The Business of Aviation

Anything involving aircraft quickly becomes an expensive prospect. Even things like fuel sumps or wooden chocks cost way more than they would in a different context. There is a reason that flying is and was considered the realm of the wealthy, because they are the only ones who can really afford it. Aviation is one of the greatest luxuries in existence. Aviation has been one of the main catalysts for globalization by making the world smaller. It is the means for near instantaneous transportation across vast distances. I myself have taken my "Slow" Cessna Skyhawk from the Northern border of the Continental U.S. to the southern in 10 hours! The process of which truly bends your mind. I remember thinking "Is my nation really that small?" That trip is still the largest expense I have ever paid.

Aviation is so expensive because no one really needs to fly. If you want to learn to be a professional pilot at a university you will be paying North of six figures, it won't matter where you go. All the airlines lost a lot of money during the recession and after 9/11 because people suddenly thought "I think Ill drive instead." There is literally and figuratively a lot of overhead in aviation businesses. As an airline you are only ever one accident away from losing the public's trust and business. Profits come and go on the cost of fuel and the rates of competitors. There are many more industries that are more profitable, but many in aviation (Pilot or otherwise) are in it for the love of flying. I doubt most financial advisers would tell you to base your decisions off of your heart and not the dollars and cents.

References

Chocks.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from https://www.chocks.com/list/aircraft

Luxury Insider - The Online Luxury Magazine. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.luxury-insider.com/channels/aviation

Climbing through the clouds. (2011, July 7). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.economist.com/node/18926285

FAPA.aero | Flight Training Schools Comparison. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://fapa.aero/aviationcolleges.asp

Why airlines make such meagre profits. (2014, February 23). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/02/economist-explains-5

The 10 Most Profitable Industries According To Big Data. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/frankbi/2014/11/18/the-10-most-profitable-industries-according-to-big-data/