Anyone who has ever owned, or looked into owning, their own airplane knows that aviation is not a cheap hobby. Simply buying the plane is no small expenditure, and that’s just the beginning of the budget busting costs associated with airplane ownership. Amateur pilots should also budget plenty of cash for things like maintenance and repair, storage, runway fees, fuel, and accessories. (And that is by no means a complete list.) Some private plane owners spend, literally, thousands of dollars a month on their hobby.
Of course not every pilot is spending that much money, so where is the middle ground between crazy expensive and not owning an airplane at all? For many pilots, finding this line can be very challenging because the stakes are so high when you’re flying a few miles above the ground. The last thing you want to do in that situation is compromise your safety by investing in cut rate parts and accessories like aviation oil, filters or wheels.
Think about it for a moment, airplanes are very different from automobiles. When you’re driving along in your car and the engine starts sputtering, it’s an inconvenience. Getting it repaired can be time consuming and expensive, but auto breakdowns are rarely life threatening. That’s not the case when you’re flying in an airplane. There’s no such thing as a minor mechanical breakdown at 10,000 feet. Every piece of an aircraft is important and should be given high priority.
The same rule also applies to aircraft accessories like transceivers, radios, and GPS systems. When your life is reliant on the equipment in your cockpit, you want to know that equipment is worthwhile. A VXA 220 transceiver costs more than some competing brands, but that is money well spent. Purchasing high grade aviation accessories is an investment in your own life.
There are, however, sometimes when saving a few bucks on aviation parts and accessories is all right. Items like seats, paint and other cosmetics are the right places to find bargains. Just don’t box yourself into an uncomfortable, but safe, cockpit. Remember that you’re going to be spending hours and hours in that seat, so you want something comfy. Still, there’s no shortage of good, and comfortable aircraft seats available from salvage yards and second hand dealers.
Aviation ownership isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pursue it in a budget conscious manner. Pilots who can squeeze out savings in a number of places can see major savings in their aviation budget.