Comments on: listen in at local airport on 88.1 http://www.sportaviationmarketing.com/2006/04/24/listen-in-at-local-airport-on-881/ A weblog to help strengthen businesses in the sport aviation industry. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:52:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jeff Coffey http://www.sportaviationmarketing.com/2006/04/24/listen-in-at-local-airport-on-881/#comment-67 Jeff Coffey Tue, 16 May 2006 03:52:42 +0000 http://www.sportaviationmarketing.com/2006/04/24/listen-in-at-local-airport-on-881/#comment-67 I think you're right. With the new sport pilot rule, I think awareness is the biggest issue. More could and should be done to get the word out to the non-pilot community. Manufacturers are doing very little and organizations such as AOPA seem very passive about sport pilot in their outreach efforts. Once word gets out, I think quite a bit can be said about new safety features such as aircraft parachutes, seatbelt airbags, and advanced avionics. Cost will always be a factor for many. Regardless, sport pilot has brought the cost of both training and ownership of a new factory-built aircraft down considerably. That certainly makes the sport affordable to more individuals today than ever before. I think you’re right. With the new sport pilot rule, I think awareness is the biggest issue. More could and should be done to get the word out to the non-pilot community. Manufacturers are doing very little and organizations such as AOPA seem very passive about sport pilot in their outreach efforts.

Once word gets out, I think quite a bit can be said about new safety features such as aircraft parachutes, seatbelt airbags, and advanced avionics.

Cost will always be a factor for many. Regardless, sport pilot has brought the cost of both training and ownership of a new factory-built aircraft down considerably. That certainly makes the sport affordable to more individuals today than ever before.

]]> By: B.P. http://www.sportaviationmarketing.com/2006/04/24/listen-in-at-local-airport-on-881/#comment-31 B.P. Sun, 30 Apr 2006 20:21:07 +0000 http://www.sportaviationmarketing.com/2006/04/24/listen-in-at-local-airport-on-881/#comment-31 I wonder if any organization has a good handle on how to really expand the LSA and GA market. It seems to me manufactures and professional organizations target existing pilots and do very little to expand the pool of pilots. They should find out what issues keep pilot want-a-bes from actually becoming pilots and put effort into creating more want-a-bes. A significant issue for me was the lack of access to small (affordable) airports. Driving for hours to get to and from the airport was/is a hassle. Also, I think the perceived risk in flying is an issue. I think the recent trend to put ballistic parachutes on small aircraft goes a long way to alleviate that. I wonder if any organization has a good handle on how to really expand the LSA and GA market. It seems to me manufactures and professional organizations target existing pilots and do very little to expand the pool of pilots. They should find out what issues keep pilot want-a-bes from actually becoming pilots and put effort into creating more want-a-bes. A significant issue for me was the lack of access to small (affordable) airports. Driving for hours to get to and from the airport was/is a hassle. Also, I think the perceived risk in flying is an issue. I think the recent trend to put ballistic parachutes on small aircraft goes a long way to alleviate that.

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