Sitting here noshing on a Subway sangwich, browsing the forums, I ask myself:
"Self? Where are the armadas of VLJ's that were going to put us all out of jobs and that any skepticism of them was met with the smug Ayn Rand-like
You don't get it because you're not smart like me'?"
Just wondering!
Well, Doug, I never thought a VLJ would put you out of a job, your own airline could probably do a better job at that.
Otherwise, I was a big believer in the EA500 until I came to realize than Vern had no clue, and the economy collapsed. You have to remember that the VLJ concept came about in the late 90s. Things were much different then.
As to the rest of the VLJs that will enter the market, that remains to be seen. Not too hopeful though.
We do not exactly have an economy that is friendly to them or to most aircraft. Not exactly friendly to the airlines either.
I wouldn't worry so much about VLJs, just about airline transportation having become a commodity, like "coffee", "orange juice" or "pork bellies".
Don't worry about the VLJs. They would have never put you out of a job.
Otherwise, three of us flew R/T from CDW to HXD over the July 4th weekend in the 210 for about $1400 (fuel + all operating costs). Sounds expensive? Not when you consider what the alternative on the airlines would have been as to cost in money, time and aggravation.
It's sort of nice to pull up to the ramp at Signature and as you park the plane they are pulling up with your rental car beside the plane.
What you might want to look out for are those operations putting folks in Cirrus SR22s on shorter range flights.