After the Checkride: Say no to the airlines?

If you work for yourself, there’s no question of whether you need permission to fly yourself for business. If you don’t work for yourself, will your company permit it? Some employers prohibit travel by GA for liability reasons; check with your human resources department for specific policies.

The next question is, do the numbers work? Much as we may love GA, in most cases commercial airlines can take us to major hub cities less expensively. But if your destination is in a city not served by scheduled airlines, you might be able to show that you can make the trip by GA for the same cost or less than flying commercially and renting a car.

With those hurdles cleared, should you make the trip? If you don’t have an instrument rating, you’ll need to make certain your schedule is flexible so that you don’t feel pressured to fly in weather you’re not trained to handle. The same goes for returning home. Last, if you rent an aircraft, ask the FBO or flight school if there are conditions on multiple-day trips, such as a requirement to log a minimum amount of Hobbs time per day.