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Article: Staying proficient in a fuel-short world: the cost of avgas is becoming the deciding factor in whether to drive, take or the airlines or even fly at all. Here's how to stay proficient if you're flying less than ever.(AIRMANSHIP)
- Article from:
- Aviation Safety
- Article date:
- August 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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If you're like me, you're somewhat still in shock over aviation fuel prices. Less than five years ago, I figured it cost around $40 an hour in fuel alone to run my airplane, an IO-520-powered Beech Debonair. Now, it's closer to $100 an hour and I haven't seen a similar increase in my income or my airplane budget to support the higher costs. My basic $100 hamburger or crab cake is now at $200, and climbing.
With avgas at my local FBO having recently punched through the paper-thin ceiling of $5 a gallon, my flying is way off these days. The last time I did any serious aviating, discovered several layers of rust had accumulated (the weather was good and the route ...