How practical is it to fly GA in Europe?

[ArcherII]

I ask because in the US you can buy youself a Piper Warrior for 50 grand, and fixed costs are usually less than 3 or 4 grand a year...and operating costs are usually pretty cheap due to low fuel cost.

GA aviation is very common...it's not out of the ordiniary to own or rent small planes to fly places.

What about Europe?

Rental prices are ridiculous...the price of a Warrior in the UK is the price of a Seneca in the US!

what about ownership?

[Chilli Monster]

Ownership in the UK is no different to the U.S.

For example - cost of a Warrior would be the same - just replace dollars for pounds (ouch ;) ).

Maintenance schedules are different in that you need checks every 50 hours or 6 months (whichever comes first).

On top of that add landing fees (which you don't get in the U.S on the whole) but hangerage (depending where in the country you are) is probably the same numerical figure (again - swap dollar signs for pounds).

The biggest hit is fuel - that's where we suffer more than anything else (and why rental costs are so high)

So - it's still possible, but you'll find group ownership in the UK is more popular than the U.S for the above reasons - to speread the load and the costs.

[ArcherII]

On top of that add landing fees (which you don't get in the U.S on the whole)

Most airports in the US don't require landings fees...but some do, especially the bigger ones.

yeah fuel is a biggie in Europe...4 times more expensive...