That, in my not-so-humble opinion, is why there isn’t much of a market for private aircraft – and why there isn’t enough mass production to bring the cost down.
Airplanes and helicopters LOOK scary – the idea of hurtling through the air thousands of feet up is enough to trigger some people’s acrophobia. (These are usually the same people who request the aisle seat on an airliner, or avoid airliners altogether.) Thus, people are preoccupied with aircraft safety.
The GOOD effect of this preoccupation with air safety is that air travel is now the safest form of transportation in the world, in terms of injuries per mile. The BAD effect of this is that airworthiness certification, safety equipment, hundred-hour inspections, back-up systems, weight-and-balance measurements being required for each individual aircraft, and the extensive amount of test-piloting needed to get one model of small airplane or helicopter out of the “experimental” category all conspire to dramatically raise the cost of each aircraft. Combine this with the all-too-commonly-held belief that flying anything is a death sentence, and even a little dinky Cessna 152 will cost more than a Mercedes.
The truth, as always, is more complicated than that.
If you just want a recreational pilot’s certificate, you need a 3rd-class medical certificate, a minimum of 10 hours dual time (with an instructor sharing the cockpit with you), 10 hours solo time, 5+ hours preparation time for the practical test, and the practical test itself, which will take about 1-2 hours. Oh, and you have to pass the written test, which is much much harder than the written test for a driver’s license. Figure it’ll cost $50 for the 3rd class medical exam, $40 per hour to rent the plane (including fuel), $20 per hour for the instructor, $50 for the written test fee, $50 for written test preparation materials, and $100 for the practical test fee, this will total at least $1600.
And that’s just for a recreational pilot certificate. A rec. pilot certificate only allows you to fly out of uncontrolled airports (those airports that don’t have a control tower), with at MOST one passenger, during daylight hours, and never more than 50 nautical miles from your home base.
If you want to carry more than one passenger, or fly at night, or fly cross-country (any flight with a landing more than 50 nautical miles away from your home base), you need a private pilot certificate. This requires at least 20 total hours of dual time and 20 total hours of solo time, at least 10 of which must be solo cross-country. For night-flying privileges, you need at least 3 hours of night flying time and one night cross-country flight. Expect to pay at least $3000 for the whole experience.
And a private pilot certificate still doesn’t allow you to fly for hire, or drop passengers off at a remote airport, or fly in instrument conditions (i.e. in clouds).
The truth, as always, is more complicated than that.
And what about the retinal scanner (to identify the pilot)? Is it possible to integrate one into a head-up display? The ones I have heard of all require the user to get face to face with the camera. And wouldn’t an old-fashioned key switch be sufficient?
Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.