Fly Palm Spring to KGCN quadtych
There's a high probability I will never pilot another plane from Palm Springs, CA to Grand Canyon, AZ again. We were living in a Palm Desert mobilehome park on Hwy-74 at the time and had left our Piper PA28 parked at Victoria Airport (CYYJ)
We decided to rent an airplane and make the 280 mile flight to Grand Canyon Airport and return on a nice, clear day.
Firstly, I had to pay a visit to the Riverside, CA General Aviation Pilot Licensing Officer and obtain a US pilot's license after showing him my Canadian pilot's licence (PPL). No tests were required. 🇺🇸
Then, I had to pay (as in $) a visit to the local, Palm Springs FBO (Fixed Base Operator) to rent an airplane.
To qualify for a rental, I had to take a checkride with a CFI (Chief Flight Instructor) which entailed renting said aircraft and paying an hourly rate for the CFI to ride in the righthand seat. I was checked-out-in-type but took another, duel-ride to become more comfortable flying this upgraded PA28 aircraft.
And you thought all one had to do was walk into an airplane rental office and rent an airplane just like at Avis Car Rental. Not quite.
Now, none-of-the-above is needed. Just fire-up MicroSoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) and go!
Fly Palm Spring to KGCN quadtych
There's a high probability I will never pilot another plane from Palm Springs, CA to Grand Canyon, AZ again. We were living in a Palm Desert mobilehome park on Hwy-74 at the time and had left our Piper PA28 parked at Victoria Airport (CYYJ)
We decided to rent an airplane and make the 280 mile flight to Grand Canyon Airport and return on a nice, clear day.
Firstly, I had to pay a visit to the Riverside, CA General Aviation Pilot Licensing Officer and obtain a US pilot's license after showing him my Canadian pilot's licence (PPL). No tests were required. 🇺🇸
Then, I had to pay (as in $) a visit to the local, Palm Springs FBO (Fixed Base Operator) to rent an airplane.
To qualify for a rental, I had to take a checkride with a CFI (Chief Flight Instructor) which entailed renting said aircraft and paying an hourly rate for the CFI to ride in the righthand seat. I was checked-out-in-type but took another, duel-ride to become more comfortable flying this upgraded PA28 aircraft.
And you thought all one had to do was walk into an airplane rental office and rent an airplane just like at Avis Car Rental. Not quite.
Now, none-of-the-above is needed. Just fire-up MicroSoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) and go!