Oldman, Aviation types private pilots:

[Robusta]

I have a question. There is a small airport (single grass strip), houses 4 or 5 active planes,including 2 belonging to the skydiving club.

On most nice days there are several planes that just, to all uniformed appearances just fly around in circles. I am guessing these are folks collecting hours. While I can hear a few of them practicing landing and taking off, the majority just fly out a couple of miles and circle around.

Question? Why don't they go some place? The Finger Lakes are incredibly beautiful, and more so from the air. Thirty miles north will put you in sight of the Southern shore of Ontario.

 

[Iodine]

Maybe they are getting flying lessons and their teachers are too afraid to let them get very far from the airport. I don't know of course. This is a good question.

 

[Falcon]

They may be new pilots and are afraid of getting lost.

They may not have their transponder turned on. If they DID, the traffic controller would show them the way home.

I hold a current COMMERCIAL , single & multi-engine pilot's license.

Many new pilots have only Private tickets.