dl773

You guys know of a place to rent single engines at KGCN or another airport near it? Any recommendations of aircraft if I would plan on taking myself plus three people?

I have quite a bit of time in a 182.

Thanks!

t207

You won't find anything at KGCN. you could try KFLG, or KPGA but the odds are slim at best.

T207

PerfInit

Try Sawyer Aviation out of KSDL. They have a really nice CE-182 with G1000 for rental. Be aware of the GCN SFAR (airspace)...

fiveninerzero

A lot of the places in AZ and NV seem to specifically prohibit out-of-state renters from flying within a certain radius of the canyon. They just don't want the liability.

ASaintBernard

I have never experienced this. I will say at least one of these places want you to do a "mountain checkout" prior to heading north. It is just another way to get you for 2.0 prior to being able to rent and go put 2.5 on anyway.

rickair7777

It's also another way to keep their insurance from being cancelled.

kingsnake2

As someone working in a flight school, I can attest this is very true.

Tweetdrvr

I did this three years ago on a family vacation at FLG. Wiseman Aviation had a couple of 172s. My rental checkout was very straight forward, but they knew I was a CFI and USAF T-6 Instructor Pilot. Out to practice area for steep turns, power on and power off stalls, back to the field for a short field, soft field and normal landing. It was quite an eye opening experience to have to lean for taxi, and then lean some more for takeoff.

We took off with half tanks, and 4 people, my wife, 9yr old daughter, and another female family friend on a 55 degree sunny October morning. I did a short field to get airborne, then accelerated to normal climb speed while still over concrete taking off to the north, but kept the flaps at 10 for a long time until we were at a safe altitude. Lots of tall pine trees surrounding the airport and not a lot of margin for error. It would have been nice, if they had something more capable like a 182.

After getting out of FLG, the flight was wonderful. We did not stop at GCN, but flew to GCN, then along the edge of the SFAR at 11,500 to the east and landed at PGA. We had a great view of the canyon from that vantage point. We added fuel at PGA for the rest of the day which was easy since the field elevation was a lot lower than FLG, and the terrain was flatter and takeoff much safer. We then went to Monument Valley and landed at UT25 and spent a few hours wandering the museum and eating lunch at Goulding's Trading Post. From there we departed and flew around the rock formations in the valley before heading back to FLG. I only wish we had time to fly over Sedona, but otherwise it rates as one of the best things I have ever done in GA.

I had a pre iPad portable GPS and carried survival gear, water and had a portable ELT with us from our own airplane.

Wiseman Aviation

http://www.gouldings.com/more/airport-information/