----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
I see that you live in VA .....SO do I
....My small maintenance shop is located at one of those crappy OLD... OLD,
airports that you refer to.(OMH) ......And I must say that you are right on the
money with your assessment.
The other problems that most people
aren't really aware of is the cost of doing business. To flight instruct in my
Ercoupe at 55.00 per hour , the insurance is 3600 dollars per year. The cost of
completed products and services for my shop (and Hangers keepers) is around 7000
per year. I swear I could close my small one man show today and double my income
tomorrow at one of those fancy FBO's. When I do get really busy and need
another A&P, there are none to be found. They are either working in the
automotive or motorcycle field, making a good living.
I guess what I am saying is that it is not
one problem with G/A that can be easily solved, It is a cacophony of issues
that need to dealt with. All across the board.
Lloyd
PS. There is
going to be a pancake breakfast here (OMH) on April 9th at 0800, please try to
come up.
LP
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9:57 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] ERCOUPE TURNOUT!----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----Wayne,I, too have noticed the change in interest of the young folks. I suspect it has several sources.One, the availability of more $$ , boats, cars, etc...dilutes the interest level...BUT, I suspect the real causes is that in many locations, the small airports are OLD....OLD, dirty, crappy furniture with worn out upholstry, etc... Some communities have addressed this, but often it has been too late.I think this atmosphere turns off many young folks, who are embarassed to bring out their dates to see and lounge around in such an atmosphere.The Lake, new boats, nice club house, etc are much more attractive and inducive to having one's date attend.So, it's only the very dedicated, very interested folks who now end up at the airport....often alone with wonder and dreams of flying....very few show up with their dates.....In many larger airports, the local FBO have upgraded their lounges, but again, mostly taylored to the corporate jet set...and not the local fun fliers...."tis a shame.....and I may be wrong ...but here are many small FBO operations I have visited where the atmosphere was not conducive to a newby being welcome.... IS YOUR LOCAL FBO A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD PROUDLY TAKE A NEW DATE ???? IT SHOULD BE!Now, if this is the problem, how do we encourage the industry to make major changes...and welcome DREAMERS ??HARRY FRANCIS (71 GOING ON 17)ELLISTON VAN93530 - since 1982============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
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