Any good rentals for flying holiday in Arizona?

[EK380]

Hi guys,

I'm an European airline captain, planning on a flying holiday to Arizona, US next November.

Any recommendations for a good rental places in AZ? Looking for a C172,PA-28 or Diamond, preferably with glass (Avidyne or Garmin 1000).

Heard positive things from Angel Air Changler, AZ, http://www.flyangelair.com/

Also, I still have an old format FAA PPL license, based on my JAA ATPL. This license was issued oct 2001, and is not of the plastic (with picture) type now issued.

Should I apply for the new format one, before leaving?

All comments and tips welcome. Especially from guys, that have done something similar recently.

Brgds,

Biggles:)

[david viewing]

EK380

I have flown once or twice each year out of Prescott, Az since 1995 on local trips, tours and expeditions like 40Hrs to Kissemee and back last August.

I suggest you contact James Dunn at Northaire (http://www.northaire.com/), Prescott, Arizona. November is a quiet time of year due to end of term at the adjacent Riddle university and you should not have any trouble getting a glass 172SP for as long as you need it based on 3Hr per day.
Prescott is 2Hr N of PHX on an hourly shuttle bus and is an excellent base in the cool climate of N. Arizona, only 80 miles S of Grand Canyon GCN.

It may help (or not!) if you mention my name.

David

[flugholm]

In May I flew with Chandler Air Service, which is based at -- surprise, surprise! -- Chandler Muni, just southeast of Phoenix. (Their wonderful URL: http://www.aerobatics.com/ ). Got checked out, including hot-and-high checkout to Payson, and rented a nice PA28-161 ($86/hr). Friendly people, decent prices. No glass cockpits here, tho'. And it applies here as well: It may help (or not!) if you mention my name.

Maybe worth checking out are the following. (I haven't tried them but I'm interested in first-hand information about them.)

www.airsafetyacademy.com
(SR22 at $139/hr)

http://www.glendaleaviation.net/
(Glass-172 at $125/hr)

And here's the (almost) complete list of flight schools -- just about all of them offer rentals:
http://www.justflightschools.com/Arizona/

Generally: Expect to pay roughly half as much as you would in Europe.
And what a fantastic scenery Arizona has to offer!
You'll like it there! :)

[porridge]

Try CRM (http://www.crmatc.com/) at Scottsdale - they have a modern fleet with Glass on some of their aircraft. Should be no problem with your FAA Private on the old paper format, you'll need a flight review which they'll do if they check you out on their aircraft.

[SkyHawk-N]

Double Eagle at Tucson IAP are good guys. http://www.2-eagle.com
If you like mixing it up with F-16s Tucson is the place to fly from.

[rtl_flyer]

In May I flew with Chandler Air Service, which is based at -- surprise, surprise! -- Chandler Muni, just southeast of Phoenix. (Their wonderful URL: http://www.aerobatics.com/ ). Got checked out, including hot-and-high checkout to Payson, and rented a nice PA28-161 ($86/hr). Friendly people, decent prices. No glass cockpits here, tho'. And it applies here as well: It may help (or not!) if you mention my name.

I used Chandler Air Services to fly a Great Lakes (bi-plane) a few landings then off to the aerobatics area for some fun :) - Some pictures (http://www.greatlakes2t.co.uk/flying/N3810F/tim_fly1.html) Good bunch.
If you are in the Phoenix area you could go for a tour of the Grand Canyon. However you are only allowed over in a twin and there are set routes etc (below 10'000ft - from memory, maybe higher!). So you need to plan it. It is also a VERY busy area.
Oh, and take plenty of water etc. Was 114f when I was there mid June - not the hotest period. Great in a bi-plane though!!!!

[EK380]

Thanks guys for all the info so far....

Keep it coming please... especially tips for trips in AZ,CA,UT,NV. Planning to do 30hrs in 10days or so.

PS: Still trying to find out via the FAA, if my 2001 (Oct 2001) validation on my JAA ATPL will still be excepted...