly amazed that people pilot their vehicles on the highway at closing speeds of over 120 miles per hour towards each other with only inches between them but cringe at the thought of piloting an aircraft freely through big blue sky.

It's a Disease
I'm not a doctor, but aviation seems to clearly be a disease. In most situations, you are either infected or you are not. With today's tremendous difficulties of moving around on commercial airliners and the ever increasing volume of commercial airline passengers, more people are waking up to the idea that now is the time to learn to fly and gain a new level of freedom that only private aviation can bring.

The Future of Flight
In one regard leaning to fly is more complicated today than it was 25 years ago. In another very important way, it's actually much simpler and more productive. I can't do this point justice here but suffice it to say, modern technology is finally making new airplanes the true "Time Machines" we all dream of. The simplicity of modern GPS moving maps, sophisticated autopilots and a whole range of safety features have made moving yourself around in an aircraft not only possible but very pleasurable. Contrast it to standing in line with a stern TSA agent "wanding you" with your belt shoes and other articles of clothing missing and I think you get the point. General aviation has more to offer today than ever before from a practical standpoint and from a freedom perspective.

Summary
Based on my personal experience and that of my client's the following statement is true:
The easiest way to learn to fly and obtain the experience and ratings you need to achieve your flying goals is to own an airplane.

There are many ways to do this at many different price points ranging from individual ownership (new or used) to partnerships to leasebacks. I encourage every prospective pilot I meet to believe they can achieve their goal and to work with me to explore the options of how to make it a reality. Many times we succeed...sometimes we discover that their desire is too low. 

If you have ever said to yourself, "I'd like to learn to fly", I suggest you ask yourself this question..."WHY?"  Answering this question in clear detail can form the starting point to achieving a dream. The next question is, "Are you willing to take one step closer to that goal today?" ...By the way, that one is a "YES" or "NO" question :-)

I hope to be of help to you in your quest to learn to fly or to advance your flying to new levels. I encourage you to contact me for additional resources and information. If you are already a pilot, I'd love to hear your story of how you learned to fly and whether you believe a student pilot should be encouraged to own an airplane or a share of one.

 Until then, Happy Landings.

 

   John Armstrong   /  EMail ME   / Cell: 919-349-1492 /  Office:  919-341-7260