Denny, for you it would add 100 points to your RAW.

No, actually it will only affect your RAW if you are awarded a trip. And of course a yellow slip means they can assign you anything they want.

 

I was probably a little over the top with the gas thing.... but... a family of 4 isn't gonna pay that ticket price either. More than likely they are gonna buy their tickets a few weeks or months out and get considerably lower fares.

 

It changed, just says hey I want to fly - in seniority order of course and RUO.

 

The cost is not just gas. The gov mileage rate is north of $.45/mile. That is depreciation, maintenance, etc. A better comparison would be a taxi service. Professional transportation, government certified with commercial vehicle,etc. Plus add travel time; how valuable is your time (or your employees) in spending their time on the road versus flying. Much better comparison.

 

that's true.

 

I run a side business that is doing contract work about 800 miles from where I live. I can drive the round trip and write off the miles which comes out to a tax write off of $750 or so. That is what the government says it "costs" me to drive my car for that round trip. I spend about $200 for gas and $50 for food on the driving. Roundtrip ticket purchased 5 days in advance costs me about $700. Still takes me about 7 hours to get there if I fly so it saves me 5 hours, but then I have to rent a car or bum a ride from someone. I've only flown once.

 

you know before I throw another log on the fire on this frosty mid August evening in Atlanta, I was thinking.... I heard that slow...

but I was thinking on a rather serious note there sure is a lot of layoffs going on with people I know personally. theyre told its economy related. makes me wonder if the delay in hiring and then the smaller number than we all hoped for not to mention the rumored strong response from recallees is a subtle indicator?

 

Frankly, it's sad to read a pilot writing something like that. Let me suggest an three hour option that will allow you to arrive in style and relaxed...


Figure your making at least a buck and a quarter from Delta. Don't know if they are paying you for mileage, but 26 hours of windshield time between Delta trips must just suck for you and your family.

Speaking of family, trips to the beach are "currency." Besides, you need the tax write off.

Mine's an A36 now, but the F33 or 33-35 is a better machine unless you need the extra capability. I had a 33-35 with a fresh IO-550 by D'Shannon and all the go fast goodies that I sold when Delta hired me ... wish very badly I still had it. Best flying airplane ever built IMHO (and that includes the 757, heresey I know)


Plan B if you have no kids. Go for the parallel valve Lycoming powered M20C through J models. They're all good and very reliable. M20J - "205" or late as you can afford "201" since quality improved as time went on.

The six cylinder Mooney's never made much sense to me. At that point they perform much like a Bonanza, but just aren't nearly as comfortable and you're giving up 757 control coordination.

The tupperware airplanes are, again, a bit slower and thirstier than the Bonanzas. Some say they are comfortable, but the build quality of the early ones annoy me and the newer ones are very expensive. Most morons run the IO-500's hot on the ramp while playing with the avionics reducing the life of everything under the cowling. Cirrus needs an APU install for their customer base.

 

Bar, just wondering, what are the acquisition costs and overall care and feeding for the aforementioned aircraft? Seems like it's got to the point where most airline pilots can't afford a plane for themselves, am I wrong? How does one make that work?

 

I looked at it... notta chance on an FO's salary! I've gone the route where I trade being a CFI for use of my rich friend's plane. Much more cost effective.