Any alternatives to flying commercial?

KevinP73 · 03-21-2006, 07:12 AM

I need to fly to Nashville in a couple months and would like to NOT go commercial. Any suggestions on charters services or sharing fuel/costs with private party?

Joeaksa · 03-21-2006, 08:58 AM

www.pilotsharetheride.com

legion · 03-21-2006, 09:29 AM

You could drive...like I always do.

From here, it's a wash between driving and flying.

legion · 03-21-2006, 10:11 AM

I was kidding.

But from Bloomington to Nashville, it's a 7 hour drive. I could fly out of Bloomington, to Chicago, to Nashville, which would take about as much time and cost 5 times as much. I could drive to Chicago or St. Louis and then fly to Nashville, which would take longer and cost more.

Don Ro · 03-21-2006, 10:33 AM

A nifty idea. Thanks for asking the Q, Kevin.
And thanks for the link/info, Joe.
.
I just signed up/registered.
Lots of "Departure: Any City, California - Destination: Any City, Any State"
Are these folks just looking to build time?
Also, where do I look in order to break the codes on, say "Departure: KRHV, California"?
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A silly Q, perhaps...what would be the shared cost to fly along from SF Bay Area to Portland, OR one way?
I suppose it depends on the type of flying contraption, eh?
Any idea about how long this flight would be?...(given that the highway distance is about 640 miles)
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I may be going up to OR to pick up a vehicle in a month or two and driving back.
.
This is a great possibility for me because I'm not hot on dickin' w/airport security and the idea of swapping germs/cooties with the general public is unsavory to me.
I love humanity, it's the general public that puts me off.

.
Best,

Joeaksa · 03-21-2006, 10:59 AM

Don,

www.airnav.com

Go to airports then type in the city. In this case, Nashville for Kevin. Comes up with 20 of the airports in the area, with KBNA being at the top.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KBNA

That gets you to the main airport in Nashville. You being in a smaller airplane can try any of the smaller airports that are closer to where you want to go.

Cost depends on the type of plane. Probably not many jets on this site so most would be a prop. Flies 100-200 mph and burns 10-30 gallons per hour. AvGas is running $3 a gallon or so these days so its not hard to figure out. Cut the cost with a friend riding along and it really helps, plus there is no BS security or lost bags.

Joe A

Tim Hancock · 03-21-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Ro

Also, where do I look in order to break the codes on, say "Departure: KRHV, California"?
.
A silly Q, perhaps...what would be the shared cost to fly along from SF Bay Area to Portland, OR one way?

.

The KRHV is an FAA airport identifier. If you go to airnav.com, you can type that in and it will spit out the info on that particular airport.

Many small 4 seat airplanes (single non turbo prop engine) will burn somewhere around 9-13 gallons per hour and will cruise from 110-160 or so mph depending on what it is. AV gas is around $4.00 per gallon depending on where you are at.

The airnav.com site will allow you to select a destination airport identifier and output the distance. Using this info, you can figure fuel costs for the trip. I do not know anything about this "share a ride" deal, but I would assume you would split basically just fuel costs which would reduce the pilots expense by nearly half. Sounds like a win/win for both!

Tim Hancock · 03-21-2006, 11:04 AM

Oops, Joe beat me to the post, looks like we are thinking alike though.

Don Ro · 03-21-2006, 11:38 AM

Super. Thanks, gents.
.
Yes, win/win. I like it.
I'll do the do on due diligence.

Best,

coloradoporsche · 03-21-2006, 11:56 AM

Mr. Garrison: IT gets over 300 miles to the gallon, and is safely capable of speeds of over 200 miles per hour.
Guests: Whoa. Wow.
Bill Gates: This will change everything.
Steve Jobs: We're going to have to rethnk cities!
Mr. Garrison: [puts on a helmet] Now, IT is easily operated using four flexigrip handles. Two of them are on each side. Left side for throttle, right side for steering. [operates each one as he describes it] The third flexigrip is gently inserted into the anus, to keep the driver in place. [gets into the wheel and activates the flexigrip. It extends into his anus and he groans as it locks him in.]
Guests: Ugh. Oh.
Mr. Garrison: ...there we go. Now, the final flexigrip is directly in front of the driver so that its small switches can be operaterd with the mouth, as such. [begins to suck on the flexigrip, then stops] Put the four together and we're ready to go. [gets the four flexigrips to work in unison and the vehicles takes off, first one way...]
Steve Jobs: Oh my God! [...and then the other. The guests turn to see IT zoom across the yard]
Steve Forbes: Look at it go! [Garrison crashes through the fence and disappears in the distance. Kyle, standing next to the new hole in the fence, isn't hurt]
Bill Gates: But the way it works... do you think people will go through that to travel?
Steve Forbes: Hey, it... still beats what you go through at the airports.

black993 · 03-21-2006, 01:11 PM

Just my 2 cents. Be very carefull who and what you trust your life to. Some aircraft and pilots are going to be very challenged to make a trip like Ca. to Tn. safely. Not a trip to wink at in a large number of private aircraft.
It is likely to be very expensive and a long trip compared to commercial. In smaller aircraft it will be very bumpy due to the lower wing loading and lower altitudes involved. On the other hand it could be a very beautiful trip.
Unless you want to carry something in your case that the TSA would not allow (cigarette lighters), a commercial trip is a small hassle to put up with for what you get. A sanitary, safe, relatively quick experience.
I'm not dumping on private aircraft, and boy do I hate going to the airport but there are differences in what comfort you get from either choice and I think the discomfort of the airlines pales to what you could experience in a small aircraft on a flight like that.
I'm a Capt for a mAAjor airline and just hought you should think about a couple of things. Like I said it could be a wonderfull and definitely different experience if you are up for adventure.
Best of luck with whatever your choice may be.

KevinP73 · 03-21-2006, 01:22 PM

Thanks black993 all good points. All the way to nashville would be a long flight on a small private plane. I'm also considering alternatives as I go to Sacto often to see my daughter and would like another way to go.

Tim Hancock · 03-21-2006, 01:56 PM

No doubt, a long X-country in a small SEL airplane sometimes is an adventure and weather can occasionally cause problems, especially if it is a VFR flight. I have had to sit in a small FBO half way to my destination, reading magazines and watching the weather channel on probably 25% of my flying "vacations".

The airlines rarely suffer from weather delays as they just climb up thru the crap then cruise on top in the sunlight.

All that said, an occasional trip in a small plane does make for a fun adventure.

xlr8 · 03-22-2006, 03:33 PM

Hey Kevin, You could Fly Low.

I flew with a friend in this aircraft from Kentucky to Los Angeles and back. It took several days each way.

Southwest flys nonstop four times a day from LAX to BNA.

Fly safe!

Tim Hancock · 03-22-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xlr8
Hey Kevin, You could Fly Low.

I flew with a friend in this aircraft from Kentucky to Los Angeles and back. It took several days each way.

Southwest flys nonstop four times a day from LAX to BNA.

Fly safe!

I hope you had the doors on that R22!

singpilot · 03-22-2006, 04:47 PM

Kev;

I used to base in RDU (Raleigh) for the winter every hockey season a few lifetimes ago. I'd drive my MB there for the winter. Would go thru BNA on the way. Would make ABQ or MID first night. DAL second night. BNA third night. RDU fourth nite.

Wasn't really that bad of a drive. I am usually 9 miles up, and don't get to see the ground most of the time, so I may have a different view (pardon the pun).

The only other thought might be to talk to a broker about a 'charter' to Tunica or Branson, something like that, and drive the rest of the way.

Doubt anything else is gonna work. They have 'bucket shops' that buy big blocks of seats on major hub flights on the red eyes that are left in this country. Might be a way as well. The big problem is that every recent arrival in Los Angeles will be on the flight with everything he / she (probably 8 months pregnant) owns in the overhead bin, and the last bath they took was in the Rio Grande on the way in. The F/A's will disappear after takeoff, and no one else on the plane speaks english.

I cannot believe ICE are not aware (yeah right) of the mass relocation that occurs every night in this country. If you have not been on a red-eye lately, it's a whole new world.