last minute info request - USA flying
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last minute info request - USA flying
I'm off on holiday tomorrow to the Arizona area (specifically Grand Canyon, Monument Valley via Phoenix and possibly Las Vegas. This is a holiday (with Mrs QNH) rather than a flying holiday, but I'm hoping that the paperwork I've collected over the past months will allow me to collect a temp airman's certificate while I'm there. If I can do some flying too on this trip it will be a bonus.
I am now packing and suddenly realised I need some questions answering first.....
Are headsets readily available to borrow when you hire an aircraft in the USA, as I am a bit reluctant to pack two headsets if I can manage with borrowed ones over there? Remember, this is not solely a flying holiday, so I don't want to take all my normal flight gear. Equally, I don't want to have to buy anything expensive that I already own.
I thought it would be easy to find places that hire aircraft so didn't give it much thought, but my recent telephone calls have not been very successful. The two places I actually got though to (as opposed to an answerphone) seemed reluctant to rent to "foreigners" . Obviously I'll try again when I get there (cheaper phone calls and they will be able to see that I look almost normal) but has anyone recent experience of friendly hire operations or flying schools in the Phoenix, Las Vegas, Monument Valley region?
I hope there is sufficient technology available there for a holidaymaker to be able to access pprune, so info on suitable locations will still be useful when I've set off, but the headsets etc I really need to know about ASAP.
I am now packing and suddenly realised I need some questions answering first.....
Are headsets readily available to borrow when you hire an aircraft in the USA, as I am a bit reluctant to pack two headsets if I can manage with borrowed ones over there? Remember, this is not solely a flying holiday, so I don't want to take all my normal flight gear. Equally, I don't want to have to buy anything expensive that I already own.
I thought it would be easy to find places that hire aircraft so didn't give it much thought, but my recent telephone calls have not been very successful. The two places I actually got though to (as opposed to an answerphone) seemed reluctant to rent to "foreigners" . Obviously I'll try again when I get there (cheaper phone calls and they will be able to see that I look almost normal) but has anyone recent experience of friendly hire operations or flying schools in the Phoenix, Las Vegas, Monument Valley region?
I hope there is sufficient technology available there for a holidaymaker to be able to access pprune, so info on suitable locations will still be useful when I've set off, but the headsets etc I really need to know about ASAP.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Most FBO's have spare headsets for use by renters or students.
Note that Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Sedona suffered severe flooding resently.
The FAA have introduced legisation that now requires all foreigners, including green card holders (permanent residents) to be registered with the FAA, (including photographs, finger prints, signatures etc) before flight training, or upgrading a pilots license, for example: PPL to IR, or PPL to Commercial, IR to Commercail or APTL, etc. This does not include recurrant training or biannial flight reviews, thank heavens.
Real PITA for all Green Card holder pilots living in the U.S.
W.B.
Note that Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Sedona suffered severe flooding resently.
The FAA have introduced legisation that now requires all foreigners, including green card holders (permanent residents) to be registered with the FAA, (including photographs, finger prints, signatures etc) before flight training, or upgrading a pilots license, for example: PPL to IR, or PPL to Commercial, IR to Commercail or APTL, etc. This does not include recurrant training or biannial flight reviews, thank heavens.
Real PITA for all Green Card holder pilots living in the U.S.
W.B.
If you want to impress Mrs.QNH, I recommend a night stop at Palm Springs International. Phone ahead - you don't need PPR, but to check which is late night shopping night on the Palm Springs Strip.
I can recommend "Signature" as an FBO there, but the others are probably also excellent - I've just not been to them.
"Loaner" headsets are likely to be horrible, but serviceable - if you've space to take your own, I would.
G
I can recommend "Signature" as an FBO there, but the others are probably also excellent - I've just not been to them.
"Loaner" headsets are likely to be horrible, but serviceable - if you've space to take your own, I would.
G
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I'm afraid that if you don't have an FAA Private Pilot Certificate then it's too late. Lots of formalities post 9/11 and now involves the CAA sending the FAA information for which you have to give written consent to disclose! NO FAA ticket =No aircraft solo rental. Now, it's no longer an informal application at your local FDSO. You can thank Bin Laden for that!
I can only suggest that you either team up with somebody else who is renting and fly on their ticket or alternatively rent an aircraft and instructor because their will be no solo flying for you!
So far as the Yanks being reluctant to rent to foreigners, that's just not true. But they are extremely reluctant if you don't have an FAA airmans ticket. Headsets, well you take your chance with those, but you will rarelyfind David Clarkes on offer and they tend to charge around $10 bucks for the rental. Personally, I can't bring myself to wear headsets previously worn by some other sweaty
Enjoy your holiday but go better prepared next time and allow 3 months for that Airmans Certificate.
Cheers!
I can only suggest that you either team up with somebody else who is renting and fly on their ticket or alternatively rent an aircraft and instructor because their will be no solo flying for you!
So far as the Yanks being reluctant to rent to foreigners, that's just not true. But they are extremely reluctant if you don't have an FAA airmans ticket. Headsets, well you take your chance with those, but you will rarelyfind David Clarkes on offer and they tend to charge around $10 bucks for the rental. Personally, I can't bring myself to wear headsets previously worn by some other sweaty
Enjoy your holiday but go better prepared next time and allow 3 months for that Airmans Certificate.
Cheers!
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Unfortunately this response will come too late to be of use to QNH, but I am advising Arizonans to come to sunny UK for their VFR flying. Here's the approach to Sedona yesterday (3rd). After that it all went downhill with 2' of snow in Flagstaff today.
I'm still hoping to get a window tomorrow to take the 172 to (heavily flooded) Vegas, mainly because I don't want to have to drive the ice packed I-15. I'm in downtown Prescott just now and just heard that cars can't get up the street anymore since the snow froze this evening. Oh to be in England!
I'm still hoping to get a window tomorrow to take the 172 to (heavily flooded) Vegas, mainly because I don't want to have to drive the ice packed I-15. I'm in downtown Prescott just now and just heard that cars can't get up the street anymore since the snow froze this evening. Oh to be in England!
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Wow, looks like we will have to be flexible. We set off in about 5 hours. Many thanks for all the replies.
Hopefully the paperwork will all be ok. I have an appointment made with the FAA FSDO and have all my licence details confirmed by the FAA, plus I've just taken the IR (foreign pilot) knowledge test. The only paperwork I'm not taking are my original logbooks, they can stay safely in England, but I will take a computer printout summary.
I hope to be able to find internet terminals to access pprune while we are on holiday, so all info is welcome.
Thanks,
QNH 1013
Hopefully the paperwork will all be ok. I have an appointment made with the FAA FSDO and have all my licence details confirmed by the FAA, plus I've just taken the IR (foreign pilot) knowledge test. The only paperwork I'm not taking are my original logbooks, they can stay safely in England, but I will take a computer printout summary.
I hope to be able to find internet terminals to access pprune while we are on holiday, so all info is welcome.
Thanks,
QNH 1013
Helpful hint - take a photocopy of the last couple of pages of your logbook as well as the computer summary - adds credibility if you have to deal with somebody with a suspicious mind.
G
G
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Thanks for all your help. Licence (temp airman inc Instrument Rating) went very smoothly, however.............
had to upgrade hire car to a four-wheel drive to get to Sedona. Had lunch there looking out at the runway in cloud with falling snow. Just driven up to the Grand Canyon. Nothing flying, snow still falling (up to hubcaps now). Hotel warm and expect tomorrow will be spent reading about the wonderful views we aren't seeing.
Plans are now to go to Las Vegas as soon as roads passable!
had to upgrade hire car to a four-wheel drive to get to Sedona. Had lunch there looking out at the runway in cloud with falling snow. Just driven up to the Grand Canyon. Nothing flying, snow still falling (up to hubcaps now). Hotel warm and expect tomorrow will be spent reading about the wonderful views we aren't seeing.
Plans are now to go to Las Vegas as soon as roads passable!
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Hey - hope the weather improves soon. I was there last May and rented from Chandler Air Service just south of Phoenix. A bit of a hike from where you are at the moment, but if you're down that way, well worth a try. PM me if you can't find the phone number/web page.
There are some piccies of the places you might be able to visit on my website, here
As for web access, well you'll have discovered by now that just about all FBO's and most hotels have free highspeed internet access (and free coffee, free maps, free local calls...). Watch out for long distance call costs though - it's cheaper to call Phoenix from over here than it is to do so from Vegas - believe me!
There are some piccies of the places you might be able to visit on my website, here
As for web access, well you'll have discovered by now that just about all FBO's and most hotels have free highspeed internet access (and free coffee, free maps, free local calls...). Watch out for long distance call costs though - it's cheaper to call Phoenix from over here than it is to do so from Vegas - believe me!
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QNH (I presume you are periodically checking in via remote computer, given your last post), here are some links that may perhaps be of assistance:
Fighter Combat International (simulated air combat in Extra 300Ls)
Chandler Air Service (aerobatics, plus an Aviat Husky A1-B for US$102.00/hr)
Budd Davisson (Pitts Special training)
Turf Soaring (glider aerobatics)
I concur with the above comments.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!
Fighter Combat International (simulated air combat in Extra 300Ls)
Chandler Air Service (aerobatics, plus an Aviat Husky A1-B for US$102.00/hr)
Budd Davisson (Pitts Special training)
Turf Soaring (glider aerobatics)
So far as the Yanks being reluctant to rent to foreigners, that's just not true. But they are extremely reluctant if you don't have an FAA airmans ticket. Headsets, well you take your chance with those, but you will rarely find David Clarkes on offer and they tend to charge around $10 bucks for the rental.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!
