Naples Aircenter May '04

[Epoch]

Hi there,

I'm heading out to naples air center this May to do my PPL course, finally ...

Since I am going to be the only one travelling there from Holland,
I was wondering if there are any other (international) students present on this forum who have the same plans in this period... please post your nationality and background!

For the people who have been there: got tips for the spare (if any) time, fun places to go?

[Looper]

I'm going out to NAC mid-April and I'll be there for 3 weeks approx. So I'll be there for 10 days in May. I'm from Ireland and already have a few hours flying under my belt.



Looper

[Jimjetter]

Hey, im going out next week for 5weeks, so i'll be back before u go. already have ppl and from uk. Ive heard lots of good stuff from various sources so it should be good. Think theres a mix of nationalitys gonna be there.
May see u there Looper

[Epoch]

Five weeks is good, i'm going for five weeks myself, arriving 25th of april actually.

Are you gonna do some hour building there? Really like to do a trip to the hoover dam in the future! First PPL for me though! :uhoh:

succ6, it seems i'll see u there! :cool:

[Charlie Zulu]

Hi Epoch,

I'm going over to Naples Air Center at the end of June so you'll probably be home in Holland by then.

Its the PA44 that I'll be flying out there for an FAA Multi addon to the FAA CPL/IR.

Probably going to do a little bit of touring using their Arrow IV in my second week. I'm going for two weeks as my mate is just about to book up to finish his PPL there at the same time.

You'll have a great time out in the States!

Remember if you have an engine failure go for a road NOT a field as it'll probably turn out to be a swamp with crocodiles within, I wouldn't fancy my chances with them! :)

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

[Pilot Pete]

Go to 'Michelbobs' for some great ribs and a typical US size plateful, which will easily keep the average European Wannabe going for about a week;)

Tin City was worth a visit to while a few hours away and the miles of white sandy beach are just idillic, especially as the sun goes down.

If you want to eat cheaply visit the shopping mall for 'fast food' or any of the dozens of fast food outlets of all descriptions!

If you want to go further afield and you have time a trip down the Keys would be worthwhile, especially if you can get your instructor to take you there during some sort of training!

Ahhhhhh, memories................

Enjoy.

PP

[Jimjetter]

EPOCH,

5weeks yeah, just enough time for 80hrs pic, a multi and night rating i hope! Should be good fun, thanx for all the pointers from u guys.

i leave on 26th april! nevermind.

[Epoch]

Charlie Zulu..

Crocodiles :uhoh: That could turn out to be VALUABLE advice!! :}

I promise you, if that happens to me, i'll buy you a beer or two!

:sad:

[Sensible]

Don't worry about Crocodiles in the swamps, there aren't any to my knowledge! Now alligators are a different storyand they may well may get you but it's likely that the mosquitoes will eat you alive first so I shouldn't worry on that score! ;)

At least you are going to NAC so it's the wildlife that is your only worry and not the flying school proprietors as is the case of several other schools that I could name! :uhoh:

[henriksch]

Hi spend quite a while there for my ATPL... Will be going back for a brush-up course on april 13th.... (did second module DL)...

For things to do.... Try going to ticketmaster.com, and look for something in the area.. The TECO arena have a lot of great concerts, but also Miami, of course... Only about 1,5 hour away..

I will see you all in Naples.

[HomerJay]

seems like everone is arriving when im leaving, will be there from the 9th of april for a week to fly me some hours, If anyone is stayin in the wellesley during them dates get in touch

[Epoch]

Forgot to ask, I stay at the Wellesley inn..

Can anybody tell me if this place is ok?

I noticed they offer broadband internet acces, anybody knows how to hook up!?

I like a decent breakfast :E they got any?

[Charlie Zulu]

Hi Epoch,

Oops, I meant the Alligators! ;-)))

The Wellesley Inn is an okay hotel. I paid $33 per night last July which is the rate at which NAC students get.

The rooms are okay with the normal ammenities expected of an American hotel.

The outdoors swimming pool, whilst not big, is plenty big enough for swimming in with both a shallow and deep ends.

Breakfast is a bit of a varse... standard rolls and coffee that you help yourself too in the area where the snack machines are (near the pool).

The hotel reception staff are all very friendly to us NAC folks as well as the other guests.

If you take a right out of the hotel and walk down over the bridge you'll see loads of fish and other type of restaurants. Keep walking for ten minutes or so, past the train museum (didn't get the chance to go in) and you'll end up in the town where all the pubs and bars are!

If you can resist the temptation of the Irish bars or other clubs / bars then you'll probably end up at the beach and pier! I didn't get as far as the beach.... :D

I'll scan some photo's of the Wellesley Inn if you'd like but I won't be able to send them to you until tomorrow (my internet connection at home is down atm, sob sob).

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

[Epoch]

That would be nice!

It seems the majority of students stays at the Wellesley Inn..

:ok:

[Sensible]

The wellesley is a good motel and the continental breakfast was fine for me except I wished that they didn't have a waffle maker there :O

Ask in the flight centre for the location of restaurants, some of the restaurants towards the town centre are a bit pricey and best take a friend with you because the meals in a lot of the restaurants are humungus and one meal between two works great.

There is a good restaurant at Everglades City which is about 20 mins flight time away and is well worth a visit. The runway is only about 2200 ft long and some people have trouble with it but it's fine, the trouble I think is that the approach is over water and some people tend to set themselves up high and fast on final because the water spooks them. Go up into the flight centre and ask to see the photo's and stories of the ones that didn't make it! If you are low hour, avoid if there is a x wind, I found short final a bit rocky due to turbulence over the trees.

[Epoch]

Seems to me Naples has got it all to have a goood time..


I don't know how well I can take 5 weeks of :mad: -food.. they got a fittness room right?

[razzele]

the "wellesly" advertise a fitness room the bstars, but it is not on site. in fact its quite a long way away from the hotel itself! so stay clear of the waffle maker when u go there.

plus there is seasonal increase in room charges, i know the off peak summer rate is as charlie zulu said 33bucks.

i dare to say it could be close double that at the minute as it is peak season in naples now.

[Desert Budgie]

Hows things guys?

Nice to hear another good bunch of folks are coming over. Im in Naples on my second stint since last october doing up to FAA CFI. The folks over here are a great bunch and will go out of their way to help you out.

I happened to ****** my knee playing football (if your interested while ur over, some of the residents anjoy a kick around!). I had a long term injury anyway which led to surgery and me being grounded for the last 2 months. Naples staff have been great, picking me up from the surgery center and giving me rides home and for lunch...etc, since i havent been able to use the bike. Oh yeah, and they are pretty damn good at that instruction stuff aswell...:ok:

Should be back in the air in a week so things are looking up. I dont think Ill need to introduce myself when you arrive as Im the one that walks with the knee brace and the slight limp on the right side :ouch:

Naples is a good place. A few good watering holes where Im sure youll become aware of when you come over, great weather and of course a great airport to fly out of. Quite a lot of aviation down here so you gain loads of very good experience rather than buzzing around being the only aircraft in the sky!

Anyway guys, say hello when you arrive and if you want to know anything from a student who is actually at NAC at the mo, feel free to ask.

Cheers
DB:ok:

[HomerJay]

Does anyone have any info on the Miami FSDO office? Is it easy to get to from Naples and how much notice do they need to make an appointment

[FLYFJTAIR]

I would like to go to Naples but they don’t reply to E-Mail how did any one get hold of these guys. It’s not very impressive if they don’t contact potential students!

[Epoch]

ehhmm, no problems here so far. My first mail to NAC was responded to quickly.

Be sure to send your mail to [email protected]

Whenever I send mail to that adress I allways get a reply in 24 hours. I sent a non ugent question once that took a while before I got a reply.

:\ when are U planning to go down there?

[RobertFL]

I live in sarasota sort of between napels and clearwater.
I am gonna start my training some time this summer, and probably somwhere where I work which is clearwater, does any of you took some training in this area ???

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

FLYFJTAIR,

I have replied to your PM.

If you sent an email, send me in a PM your email address and I will make sure you did not end up in our Spam Filter.

Happy Flying,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

[Update: I found your email. It was sent a little over an hour ago and it is still on the Mail Server waiting to be downloaded.]

[NACGS]

As a side note for anyone contacting NAC or any other school to avoid having your email lost or filtered by spam / virus filters use the online contact forms.

You may even find your internet service provider may have been banned as a whole by a schools/companies email filters !

Online contact forms are deemed to have reliable information in them and they cant contain attachments( i.e. then no viruses). So for any initial contact your best bet to get a quick reply is to use the contact form.

:ok:

[FLYFJTAIR]

Hi

I have tried the web based forms.

I have to say that since posting here I have been contacted Richard from Naples who has been very helpfull and prompt in dealing with my questions. I have had my faith restored!

Thanks to all in this forum that have helped!

[CIPO]

It's great reading the post's Naples having spent 4 weeks there already.
The one about everglades made me laugh, it's a sporty airfield to go into. Not because of the runway length but it's only 50ft wide!!
One of the times i went, there was a guy in a gyrocopter buzzing around(no radio), reminded me of a bond movie.

Great views from the air and a very cool to do a flight down by Marco island for the sunset.

Anyway back again next weekend to do a 15hr CPL to finish me off-thank god!!
See you all there.

[Desert Budgie]

Aye Aye boss,

They didn't tell me u were coming back. Gyro bloody fool. No radios, take off on the wrong runway and that broken belt. I was there, plane number 3!

I dont think its worth coming back as your fave from Padi's is gone...;) Ah, its still a good crack. Not sure how many blinders there'll be though, spent all my cash before xmas with u, ops guy and Mr 'Roundwind'....haha

Anyway, see ya next week.

DB........."oh, i have him in sight, im just trying to get a picture of it"
:ok:

[Starchild]

I shall be over in Naples from the 18th April for 5 weeks and also staying at the Wellesley Inn.

Look forward to hearing from you all

Paul
[email protected]