Light aircraft rental in CA
 

Hi everybody,
would you know any private, or flight schools, hiring light planes (cessna 172/172RG would be perfect) for like 7/10 days in California?

Thanks

About a dozen I used by myself (lived in CA for quite a while). So, where do you intend to rent exactly?

Give joe justice at Justice Aviation on 1 310 313 6792 a try

ChickenHouse, anywhere will be fine.
Los Angeles will be better though.
If you have a list, I would much appreciate!

@ piperboy84: thanks, I already sent an email with enquiries. Thanks a lot ;)

California is three times the size of England and has over 200 airports, a large proportion of which will have Skyhawks available to rent.

You'll usually find lower prices away from the big airports and cities where the overheads are lower.

Airnav.com will generally have links to the FBOs and schools at most airports.

Can you be more specific about location? You may then get some more pertinent suggestions.

Mark 1, I'm kinda aware about the size of CA and the number of Skyhawks available for rent.
I'm not at all, though, aware of how many of them will be available for 10 days rent.
That's why I look for help here. Maybe some of you will be able to suggest a place rather than another based on your experience.
Just like Mr piperboy84 did.

I have rented twice, for two weeks at a time, from Channel Islands Aviation in Camarillo. Once a C172RG, and another time the C172RG went tech so they gave me an almost new C182T for the same price. Lovely people!

My favourite "time off" places in California when I'm there are Iddylwild and Palm Springs. Iddylwild has no airport, and more's the pity.


Palm Springs has a nice little museum, but also quite a nice rental place called "Flight School in Palm Springs", where I have rented a couple of very nice aeroplanes. That was a couple of years ago, and my recollection was that they never seemed to check their emails so phone up. This seems to be their current details

The Flight School at Palm Springs

Palm Springs apart from being quite a pleasant town, has incredibly consistent good weather (so away, for example, from the fogs of the LA basin, or most mountain effects), and lots of good hotels - a few of which are cheap! (Try Alcazar: Alcazar Palm Springs in Palm Springs, CA - Choose A Room).

G

Don't think there's anybody at Palm Springs now. When I was in the area last December I hired from Desert West Aviation at nearby Bermuda Dunes.

Small outfit but friendly

Anywhere is a bit unspecific ;-).

Before I post a zillions list, this is what I usually did: step at the C office and have a chitchat with the counter. After some minutes and successful transfer on all family history of the counter clerk, I usually get the contact data of somebody renting me a plane for x days. Did this dozen of times and it always worked in CA (and not only there) immediately.

Best story: I was in San Diego for a fair and had three spare days to look at the countryside, before had to head back to SF bay area. Went to the airfield, found a nice Skyhawk by assistance of sweet little Nancy and rented it for the three days right away. When I was back, I met the owner and we spent a nice bottle of Sonoma wine at that evening. During the long chat he told me he was going to San Francisco and what do I have to say - he asked me to take the plane up, because he had to move all his stuff by car already. So, I did cancel the flight back and took the Skyhawk.

ChickenHouse,
I cannot be specific. If I was specific it would mean that I already knew where to look for and wouldn't need to ask for your help here.
I just go where I find someone able to get rid of his plane for 10 days, and most flying schools will not, because they need their planes for their students.
Los Angeles area would be better because, arriving from abroad, that is the place my airline will be arriving to, but if I find a plane in, let's say, San Diego, I'll go there.
You are talking about a C office. I don't understand what that is, can you explain?

Supersani, Genghis, Katamarino and piperboy, thanks for your help. I'm looking into those places now, hope to get an answer from them ;)

You could try these chaps as well...

JacksonAir Flight Training | Flight Training | Flight Instruction | Airplane Rentals

I've never dealt with them, but Thermal is the smaller airport at Palm Springs, and a nice spot that I've dropped into a few times.

G

For an idea what the C-office might look like, see the photo linked below. Basically, it is where the aerodrome authority resides, operating the radio, cashing your landing fee, keeping the a/d logbook, answering the PPR phone calls and/or faxes. Normally it is the first place where one goes after landing, to make sure all local rules are satisfied.

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/p...m/89462118.jpg

http://www.rvg.be/Picts/tower2_s.gif

You won't find a building with a sign of that type in the US, or a function of that type.

Basing somewhere east from Los Angeles as Genghis suggests may not be a bad idea, depending on your tolerance for and/or interest in the busiest airspace in the world. I have no specific experience in aircraft rental in the area, but you might look at Chino and Corona airports too.