Originally Posted by
flyallnite
I've flown my share of seriously crapped out rental GA airplanes, and have no desire to put myself or my family in one now. Nor do I relish the thought of single engine night IFR over shark infested waters during hurricane season.
What I would like is to be able to rent a plane in say, Florida for a spell, fly 4 people down to some of the Keys or maybe the Bahamas with enough IFR capability to get out of a jam if I had to. Like a Bonanza or a Saratoga maybe. Then on occasion, be able to fly out of another part of the country, say Arizona, in a similar aircraft and go mess around in Mexico or Vegas or something. I wonder if there are any clubs that would have a network like that...?
One of the casualties of the post 9/11 world was the total lack of anything on the rental line more complicated than a 172RG or Arrow.
Anything that is even remotely capable, like a 182RG or 'toga is priced in orbit or has some ridiculous rental requirements (15 hour check out, etc).
Back in the day, it used to be if you did a checkout in a complex aircraft (say a 182), you got a automatic pass on everything "below" it (say a 172 & 152)...Common sense prevailed.
Not these days...silly rules seem to be the norm....like a 5 hour checkout for a 172.
I want to say there is a group that's trying to do the "networked" club thing, but the name escapes me at the moment.
Nu