The 90/10 Rule Will Lead You to the Right Aircraft
By Michael Kolman
Whether it’s an automobile or an aircraft, at some point most of us have let our emotions overrun common sense when it comes to big-ticket items. The next time you feel an impulse purchase starting to take hold of your wallet, I encourage you to use the “90/10 Rule” to guide your selection.
Simply put, the 90/10 Rule asks that you set emotions aside and let the facts inform your choice. Be honest with yourself as you look critically at your wants versus your needs. Assess what is required to fly the missions you execute most often, and these are your must-haves regardless of the purchase. By nature these needs should influence roughly 90 percent of your decision.
The other 10 percent is generally based on emotion. These influencers may be small in number, but they can be very loud. Perhaps it’s a paint scheme or an expensive add-on feature that drowns out the voice of reason inside your head and lures you down the emotional rabbit hole. While your impulsive side may want a luxury vehicle, your practical side knows what you need is a vehicle that is efficient to operate, affordable to insure and, most of all, reliable for everyday use.
The 90/10 Rule may not lead you to the flashy choice, but it will lead you to the right choice, while keeping you away from a major case of buyer’s remorse. Before you purchase your next aircraft, consider the list of items below.
- Where do I fly most often and how frequently?
- How many people usually travel with me?
- Do my passengers need special accommodations?
- Do I always want to pilot the aircraft?
- Will this list change in the next three years?
- What is my budget?
- What is the aircraft’s safety record?
- How much will the plane cost to operate, insure and hangar?
- How long will I own the aircraft? What about resale value?
- Would I consider an aircraft management program to defray costs?
