Cheapgasitis

In their older years, my parents were cheapskates. When I visited them in their Southern Texas retirement community, they always were delighted to share their favorite places, those with senior discounts, dollar-breakfast specials and cheap all-you-can-eat buffets. The same proved true when buying unleaded: I thought it odd they would drive six miles round-trip to save $0.05 a gallon. After my father filled his tank, I asked how much he had put in. Twelve gallons, he answered; he just saved 60 cents. I pointed out it took us 15 minutes to save 60 cents, so he was paying himself about $2.40 an hour...just a little observation. His answer was: 1) he’s retired, so he likes saving money, 2) polite people keep their math to themselves, and, 3) nobody likes a smart ass.

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots often exhibit extreme frugality when purchasing fuel, seeking the cheapest options despite significant price variability, which can become an underlying motivation for risky behavior.
• This pursuit of cheap fuel is frequently an unacknowledged root cause of fuel exhaustion accidents, leading pilots to depart with insufficient reserves, make risky diversions, or compromise safety in other ways.
• The article advocates for prioritizing safety over minimal cost savings, urging pilots to ensure ample fuel reserves and options, recognizing that time and life are worth more than a few dollars per gallon.

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