Flying expenses and student/instructor tension

My instructor and I ran into some scheduling snags over the last month. With him going away for a large portion of the summer, we both decided it was in my best interest to pair up with another instructor. In addition, there were some personality issues that was inhibiting me from making some bigger steps towards being a certificated pilot. From what I hear, it is not uncommon. The aircraft is a terrible classroom. The instructor and student must 'gel' to get the most effective instruction. In the last couple of months, we were not communicating well. Add to that the stress of finances, lost opportunities and the general stress of flying, the efficiency of instruction was going south quickly. Time to move on.

The money issue is really starting to take its toll on me. My music earnings are half of what they should be. I can thank the economy for some of it. Some of it is due to my lack marketing efforts. Marketing takes time. For every five hours of marketing, I may get one gig, paying around $100. Consider each gig is minimum of four hours of work (regardless of how long I play) and there is always travel involved. It just does not seem worth it. I could justify the time in the past because I love to play. That being said, if I spend time marketing, then I do not spend time flying.

After dumping three grand into car repairs and tree removal, and forking out money for summer camp for my son, I am starting get anxious about flying. I cannot quit now, but the costs are prohibitive. I do not mind the instructor costs. I would pay instructor costs for any new endeavor, whether it be for golf lessons, drum lessons, whatever. The rental fee for a Cessna 172 runs around $115 to $135 per hour wet. Even at four dollars per gallon of gas, burning close to ten gallons an hour in training, that is still a jaw-dropping large fee. By the time I get my certificate, I will have flown close 65 hours. The notion that a private pilot license costs under $7000 is ludicrous. It is not possible unless a student enrolls in a three week 'all or nothing' immersion program.

I keep looking for a way to cut the costs of flying. In the end, if GA is to be 'saved', then the industry, as a whole, should change it's attitude towards student pilots, not trying to use them as a money bag to prop up the industry. In addition, I think, with all the controlled air space out there, the LSA market is never going to be very big. The money being dumped into does not seem justifiable. It may show some spots of success in states like Florida or in the western states with wide open spaces.

At this point, I would be better taking the family on a vacation in the west for two weeks and finishing up my flying out there where rental and instructor fees are lower in cost. Get'er done!