[Merad]

RE your last paragraph, I think cost is a HUGE factor preventing more young GA pilots. What's the cost to get a PPL these days? In the range of $5000-10000? And IIRC, the total operating cost per flight hour, even for something like a C-172, is north of $100?

Even as a young 30s software engineer with a comfortable salary and a PPL on my bucket list, it looks like a terrifyingly expensive hobby. The vast majority of people simply can't afford it.

[sokoloff]

PPL is probably on the high side of that range.

Local flight school rents their 172s for $135-150 (depending on airplane), and based on my ownership experience, they're not making fat margins on that.

[robbiep]

expect $30,000 for PPL in Australia