Seminole hire / flight ideas out of Salt Lake City
 

Hi there,
I have a trip to the USA coming up, and if all works out I'm going to try and get 10 hours command on a PA-44 while I'm there.
About me - Australian, CASA CPL, Grade 2 Flight Instructor, 800+ TT, 650+ PIC. No instrument rating, and while I already have a multi rating on the PA-44, I have no PIC time, only 7 hours dual PA-44 - that's the only multi time I have. I have a bit of time on singles like the C206, C210 and GA8, so more experience than just bashing around in the training area!

Assuming all the licence conversions come through, I'd like to hire a Seminole for 10 hours PIC out of Salt Lake City, as I need 10 hours PIC on type to begin my move to instructing on it eventually back here in Australia (yes, it's MUCH cheaper to do it in the States). I have a few leads already on aircraft hire, looks like the range is around $240-$270 an hour, wet. Does that sound about right? I am open to other options or offers in the SLC area though.

Secondly, and more importantly, with those 10 hours to burn, I invite suggestions for flight ideas! On the ground, I am already travelling to Jackson / Tetons / Yellowstone, but if I can fly over them that would be great. Also would like to get over to see the Devil's Tower and Mt Rushmore / Crazy Horse - we won't be going to these in the rental car, so would only be able to see them by air only. I am aware of the need to stay 3nm from the Devil's Tower but don't know of any restrictions or otherwise for Rushmore or Crazy Horse.
Here's a rough plan on Skyvector, hope it works... Also welcome suggestions for a lunch / fuel stop. Click Here

With the remaining time, I would like to do another flight south to Moab, Monument Valley, Page AZ, Bryce Canyon and back to SLC, another sample map Here.

Finally, the time of year will be early - mid August. I'm hoping the weather will be Ok at this time of year, and welcome any advice on flying at the high altitudes in the area (we're pretty flat here in Australia!).

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Looks like a good route. Your going to have to hire an instructor to go along for the ride. No club is going to let you go solo anywhere in the mountains, let alone go solo with such low twin time. As for the high altitude flying, everyone around here hates the idea of taking light twins into the mountains because of safety reasons, I've only flown SE in mountains. Jackson hole is very scenic. Mount Rushmore looks pathetic from a plane, I took a pic but you can hardly see what your looking at. I recommend you fly to Ledville or teluride on the way back, great scenery and from there you can hit the black canyon and then it s a straight shot from there to moab. You might be able to find a cheaper seminole in Denver not sure, try all the club's at centennial airport.

How about dropping off most of the mountains (Jackson / Tetons / Yellowstone, leaving a slimmed down route Like This?

I'm Ok with dropping those locations as we're heading up there in the car anyway, and I'm trying to keep the flying simple. For the southern route I've also refined it To This.

I don't mind taking an instructor along, I figured I'd be up for a checkride anyway, but I'm a bit wary as the whole purpose of this exercise is to gain PIC time... I'm not sure how that works with an instructor flying along.

Would Custer County be the closest strip to Mt Rushmore, and would it be possible to hire a car or get a bus from there to Mt Rushmore and back?

Thanks for the help mate!

So you will most likely need to convert your license in order to act as pilot in command here in the states. In most cases its a matter of paper work and they give you a license at the private level, anything more I think you are required to do the practical exam, such as commercial. However this doesn't help you much because you don't have a Multiengine add-on, so basically they will convert it to Single Engine only and in that case you can't act as pilot in command of a ME regardless of if you have an instructor or not.

Finally, I actually visited Mt. Rushmore about 20 years ago so I have no valid information for you regarding buses.

there are some turbocharged PA 44s around. Might be more useful in the mountainous area.

Fly to rapid city, south dakota, and rent a car there and drive to mt rushmore.

be sure not to land at the air force base by mistake! or HILL afb near salt lake city by mistake.

have you checked logan utah airport for rentals? not too far from SLC.

You might want to check out oxygen use too. And fees.

I've been to Mt Rushmore by car. Interesting but there are better places to see. Not quite as impressive as in the movie, "north by northwest".


Good luck, happy landings. Remember that the PA44 has a single engine ceiling of only about 5000' and that's if you are lucky.

You might also consider not using FULL fuel to improve performance.

Nice little plane though. Really nice ailerons.

REMEMBER the horizon is at the base of the mountains not the tops!

You might want to fly to San Francisco if you have 10 hours to use.