Are Gas Prices Keeping You Away From Your Airplane

We’d love to have asked that question here on CleanTechnica but we’re not sure how many of you own an airplane. However, our friends at Plane & Pilot Magazine did ask that question. And the answer didn’t surprise us too much. It does spell good news for the electric airplane (e-plane) industry.

Is The Price of Aviation Gas Keeping You Away From Flying?

Although the survey didn’t a return a massive yes as to the high price of gas keeping pilots away from their planes, it certainly didn’t show the opposite either. Aviation gasoline is pricier than what gas cars are used to paying. Most cars get by on an octane rating of 87, 89, or 92 in the US. For aviation, the octane is much higher: 101 to 105. And to make things complicated there are different types of aviation gas depending on the type of airplane you are flying. You can check the price right here, as it depends on which state in which you reside.  Suffice it to say, some states are more expensive than others just like gasoline varies at the pump for cars from state to state.

Owning a small airplane used to be much more affordable three decades ago and before. The skyrocketing price of fuel has also been felt for all of us who travel. 15 years ago, you could fly round trip to Europe for less than $500. These days you can double that, if not more. The high price of aviation fuel has also impacted the small airplane industry. Consider that after you buy an airplane from $30,000 to $80,000 and upward, you also have to factor a hanger to rent, insurance, the never cycle of maintenance, the annual fees, and of course the mandated upgrades.

In the question the magazine ran online, 32 percent of the responders said that it is a big factor. As the price of Avgas or Jet-A goes up, they’ve had to lessen the number of hours they fly. Another 30 percent said that it was another factor, one of many others. Finally, a few lucky ones said it wasn’t really much of a consideration. They fly as much, regardless.

The ones who are the most affected were 17 percent saying that it has already greatly impacted how much they fly. And finally, 5% they quit flying for now and that it doesn’t directly affect them at the moment.

Are High Gas Prices Making it Tough on the Airplane Industry?

Yes, you bet and that is not necessarily a bad thing either. Some of the responders wrote that they were waiting for electric planes (e-plane) as a way to cut down on maintenance and energy price. We find that to be the best news for the budding industry of e-planes with its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flying taxi aircrafts and other smaller two to four-seater e-planes.

Take time to read the comments on the survey if you are interested in the small airplane industry. They are a good primer to understand how pilots feel about the industry as a whole.

It’s funny to think that a few years ago schools finally opened jet engine planes to new students, bypassing the propeller learner plane phase. We’re sure that segment of the industry will not boom any more than it already has. Of course, there are always those particularly ambitious future pilots wanting to join the ranks of Captains on commercial flights who will take that route. Overall, high aviation gas price means good news for electric airplanes.