I apologize for the late reply. I've been gone all day, but I just could not let that paragraph go by without a comment.

YGTBFSM,

The airline industry has demonstrated by a preponderance of statistical evidence over many, many years that it is the safest way to travel. Nothing else even comes close.

I think I saw a statistic that you're more likely to die from choking on your Thanksgiving turkey than on the airline flight to Grandma's house.

So... I live at 7,200 feet in elevation. I get a sh*tload of snow at my house. My job requires that I get to the airport on time, every time, regardless of the weather.

Suppose I buy a Mercedes Unimog and try and write that expense off, because "I have to have that to get to my job". How far will that fly with the IRS?

I'm guessing that expense would be denied...

Nah, I'll bid JFK and be super senior.

Are you kidding? A Unimog is WAY to slow for any Type A airline pilot to even consider buying for a commuter car. The IRS would be on you like a duck on a June bug.

Actually, as a section 179 expense, a Unimog would fit the requirements. You just have to be eligible to take that expense - like I am. You can write it off the top the year it is put into operation - no depreciation required. This is not tax advice dyodd.

I did not catch his podcast. I know there has been a big struggle. Flight ops wanted the nines gone to time the training with the 717. Last spring they were told by marketing they had to keep them longer. Flight ops came back with that would require hiring pilots because of the training. The bean counters refused to fund the hiring. Perhaps in the end there was a compromise and the nines retirement was moved back up. It would make sense.

Sorry ERdude...

Okay so Tiger Woods gets to write off his G-V...

I'll use FTB ('cuz I'd like to meet the legendary FTB and buy him a beer, or three).

Suppose the best he can hold in ATL (closest pilot domicile to his residence) is MD-88B. Now let's suppose Mrs. FTB decides she wants to redecorate the house, and to pay for all this FTB bids NYC-ERB for the extra money.

In doing so he must commute. He must spend money on hotels and meals, etc. to increase his earnings. Why can't he write off those expenses? At least to the extent of the extra income?

That is, suppose for the sake of argument by bidding the ER in NYC FTB earns an extra $15K in income, and he spends $5K in expenses. Why can't he write that off?

Tiger has to (couldn't possibly lower himself to fly an airline) go to The Master's in his G-V. Presumably because it reduces his stress so he will do better in the tournament and earn more money.

I submit FTB should be able to write off his commuting expenses!

(FTB, No offense meant.)

The MD-90s are normal instead of backwards like the honey badgers, so it would be logical that the 717s are the same. They apparently DO care.

They're not referring to safe modes of transportation, rather "personal safety" as in limited access by the general public. Keeping high profile CEOs and politicians safe and out of public reach is probably beneficial to all of us. Although I personally wouldn't mind if Pelosi and Nancy Grace were forced to ride in the middle of a hooligan packed 777.

Now isn't that smack talk? :D

I would not even try to imply how a SLI would go. Anyone you might have to do a SLI with has a much broader reach and larger jets.

The guy in the corporate jet can't write off his Unimog either. But, if he is on Company business the jet is no different than when you board Delta's jet for your Company business, which is not taxable to you either.

In my experience (as a guy who used to be able to sign out the Company's aircraft) we saved money using our jet. Back then the variable cost of operation was < $1,000 an hour and if two or more were going anywhere except Trans Con and International, it was cheaper to run the Company's airplane. When it was less expensive to fly commercial, we had to. We basically had to make a pro-forma expense account for every trip and do whatever cost the least. These days, a last minute coach fare for the middle seat in the back of a Delta jet is > $1,000. When travel time is included at our consulting rates it is usually MUCH (like 50%) cheaper for us to fly our own personal aircraft.

For CEOs and the like, the ability to brief and de brief on the airplane is something that just can't be done on Commercial jets. If you have a couple of attorneys billing their time it is a whole lot cheaper to get the needed communications out of the way on the airplane.

Maybe your beef is with the accelerated depreciation in the tax code. I agree that special treatment is not usual, but the government decided on those provisions to keep people in Wichita, Georgia and every other State they build those things in busy during the severe down turn of 2008. Aircraft manufacturing is one task skilled US workers excel in and those jobs are solid $50,000 to $100,000+ middle class jobs which our economy needs.

Sure, a few Corporate aircraft are playthings. But if you look at the demographics of flying, there has been an enormous shift since 2000. General Aviation (which is assumed to be the category you decry) is down by more than half. The aircraft that are flying are airliners, charter and fractional.

IMHO the only fair system is going to be a consumption tax. But, Washington will never cede that much power to individuals and the last thing our economists want is a Nation of thrifty savers who keep money in their pocket to avoid taxation. The system works on spend, spend, spend!