FlyVentures
The ultimate explosive decompression weekend!
Let's face it, most flight training confines you to a practice area, working on the extremely important, but occasionally monotonous, fundamentals and maneuvers. When you get to the cross country phase, you'll likely pick a destination 50 to 100 miles away, and fly there and back. Sure, that's great for teaching the basics and the essence of cross-country flight, but what if there is a better way to learn the true ins and outs of flying cross country?
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Enter the FlyVenture. Three pilots, three(ish) days, one instructor, one airplane, unlimited fun.
Each FlyVenture brings you and two other pilots legitimate cross-country flying in a high performance Cessna 182 aircraft. Each pilot will gain approximately 2.5-3 hours of cross-country flight time, a high performance endorsement, and insights into the nuances, intricacies, and unforseen problems that crop up when trying to use GA as a method of transport. Students will be intimately involved in the preflight planning and execution of each leg of the trip, and get to travel to fun and exciting places!
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These trips are not just open to private pilot students, anyone is welcome to take advantage!
Each FlyVenture includes:
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Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours per day of loggable cross country time in a high performance Cessna 182 (approximately one additional hour will be required in general operation of a high performance aircraft for pilots who have not logged time in one before).
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Instruction on the systems and operation of a high performance aircraft.
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A high performance endorsement.
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Overnight lodging for all nights (private rooms unless otherwise agreed upon) and aircraft parking/landing fees.
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Instruction on flight planning, en route monitoring, fuel management and planning, weather monitoring, risk mitigation, and the realities of cross country flying!
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Peace of mind - your cross country flight includes an experienced instructor and multiple sets of eyes to keep everything safe!
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Each FlyVenture requires:
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A minimum of a student pilot's certificate with solo endorsement (you won't be solo'ing, but you need to have the basics of flight down). Any pilot is welcome to attend, and we can work to meet your needs.
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3 consecutive free days (and flexibility on the fourth for unforeseen circumstances).
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The willingness to commit to meeting at least once, in person or virtually, with the group for flight planning prior to departure.
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The willingness to do a home study course and 1-2 hours of instruction on operation of a high performance aircraft.
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A sense of adventure and burning desire to have fun!
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FlyVenture Process:​
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Parties who are interested in attending a FlyVenture should register using this form. There is no obligation, this just lets me know what you are interested in and I can work to match up compatible pilots.
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Please let me know what you are interested in! There is the option to go for as little as a single day up to 5+. If you'd like to find a way to get out to some of the other, larger fly ins like OshKosh, we may be able to work that out as well!
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Add anything you would be interested in to the sections in the form. Want to land on a dirt strip and camp in the middle of nowhere? Want to add LAX or ORD to your logbook? Fly to the East Coast and back? Relax on a beach in Mexico? Go fishing in Alaska? No preconceived ideas, but want to go do something fun and epic?! I bet there are at least 2 other people who want to as well!
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Once I have received enough pilots with compatible goals, I will contact the interested students to collectively decide on dates and overnight stops.
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All pilots will meet at least once to discuss who is planning and flying which legs, and decide on baggage allowances, overnight lodging, and intermediate/refueling stops at least one week in advance.
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Pilots who require additional training in high performance aircraft will need to schedule their training with me prior to departure.
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Exact pricing will be discussed after destinations and lodging is selected. You can generally plan for about $770 per day per seat (about 2.5 to 3 hours of flight time), plus lodging (we will decide on lodging together as part of the learning/planning process above). Pricing will be clearly laid out, along with a contract prior to any money changing hands, although a payment in full will be required at least one week prior to departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
This seems pretty expensive... Is it worth it?
I get it, I also wish flying was less expensive than it is, but when you consider that renting a Cessna 182, without an instructor, for 9 hours just about anywhere in the Puget Sound will run you about $2,000, adding in an instructor, lodging, and the fact that you wouldn't be able to reach further than Oregon and back with that flight time, I think it's a pretty good deal.
Also, FATPNW Premium members get $100 off!
What if I want to bring my friends or family?
You would definitely be welcome to brings friends and/or family, however they would have to purchase a ticket. We can work something out regarding lodging if you don't mind sharing a room.
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On the plus side, if you buy two tickets, but only one person is interested in flying, that means more hours for you to log!
What if weather doesn't work out before departure?
If weather doesn't work, and the flight has to be scrubbed before departure, you either get a refund minus any nonrefundable hotel deposits and flight time used for prep, or you can apply the amount you paid to a future trip (or if there's an agreement for a new date between everyone, we can just reschedule).
What if a pilot drops out, or if we can't get all 3 pilots?
If I don't get the three pilots, you have the option of splitting the extra hours and ticket between the two pilots, one of the pilots can buy the full extra ticket, or the whole thing gets canceled with a full refund or apply it to another flight.
If a pilot drops out with less than one week of notice, and I can't find another to fill it, the flight will continue with the other 2, and I'll give $500 toward a reschedule. If I can find a pilot to fill it, I'll give $2,000 towards a reschedule or a $1,500 refund.
I'm an instrument student, can I come along?
Definitely! As a CFII, I can provide you with insturment instruction while en route. We can file and fly IFR for your legs, knock out some of those cross country hours, and build your instrument, weather, and radio skills!
I want to go, but none of the dates you have work for me, or I'm not interested in those destinations. Can you make a custom FlyVenture?
You bet! Contact me for a quote and I would love to work with you to make something memorable!
I'm also available to work on creating one using your own aircraft!
What if the weather forecast is inaccurate, and it changes after departure?
If weather suddenly changes and grounds us for longer after we've already departed (which will hopefully not happen, we'll be paying close attention to weather leading up to the flight), additional hotels will be on each pilot, or we may take alternate routing to get back. In the event of a serious delay, we can come back commercially.
I'd suggest, just like with any long GA cross country, making sure you have flexible plans the day after just in case we end up delayed.
What are the pilots responsible for in terms of trip planning?
Each pilot is responsible for planning the legs they will be flying and fuel needed for their leg. Since I will not select intermediate airports for you (only offer suggestions), all of us will need to find a time about 1 week out to meet, either in person or virtually, to decide what the large-scale planning will be - what fuel and rest stops will we be using, how much baggage can we carry, and what is going to maximize the benefit for everybody?