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From: mcmahan@dartvax.UUCP (Bob McMahan)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Driving vs. Flying
Message-ID: <2697@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 12:04:39 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2697
Posted: Tue Jan 15 12:04:39 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 17-Jan-85 04:22:58 EST
References: <701@ihnp4.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 73

> Several years ago I lived in Wichita, Kansas, and my family lived in
> the Chicago area.  During this time, I made several trips between the
> two points, always careful to note how much it cost and how much time
> it took me.
> 
> A typical trip from Wichita to Chicago took:
> 		air			driving
> miles:		~500			~700
> time:		5 hours (nonstop)	17 hours (with stops)
> vechicle:	Cessna 172		AMC Spirit DL (1.5 engine)
> Cost:		~$300 (rental, wet,	~$140 out of pocket (40 gallons
> 		round trip, block    	fuel @ $1.00 per gallon, $70 
> 		rate.)			lodging, $30 food.)
> 						or
> 					$308 at the 22 cents per mile
> 					I was paid for use of the same
> 					car on company business.  The 
> 					auto cost MUST include the same
> 					items as the aircraft cost if there
> 					is to be a meaningful comparison.
> 					These include fixed and variable
> 					costs (ie. fuel, insurance, rotables
> 					maintenance, payment, insurance,
> 					and the like.)
> 
> In the driving time, I did not allocate any time for overnight stops,
> but you should really add 6 hours, making 23 hours door to door.  For the
> Cessna, add an hour on both ends for loading, unloading, and trip to the
> airport or house, making 7 hours door to door.  
> 
> I just realized an error in my figures above.  At 22 cents per mile, the
> AUTO expenses were $308.  You still need to add overnight lodging ($35 per
> night) and meals ($30) to that figure.
> 
> Most of the trips that I flew were VFR, with one exception.  Later I flew
> the Funk up to Chicago (it was being recovered at the time this whole mess
> happened), and it took about 9 hours door to door.  But I took my time at
> lunch in Burlington, Iowa, and at another fuel stop in Kansas City.
> 
> Using this as a basis, not only can an airplane be faster, but it can actually
> be less expensive on a trip.  If you need to rent a car at the destination,
> your savings are gone in a hurry, however.
> 
> As another excercise, compute the savings of time by using a light aircraft
> rather than the airlines for a typical trip.  (Remember to include time to
> the airport, and pre-boarding wait time.)
> 
> 					Jeff Williams
> 					AT&T Bell Laboratories
> 					ihnp4!cfiaime

[**]

FYI: This months AOPA Newsletter has a factsheet on which you may find
     a comparison of the relative efficiencies of air vs. automobile travel
     (this catagory is also broken down by aircraft type ). This sheet is great
     to have - with it you can quickly settle most arguments about General
     Aviation.


-- 


Bob McMahan

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