but compared to wages, at least average wages, it seems to have outstripped inflation.
Well, I started flying 25 years ago. I think that wages for the job I was doing then have gone up by about x8 whereas at least at the same Group where I learned, flying rates have gone up from around £30ph to £110, less than x4.
If this is the case, then the real cost of learning to fly has halved in the past 25 years.
My former colleagues mostly played golf. They were suprised when we compared costs of maintaining a flying licence with enjoying their sport. Most of them, when honsetly appraising their expenditure, were spending at least twice as much as me, I reckon they were each averaging £4k, with club membership, green fees, new clubs every 3 years, clothing etc etc.
So I don't think it's any increase in prices that are preventing people from starting. Perhaps there is less disposable income about - more being spent relatively on a mortgage, though the shops always seem packed on a Sunday so they must be out there spending it on something.
Aviators are also an ageing population. It's not just power flying, the glider clubs report the same; young people just don't seem to want to make the commitment to learning how to fly an actual aircraft.
Cheers,
TheOddOne