Transportation vs Passion

Hang around aviation even just a short while and you'll begin to realize there are two types of private pilots out there. The first type of pilot is the enthusiast pilot. He loves to fly, just for the sole reason of flying. He's the guy that you'll see out at the airport getting ready to go for the $100 hamburger. The hamburger sucks, and its overpriced, and a 100 miles away, but it gives him an excuse to fly. He may just be the occasional renter, an owner, or the old guy that always hangs out at the flight centre with a thousand cool story's to tell. This type just loves to fly, so that's why they do it. The second type or pilot is the type that has the intention of using it for travel. They fly for the utility of it - they want to get somewhere. I think there can be several dangerous traps for the second group of pilots.

That motivation of flying to get somewhere completely changes the type and frequency of flying between those who fly as transportation, and those who fly just because they love it. First of all, like I mentioned, the motivation to get somewhere prompts the purchase of a high performance airplane. A Cessna 150 is hardly useful for getting somewhere. Naturally the draw is towards faster, and inevitabley more complex and difficult airplanes. There is also another trap that can compound the problem. This pilot, who has just earned his Private Pilot License has grand plans of seeing the world using his new-found skill, and he purchases a sleek Mooney M20. But he only travels once a month or so, so he doesn't fly much. He's a conscientious pilot, and takes safety seriously, but the truth is his skills and experience level are likely far below the airplane he flies. Compare that to the recreational enthuisiast who loves to fly. He doesn't have a reason to go anywhere, except for maybe those hamburgers and the occasional fly-in during the summer, so he buys a Cessna 172, about the same time as the first pilot buys his Mooney. The C-172 is fun and friendly to fly, economical, and it can get somewhere in a reasonable amount of time if it has to. He's also out flying almost every weekend, even if its just to go poke around in the air for no good reason other then he just loves to be up there. He eats, sleeps, and breaths flying.

I think the difference between these two types is becoming clear. Skip ahead now a couple years in the lives of our two pilots. The enthusiast pilot with the C-172 has now amassed a considerable amount of flight time. He can fly the pants off that 172, has a good eye for weather, and he's collected a few of his own stories too. And now he's ready to move up to a more complex airplane that can once again challenge his skills. He goes for a test flight in a Mooney and after just an hour of flying in it he can fly the Mooney better then the pilot who has owned it for much longer.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports are riddled with low time pilots who have crashed their high-performance singles. I think the importance of experience in a simpler airplane shouldn't be overlooked by anyone. Even for someone interested in owning a fast cross country airplane should consider flying a simpler airplane for a considerable amount of time before stepping into something faster. Flying skills are very transferable between airplanes, and I think taking the long way and enjoying the journey before going all out is well worth the time.