At the risk of getting myself in dutch with the general population of Goldwing owners, we as a particular owner group are branded as penny pinchers. I refuse to use the word cheap since we buy and ride a very expensive motorcycle. That is not to say that we don't search far and wide for a great deal, even to the point of buying a plane ticket to cross several states or provinces to save a few hundred bucks. Glean from that what you will.
As for pilots being cheap, understand that most G/A pilots do it for the love of flying, and at the cost of owning and maintaining a certified aircraft today, many are driven to searching for deals to keep the outrageous costs manageable. The FAA and MOT (USA and Cdn) governing bodies have made it so restrictive and expensive to have their seal of approval on a/c parts and service items and the associated costs that result is some pilot/owners will jobber things if they can dodge certified parts (although the part may come from Pep Boys rather than an aeronautical shop e.g. alternators). If you are a paid commercial pilot (don't confuse this with the lucky ones that fly for the majors or corporate magnates [don't mean to single you out here fl510] in the sex machines of the air) working in a small charter outfit you get paid peanuts for what it costs to become certified to do the s**t shifts and grunt ramp work. Most commercial pilots in that setting make less than a fast food store shift manager, and the key to the golden arches back door didn't cost you $200k. Fun for a while yes, but not financially viable.
I personally keep my plane fully and professionally maintained with strictly approved parts, as I'm sure most dedicated 'professionally minded' flyers would. It's not like you can just turn on the signal lght and pull over after all; it's your a$$ and your passengers and your aircraft at stake so why risk it? There's enough that can go sideways up there without factoring in dime store patch repairs into the mix. Don't mean this to be a rant, it's just that some things are relative to certain situations and in some cases necessity may dictate doing what is required to get from point A to point B and back again. I don't condone by-passing directives just to save money. Especially if it affects airworthiness.
Hey Kim, looks like some more common ground buddy, or should I say air?
