Mountain flying in Thailand

[Ye Olde Pilot]

Not quite as dramatic as the Alps but the mountains in Thailands "Golden Triangle" are still daunting. They go up to 8,000ft. More fun flying here than in the UK in winter and half the price!
This is looking over the border to Burma near Mai Sariang.[IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/MaeSariangFlying043.jpg
The airfield at Mai Sariang was paved last year. However the movements book shows only about 50 visors since 2003!
(Hence the cow grazing by the tower)
[IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/MaeSariangFlying021.jpg
They filmed a lot of Air America around here
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/MaeSariangFlying036.jpg
Finals at Mai HonSong. Its a one way strip
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/100_0044.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/ChiangMaiMaiHongSonFlying010.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/MaeSariangFlying015-1.jpg

[finalapproach]

Well that's certainly a bit different to the USA, SA or any of the usual foreign countries PPL's tend to go and fly in. Can you give some info about costs involved - a/c rental, landing fees, parking fees, license conversion and any other red tape costs. You mentioned it was half the price of flying here so I imagine the costs compare favourably with the US. What about ATC, are they helpful? Great pictures, looks like a hell of an adventure - definitely wouldn't mind giving that a go!

[Pilot DAR]

Thanks for the photos...

[mingalababya]

Thanks for the pics. I've flown into Mae Hong Son before (as pax) when Thai operated their 737's out of there a long time ago. It's a great strip, and you can get a great view of the aircraft approaching from a hill located about 3 miles away to the southwest.

BTW, where did you hire the C172 from and what are the rates? Would like to fly there one of these days and possibly go futher south along the border to Mae Sot.

[slim_slag]

Well I never, google finds the Chiang Mai Flying club http://www.cmflyingclub.com/ I remember when the Lonely Planet said you shouldn't visit that part of Thailand, never mind take a light aircraft up over those border areas. How things have changed in that part of the world. Licence conversion appears to be easy, looks like an absolutely brilliant reason to go back there.

[Ye Olde Pilot]

I rented from Chiang Mai Flying Club. HS-TVS is 5800 baht/hour
They also have 2 x C152 at 3500 baht/hour Exhange rate is about 70baht=1 GBP.

It is located about a half hour drive from Chiang Mai on the edge of an industrial esate at Lamphun.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/MaeSariangFlying008.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/ChiangMaiMaiHongSonFlying056.jpg

[Ye Olde Pilot]

There is another newer club not far away which is prettier,has a better fleet and is cheaper. A C172 will cost you 4500 baht/hour which is about 60GBP
It is the only European run club in Thailand http://www.nokaviation.com/ (http://www.nokaviation.com/)
It also has Thailands only glider. Chiang Mai and Nok are the only clubs in the country that permit visitors to self fly hire.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/ChiangMaiMaiHongSonFlying071.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a24/Oldpilot/100_0072.jpg