How often do we fly?

[Lonnie Steverson]

Hello I was wondering when was the last time you might have flown and when do you expect to fly again. I flew Friday to look at a job in north MS and will fly again in the morning to TN to go to a paper mill for a pre job planning. just wondering what type of frequency of flying others did and is it for business or pleasure.

 

[wab003]

Re: How often do we fly?

This time of year, depends a great deal on the wx. North of the Mason Dixon line, ice prevents many flights that might be made otherwise. Other than that, I try to get her up at least once each week. Hard instrument flying is tougher this time of year if you don't want to imitate a snow cone.

Suppose I should hv mentioned this previously... annual hours are in the 120 - 150 range and a mix of biz/pleasure/charity.

 

[Alex]

Re: How often do we fly?

If I do 50hr in the year I have done very well. I am away from my airplane most of the year anyway.

 

[Steve]

Re: How often do we fly?

I try to fly every other weekend. Like to fly 4-6hrs each flight, half out and half back. All my flying is pleasure. My wife would tell you it's an addiction and I average 125-175hrs a year. I have found in recent years, I enjoy supporting Angel Flight as much as possible. Having a purpose to fly is much more fulfilling. As I get close to retirement I hope to go get my CFII and land a job with Net Jets.

 

[Lonnie Steverson]

Re: How often do we fly?

This is cool to know how much we all fly. keep them coming.

 

[sfaret]

Re: How often do we fly?

I fly in chunks then dribbles in between.
30-40 hr XC once or 2 times a year.

Since my new engine April last year I have 72 flights logged and 140 hours.
AVG over the last 3 decades has been 130/yr all in 82J.

If it's a nice evening after work, I'll jump in for an hour or so. It helps too work at an airport or 2 or 3.

Attached: A view from eastern LI in January skies.

 

[JBunn]

Re: How often do we fly?

I fly about about 100-125 hours a year. I try to get out every weekend for a couple hours and I fly (when the Coast Guard lets me) rather than drive to business meetings that would otherwise take up two days with travel. I always try to get in some actual IFR time and stay current. Same goes for night currency. Winter flying is the best, except for the snowcone cenario Bill so correcly points out.

 

[Airotto370]

Re: How often do we fly?

Lonnie,

Average for me is between 100-120 hours per year. Almost all pleasure trips, occasional business usage.

 

[painlesspotter]

Re: How often do we fly?

I struggle to get an hour or two in every couple of weeks, sometimes longer breaks. At best, 50 hours a year, mostly accumulated on a couple of long runs to Baja/Seattle/Phoenix. I simply do not get to the airport often due to many retirement/family commitments. This is really saying that with aging, flying is getting a lower priority. Fuel costs certainly had a big impact this last year. One thing that keeps me engaged is to conduct a safety clinic monthly for my pilot's flying association (some years ago did Airlifeline for about 8 years for a "mission," like Steve). I try to never start the engine unless I am going to run it hard for an hour or two. Use Marvel Mystery Oil. On my second TBO at 2000 hours.

 

[dgeib]

Re: How often do we fly?

I average 75-100 hours per year. All pleasure flying. I try to plan a cross counrty flight somewhere each month at a comfortable, less than 3 hour leg. Gives me lots of options of places to go to. Occassionally I will fly a mulit leg trip and strecth my horizon. Hoping to be off work for the COG fly in. The rest of my flying is local in nature for social activities and proficiency flying.

My partner adds over 100 hours each year doing much of the same. Combined VM racks up over 200 hours each year.

 

[Lawrence Rippon]

Re: How often do we fly?

Since last July 200 hours all pleasure, I tried to use it for business but got stranded due to weather two times and gave up that idea, still working on UK IMC rating. I'm out most evenings in the summer and almost all weekend. 6 hours since Friday.

 

[Commander91gm]

Re: How often do we fly?

Usually 2 - 3 times a week. Best year was around 250 hours. With the lousy economy I am probably down to 150-175 hours this year. (2/3 of it cross country time)
Weather out here probably makes it easier to fly regularly (350 days or more of vfr a year)

 

[N4843W]

Re: How often do we fly?

I was averaging over 200 hours per year, 2/3 business ... but last year I was down to 170 due to the incredible icing in the Great Lakes Region. I may end up in that range this year as well ... same reason. Less than 10 hours so far in January and February and guessing March will be the same. I am very fortunate that anywhere I want to go, such as COG in Texas, I have clients or prospective clients, plus people I can interview for my columnist job. So I can legitimately make 80% of my trips business. Accounting wise, I usually end up 1/3 of the hours billed direct to clients, 1/3 internal marketing and client support paid by company, 1/3 personal, which I buy from the company in block time. I am very careful and conservative with the tax man. If I was ever audited, they would owe me. I allow a cushion.

Example of recent winter frustrations. I needed to be in Atlanta for meetings last week, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, then in Oxford, OH (between Dayton and Cincinnati) for an event with my college kids, then back to Detroit for another event Saturday evening. I also wanted to stop at CVG to see a client in Fort Thomas, KY. The weather looked fantastic for flying, both Thursday and Friday, which it was. I was looking at a very sweet 12+ hours of flying.But the prog for Saturday was for 4-6 inches of snow and possibly more, low ceiling, blowing, drifting, etc. etc. My wife was driving down Thursday to the college anyway. I swallowed hard ... and paid $585 for a commercial flight that brought me back to Dayton, where I rented a car to go to Oxford, and road home Saturday with my wife. All told, I spent about $650 on air & car, which would have easilly paid for the fuel, and had to skip the stop in KY.

Turns out the weather was right on the money (this time) and it was the right decision ... but still sucks.

 

[commander62j]

Re: How often do we fly?

I used to fly 62J about 100 hours per year for personal use, but with the gas prices lately and the sour economy I only did 44 hours in the past twelve months.

 

[janderson]

Re: How often do we fly?

hey! you all do an excellent job of keeping your Commanders in the air. fm my experience, averages are in the 50 to 100 hr. range.

Judi

 

[Pete]

Re: How often do we fly?

I fly +/- 100 hrs yr. All pleasure, lots of IFR currency and cross country between Phoenix and Colorado. 2/3 is cross country. I get an additional 25 hrs yr in other planes, SR22 and a Commanche that friends own.

 

[John_Ferguson]

Re: How often do we fly?

I did 72 hours last year but that is with the plane being worked on (new avionics, new paint and interior taking 6 months in total out of that).
Hope we have the weather to better that this year.

 

[JBunn]

Re: How often do we fly?

I get an additional 25 hrs yr in other planes, SR22 and a Commanche that friends own.

Friends don't let friends fly SR-22s..... Kidding Pete. I just flew a new SR-20 for my IPC this month. Nice airplane but alot of head down time getting used to all the info in the glass panel. Seats as hard as a rock too.

 

[idcairns]

Re: How often do we fly?

Two days after I bought my Commander I received a letter from Southwest Airlines telling me I was within the top 5% of thier customers. I averaged 2-3 flights a week. Since I have received that letter in December 2007, I have flown with them exacly twice.

I have offices in Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, Port Arthur, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Mobile, and Norfolk. I visit each office at least once a quarter, sometimes much more than that. All offices are within 2 miles of a GA airport. I save a bunch on not renting cars like I used to with Southwest because I have the local manager just come pick me up. It is much more efficient to use the Commander and I can come and go on MY schedule.

Being in the South, weather is usually not a factor. On occasion I have elected to postpone a trip by a day for weather, no big deal.

Hardest trip is to Norfolk, 750 miles and requires a fuel stop. Still only six hours approx. No direct airline flights from New Orleans so it is usually about 5-6 hours on a commercial flight anyway.

So, Lonnie to answer your question, last year I racked up 230 flying hours, 90% for business. It also happened to be fun.

 

[aaaprod]

Re: How often do we fly?

I only had something like 50 hours last year. Work was too demanding. Only 60% of that was work related flight. Most years are between 70 and 100 hours. I just signed the contract to rebuild the motor so I will be down for about 6 weeks starting on Wednesday. I do plan on putting a bunch of hours on after it gets out of the shop though.