Avgas Price Gouging? Yes!

November 28, 2008

Ok, I am convinced that someone is feasting on bloated avgas prices.  In a prior post, I noted the difference between the falling automobile/mogas prices compared to avgas prices that are stubbornly sticking near their all-time highs.  Other folks are noticing this as well, as reported in “Air Time with Carol Legg“.  

It has not gotten any better, in fact, it’s worse!  The gap between avgas and mogas is wider than it has ever been.  What is going on?  Who are lining their pockets with avgas profits?

Where is AOPA?  

This is a major flying cost issue for small GA operators.  Every AOPA member should be emailing AOPA and asking them to get involved in getting control of avgas prices!

Proof?  Topped off this week at KSEE after a local Southern California flight.  Self-serve 100LL was $4.59 per gallon, only a few cents a gallon cheaper than a month ago ($4.77).  Meanwhile, mogas is now widely selling for below $2.00 per gallon.  So I am paying far more, on a percentage basis, for each gallon of avgas.

Checked with the 100LL.com fuel price search, and it still shows all of the airports in the area with avgas prices well over $4.00 per gallon.  So there appears to be an organized effort to keep avgas high, at our expense.

Will I keep flying?  Absolutely!  But I’m going to keep watching avgas prices and KSEE will not seeing my business until prices come back to earth.

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Avgas Price Gouging?

October 24, 2008

Why are avgas prices still holding near their all-time highs, while automobile gasoline prices continue to free-fall to near last year’s prices?

Are we being gouged by avgas?

Just updated my fuel price service, 100LL.com, part of my Control Vision Anywhere Map subscription.  At my home field, the price of self-serve avgas is $5.28 per gallon.  According to the fuel pricing service, the national average is $5.08 (updated as of 10/23/2008.  Meanwhile, local low grade auto gasoline, mogas, is running about $3.15 a gallon, and some of the cheapest outlets are slipping below the $3 level.  That a 60% difference in price between avgas and mogas.

Ok, I understand all about avgas being a niche product produced in small quantities, needing special handling and shipping because of the lead content, and the price change lag (both up and down) because of fewer flight hours requiring longer to consume supplies bought at higher prices. 

Avweb has an editorial about this, but basically says the FBO business is difficult, so grin and pay the prices.  Nope.  AOPA needs to get involved in this.  

In the meantime, I’ll continue to use 100LL.com to avoid the FBOs who insist on holding the higher prices.

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TSA Damages Airliners! Another reason to Fly GA!

August 24, 2008

Here’s another reason to skip the airlines and fly General Aviation.  The next airliner you get on could be damaged and made unairworthy by none other than TSA!  I’ve previously written about the top 10 reasons to skip the airlines and fly yourself on general aviation.  But this new reason may save your life!

Yes, that’s right, TSA is now damaging airliners!  This week, an ignorant TSA inspector damaged and made unairworthy 9 airliners at Chicago O’Hare airport.  Nine aircraft damaged (fortunately this damage was discovered by observant pilots) and over 40 flights delayed while the damaged equipment was replaced.  Why was this done?  To see whether someone could get into the airplanes.  Not by steps and doors…but “spiderman” style. A TSA inspector used aircraft equipment as…monkey bars!…in an attempt to climb into the aircraft.  Keep in mind that TSA did not report the damage they caused, so what might have happened if they damaged equipment that was not discovered before the flight………?

tsa.jpg     =       

But of course, TSA was apologetic about this incredibly stupid act, disciplined the inspector, and said this would never happen again…..right?   WRONG!  Instead, they are defending the inspector, blaming the airline for lack of security (because by damaging the planes, they could get access to 7 aircraft).  Worse, although they have supposedly provided some additional training to its inspectors, TSA continues to encourage its inspectors to look for and exploit such “vulnerabilities”.  

So while you worry about the terrorist threat against air carrier travel…you now need to add the ignorant, self-righteous, virtually unregulated staff of the TSA.  Do you know who’s been climbing on and digging through the sensitive equipment on your airliner? 

Fly your own airplane and avoid this madness!  Cheers!

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Hog Wild For Flying…Red Bull Air Races vs NASCAR

April 16, 2008

How do we grow General Aviation, making more people “Hog Wild for Flying“?  A local billboard advertisement got me thinking about how we promote Flying versus other activities. 

Here’s a perfect opportunity to share the excitement of General Aviation.  But will that happen?

Red Bull Air Race World Series

The Red Bull Air Race World Series is coming back to San Diego in May.  Last year the air races attracted about 50,000 people in San Diego.  Likely more will come this year.  Lots of media covering the event.  Lots of attractive young people promoting the title sponsor beverage.

Red Bull Air Races

So where will General Aviation be at this event?  Of course these are GA aerobatic planes, but I mean our kind of GA.  Plane manufacturers, equipment and suppliers, FBOs, Schools, Clubs, Organizations.  Are any of you planning to be there…to get exposure to 50,000+ people who want to see fast planes?  I don’t recall seeing any GA presence at the air races in 2007. 

Nor is there a GA promotion presence at the MCAS Miramar Air Show every October, where the 3-day attendance is on the order of half a million people. Ok, maybe one local flying club C-172 on static display, with a couple of sunburned volunteers braving the roasting windswept distant transient ramp. But no real effort to promote GA.

Now, contrast this with NASCAR. 

 NASCAR

Say what you will about the “good ol’ boy” atmosphere of the participants, fans, and most everything else about NASCAR.  They DO bring in the people, media and the automotive industry.  Plus a whole lot of other industries that love the exposure, starting with the colorful logos plastered all over the cars and drivers.

Every major vehicle manufacturer is there. Every major supplier.  Racing schools. Most anything that has wheels finds a way to get there.  Oh yeah, how about home improvement, candy, and cereal to name a few other prominent products.  And this excitement breeds excitement by the fans.  They love their cars, drivers, and all the logo apparel and paraphenalia that goes with the NASCAR culture.  It’s a COMMUNITY, carefully nurtured to the benefit of the sponsors as well as the fans.  And the media and entertainment industry eat this up, with all kinds of shows built around racing.  All this excitement brings many new fans and sponsors every year.  It’s not perfect and there are other issues that limit NASCAR’s growth, but there is a core strength in the COMMUNITY. 

There are lessons to be learned here, GA.  It’s all about the excitement of a vibrant community.  Rewarding for the participants, and enticing for newcomers. 

What should our community look like?

More to come…

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Hog-Wild for Flying!…Now We’re Talking!

January 28, 2008

If you are one of the tens who have been reading my series of posts about getting more people “Hog-Wild for Flying” (learning from our friends who are part of the Harley community), I have Good News!!  A flegling commercial radio program has begun for GA, and by the looks of the hosts, sponsorship and content so far, I think their future is bright!

I discovered this link in my EAA e-newsletter that led me to a new weekly broadcast radio program out of Jacksonville, Florida.  It’s called FlightTime Radio, and the focus of the show is general aviation, particularly the small GA planes that most of us fly.  Plus a heaping helping of Sport Pilot and aircraft discussion.  The show is broadcast on AM 1320 (WBOB) Saturday mornings.  Starting February 2, the live broadcast starts at 10am, Eastern time, and they seem to have settled on a 2-hour show. 

 flighttime_pic.jpg

 Like every good Web 2.0 endeavor, you can also listen to the show live using a link at their website, or you can download (and soon subscribe to) the shows as podcasts.

The two hosts are Milford Shirley and Brian Kraut, a couple of local guys who love aviation and are having what sounds like one heck of a good time breaking into the radio biz.  It’s great to have this positive, enthusiastic image of GA being communicated to the general public on a weekly basis 

Milton and Brian are thinking ahead, too, seeking to grow their radio broadcast market and helping local EAA chapters at the same time.  Get the program broadcast on your local station, and your EAA chapter can get a piece of the action.

Now if every pilot tells two people, who tell two people, who tell two people….about this radio show….maybe we can plant some seeds….   Did my part.  I’ve told, what, maybe 10 people who read this blog :-)

Bravo, Milford and Brian!  Best of luck to you!

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Hog-Wild for Flying!…Comparing Safety

January 4, 2008

I’ve been comparing flying to riding motorcycles in terms of popularity, attitude, and social environment, to understand why more people are not drawn to private flying. 

Recently, I came upon several articles about motorcycle and aviation safety. The results may suggest how we communicate private flying to the population of potential pilots and aircraft owners. It turns out that the safety trends for motorcycles and GA flying are diverging.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle fatalities are climbing, particularly for over-40 age riders. In 2006, fatalities increased overall by 5% over 2005, while fatalities for riders aged 40-49 and 50-59 increased 7.5% and 10% (fatalities for riders aged 20-29 also increased 10%).  These older riders have achieved business success, raised families, and now want the excitement and feeling that comes from freedom, speed, the open road, and the social environment provided by riding motorcycles.  But this experience on generally heavier, more powerful bikes comes at a price for the older, slower healing bodies.

  motor_fatal_age.jpg

In contrast, the 2006 general aviation safety statistics in the Nall Report show continued improvements in both total and fatal accident rates.  In 2006, total accident numbers dropped by 8.3%, fatal accidents dropped by 6.5%, and total fatalities decreased by 2%.  Single engine, fixed gear aircraft, 2/3 of the GA fleet, showed substantial safety improvement, with total accidents dropping 11.3% and fatal accidents dropping 22.4%. While it can be argued that any fatality is too many, the trend continues in a positive direction.  The danger signal though, is that flying activity continues to drop.  Accident and fatality rates are dropping, but so are the flying hours. 

Nall Report Trends 2006        ga-stat.jpg

So which is safer; GA flying or motorcycles?  That’s a loaded question. Objective comparisons are difficult since GA flying is measured in flying hours and motorcycle riding is measured in miles traveled. Converting hours to miles involve speed assumptions that are likely targets for criticism. What average speed do you assume for GA aircraft with average cruise speeds that range from sub-100 mph up to over 500 mph?  Even assuming speeds at the lower end of this range shows GA flying to have far lower fatality rates than motorcycles.  But it’s still a difficult comparison because the operating environment and accident facts are so different. That said, GA flying is relatively safer and the safety margin is increasing compared with riding motorcycles.

But can flying provide the visceral satisfaction that is found in riding motorcycles, so participants are able to enjoy this safety premium?  There is certainly an aspect of freedom once you get off the ground (no traffic lanes, still areas of uncontrolled airspace).  There is speed.  There is also a 3rd dimension that can be fully explored via aerobatics.  And there is community, although this is one area that needs work.  So we have some of this also working for us.

The goal here is not to lure away everyone who rides.  Certain traits make people better candidates to be pilots, and we want to attract those folks.  Can we learn from other successful activities, what attracts the participants, and where does GA flying have benefits or have deficiencies that can be overcome so we grow but remain safe?

Safety is one area where we accel (and where we continue to focus efforts).  How can we use this comparative benefit to get new participants….hog wild for flying?

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Fed Up With TSA? Become Your Own Pilot!

January 1, 2008

A very enlightened post in the New York Times blog “Jet Lagged“ focuses the bright, harsh light of reality on the highly questionable reasons for and procedures implementing security forced upon the traveling public by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  Patrick Smith, an air carrier pilot and author, describes in The Airport Security Follies, how the current passenger screening practices are “irrational, wasteful, and pointless.” For example, he explains why screening passengers for sharp objects is basically a waste of time:

In years past, a takeover meant hostage negotiations and standoffs; crews were trained in the concept of “passive resistance.” All of that changed forever the instant American Airlines Flight 11 collided with the north tower. What weapons the 19 men possessed mattered little; the success of their plan relied fundamentally on the element of surprise. And in this respect, their scheme was all but guaranteed not to fail.

For several reasons — particularly the awareness of passengers and crew — just the opposite is true today. Any hijacker would face a planeload of angry and frightened people ready to fight back. Say what you want of terrorists, they cannot afford to waste time and resources on schemes with a high probability of failure. And thus the September 11th template is all but useless to potential hijackers.

Smith also covers the questionable basis of the infamous 3-1-1 Rule and the positively silly practice of screening air carrier pilots and cabin crew in the same manner as the public.

tsa.jpg

Unfortunately, wrapped in its patriotic cloak of anti-terror, TSA is operating virtually without oversight, with broad powers and a heavy hammer for anyone who questions their methods or motives: the dreaded No-Fly List.  Will this Absolute Power Corrupt Absolutely?  Has it already?

More importantly, can you avoid this senseless drill, but still get to work/vacation/home?  In many cases, YES, you can.  The answer?  Be your own pilot.  Yes, the cost and time investment is relatively high for someone who currently is not a pilot.  But increasingly I see and hear other professionals who have thrown off the shackles of TSA screening and airline abuse to fly themselves.  I gladly incur the added cost and personal responsibility of being my own pilot in exchange for avoiding TSA and the airlines.  In many cases, by avoiding the need to arrive at the airport hours early for screening, avoiding airline delays, using airports closer to my destination, and getting a free shuttle ride, courtesy car, rental car or taxi from the FBO (rather than waiting for baggage, the rental car shuttle, renting a car…) there is no time penalty for trips up to about 500 miles using a piston single airplane. And the trip itself? Priceless!

Through programs such as the industry-sponsored ”Be A Pilot” you can find the resources you need to learn to fly.  The cost?  If you can afford a Harley, BMW, bass boat, or RV, you should have little trouble budgeting flying lessons.  Depending on your company’s travel policies, you could even have most or all of your flying cost covered.  Of course, if you are the boss, the decision is yours!  It’s not the answer for everyone.  But if you are motivated (and that is why you are successful, eh?) it is something to consider.

Wave “Bye” to the airline terminal as you taxi past for departure in your plane (even if it’s a rental), on your own schedule, as pilot in command. Oh, and with your own toothpaste, shampoo, drinking water, and maybe even a pair of scissors!

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RIP: FAA “Wings” Program

December 28, 2007

I’ve written about FAA’s slaughter of the “WINGS” program for pilot proficiency.  It dies officially on December 31, 2007.  I just received my last Wings certificate, Level 4. Of course FAA neglected to send the actual wings that I earned.

Today, more proof that the so-called replacement program is worthless. 

I received an email today from FAA Safety, saying I have 1.0 Accredited Activity ”credit ajustment” [sic].  So what is it?  Went to the new/”Plucked Wings” site to see.  It’s virtually impossible to tell what this is (in fact, there appear to be two identical credits…)  Everything is in FAA code.  No real course/seminar names or dates.

And the recurrent training flights I’ve been trying to get credit for since summer?  Catch 22!  I cannot apply for the credit unless I list a validator (because we pilots are habitual liers, you know).  Well, my instructor still has not signed up for this program (I even had to send him the link because he never heard of the program).  He’s the only one who can validate the training.  And I cannot request credit without listing a validator.  He has not signed up.  So I’m stuck.

And this is one of MANY big problems with the Plucked Wings program.  Under the old program, I had a card that got signed off by a real instructor for each activity, when I did the flight (before I wrote him the check). Then I copied the card and mailed it to the FAA, always retaining my own record.  I had control. 

With Plucked Wings, there is no card.  It’s all in the FAA database and my instructor has not signed up, so there is essentially no record of this training.  Since he has not signed up, do I stop payment on the check?  It’s all far too complicated.

So, farewell and RIP: “WINGS”.   Good riddance: Plucked Wings.

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Winter in San Diego

December 23, 2007

Well, winter has finally hit San Diego.  Warm and sunny day today.  But it will be cold tonight.  Maybe even some frost on the golf courses.

Happy Holidays!

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FAA Clipped our “Wings”!

December 6, 2007

Yes. FAA clipped our “Wings.”

Wings?  FAA’s “Pilot Proficiency Award Program“.  I’m at Level 4.  I’ve earned a distinctive FAA wings lapel pin (official FAA issue, not crap from a novelty store) for each level, plus an FAA certificate attesting to each level. Plus it satisfies the biennial flight review requirement.   There are 20 Wings levels that can be earned at 12-month intervals.  But it all ends on December 31, 2007.

FAA Wings Level I

Now I’m not saying the Wings program was perfect.  There’s lots of room for improvement, including the recognition aspect.  Any good management reference will tell you that performance is greatly enhanced by recognition. The military has medals and rank, the corporate world has titles and perks, and professional pilots have their wings.  But the little FAA “Wings” program lapel pins may not have resonated with some pilots, so it may have been one reason the Wings program is not as widely used as FAA Safety people would like. Did anyone ask us what might be more effective? Anyone? Anyone?  

Also, some people (like the insurance industry) were concerned that more specific guidance was needed for the knowledge and flight instruction aspects of the program.  So Wings can be improved, but it does work.

Pilots who used the Wings program were safer, having attended safety seminars and flying at least 3 hours with an instructor (covering a set of specific task areas) to earn each level.  Of course, this program requires an actual FAA human being to review and approve the applications and send out the wings and certificates.  Horrors!  Actually providing a service directly to pilots?  Can’t be spending FAA money on staff time actually looking at pilot accomplishments and mailing out certificates and pins!

Solution?   FAA kills the Wings program. 

Of course, in a move reminiscent of the movie “Body Snatchers”, FAA slipped in a lifeless, soulless, pod that they are calling the new Wings program.  The new official name is ”Pilot Proficiency Program“.  Didja notice they dropped “Award” from the name?  

So now we have the new, lame, completely-without-a-pulse ”Wings”.  Lots of mind-numbing on-line processes and registered instructor validation (because FAA doesn’t trust us, of course).  A complicated system of knowledge and flight tasks and timelines.  Would make the IRS proud. And what do you get with this new program?  To quote FAA, “…the added level of safety and professionalism…”  Safety is its own reward, doncha know?

They did simplify one thing.  Instead of 20 levels, there are now three phases: “Basic”, “Advanced”, and “Master.”  Maintain the Basic phase, and it satisfies the biennial flight review requirement.  No certificate (unless you print one yourself). No wings. Nothing except a database record somewhere at FAA. 

Satisfy the “Advanced” phase and you get……Nothing!  Satisfy the top “Master” phase and you get……Nothing! Again! But more of it.  Huh?

Wow.  You can just feel the air being sucked out of the program.  Instead of promoting and improving a program that worked, FAA basically killed it.  They gutted a program that really improved pilot safety.  And it killed one opportunity to provide some recognition, some sizzle, some light to pilots and the GA community. 

Hey FAA, bring back the REAL Wings Program!!!

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