Oregon - Friendly for pilots/aircraft owners?

foka4

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Ankeny (Des Moines), IA
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Matt Scudwalker
I've been kicking around a career move that would put me somewhere in the vicinity of Portland, OR (i.e., Lake Oswego). Can anyone comment on how aviation-friendly it is out there? Some things that come to mind (from the perspective of an Iowa boy) are:

hangar availability and cost
weather
salt
safety of single-engine xc flight around there
Rental/instruction costs of IFR training
Best non-turbine routes for flying between there and civilization (e.g., Iowa)

Something tells me it wouldn't be a happy place for my VFR-only, corrosion-free, non-oxygen-equipped, 90-hp, 60-year-old, single-engine, non-FIKI, Cessna 140.

On another note: Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! (Apologies to the vegan pilots.) Remember to check weight and balance on the return trip after the feast.

Matthew
 
By the way, I wonder if a ragwing would work like a giant anti-ice boot if you sealed up the holes and piped compressed air into it. Sounds like a good weekend project. Sounds like a good patent to me. ;)
 
Matt, EVERYTHING is pricey out there. My sister, who is a professor of Anesthesiology, isn't tight, but she isn't living in luxury.

There is still a lot of GA out there, but with the challenges to Reid-Hillview, I wouldn't count on the environment being GA friendly for long. I would assum with your C-140 that the environment is TOTALLY HOSTILE unless you can secure a hangar IN ADVANCE.

Maybe the employer can accomodate you in that regard. You never know. If they want you they might do that for you.
 
Thanks, Dr. Bruce. This would be a transfer, and a voluntary one at that. Probably not much opportunity for a "corporate hangar". Definitely worth asking, though!
 
metalize the wings with deice boots and a turbocharger and you'll be AOK.
the more important question is: "how is the soaring in Oregon?"
 
I've been kicking around a career move that would put me somewhere in the vicinity of Portland, OR (i.e., Lake Oswego). Can anyone comment on how aviation-friendly it is out there? Some things that come to mind (from the perspective of an Iowa boy) are:

hangar availability and cost
weather
salt
safety of single-engine xc flight around there
Rental/instruction costs of IFR training
Best non-turbine routes for flying between there and civilization (e.g., Iowa)
Matthew --

I lived and flew in Southern California all my life until 1995 when we had the epiphany and moved to the Portland metro area (actually we're just across the river in Vancouver, WA). It's a great place to live and fly (the two are synonymous), and a great place for a basic VFR airplane.

But you really need a hangar.

Yes, it rains a lot, mostly from late September through April, but while the airplane may have to sit for a few days while a series of systems roll through, there are plenty of good-flying VFR days even in the "grey" months. Except during strong Pacific storms, reduced visibility below the ceiling is rare; thunderstorms are rare; and strong winds are rare.

In the winter months, VFR is really the only way to go without FIKI, because the freezing level is often below most of the MEAs.

And summer is absolutely spectacular.

The Portland Class C is easy to deal with. The controllers there are among the best I've ever dealt with, and are hospitable and cooperative with VFR traffic.

You have a wide selection of excellent airports around the Portland metro area and environs. From Lake Oswego, a few that come to mind are Aurora (KUAO), McMinnville (KMMV), Newberg (2S6) and Mulino (4S9). I fly out of KVUO (Pearson Field in Vancouver), where modern T-hangars rent for $276/month (there is a short waiting list) and outside tiedowns are $25/month. (Not sure where Reid-Hillview came into the conversation, but that's near San Jose, not Portland.)
Something tells me it wouldn't be a happy place for my VFR-only, corrosion-free, non-oxygen-equipped, 90-hp, 60-year-old, single-engine, non-FIKI, Cessna 140.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I'm selling my IFR Bonanza and replacing it with a VFR-only, corrosion-free, non-oxygen-equipped, 100-hp, single-engine, non-FIKI, Sport Cub. What a great area to fly low-and-slow through the Columbia Gorge, following Lewis & Clark's route; along the Oregon coast; around Mt. St. Helens; and to any number of inviting, out-of-the-way destinations. You can go from the Canadian border following I-5 all the way to Roseburg, Oregon, and never have to climb above 2,500'

Best route to Iowa in a low-and-slow airplane? Probably east through the Columbia Gorge to Pasco, then northeast toward Spokane and pick up I-90.

If I can answer any specific questions about the area, feel free to PM me.

On another note: Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
And to you and yours.

<edit>Almost forgot -- you asked about salt. It's not an issue in the Portland area, which is 60 NM inland and protected from the sea breeze by a 3,000'+/- range of coastal mountains.
 
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That is one nice looking Bo, and I should be all over it in a heartbeat, but, I have my own plane that no one wants. Can't afford two!
 
And just a little bit north of the Portland area is the Seattle area. Class Bravo, but it's no big deal. We just fly under or around it. OLM is just outside the mode C veil. One days with a high enough ceiling VFR is easy around here. High enough? Depends on your point of view, but I had a briefer on Flight Watch this summer sounding dubious about 3000 to 5000 foot ceilings and I told him it was another beautiful VFR day in western Washington. He was originally from LA and was still getting used to our ideas of good VFR weather. :D You'll get used to it and love it. Visibility is great. Humidity haze? What's that? 50-100 mile visibility is typical. Unless there's mist, fog or clouds in the way. But, you don't fly VFR in those anyway.

Welcome to the great Pacific Northwe(s)t!
 
Yeah, KRHV may be on the endangered species list, but Nike and Intel are not about to let anything happen to KHIO, their home drome.

Thread-jacking... KRHV has more operations than SJC. Hopefully that helps. :)
 

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Yeah, KRHV may be on the endangered species list, but Nike and Intel are not about to let anything happen to KHIO, their home drome.

Darned right, we're not! We run a number of flights a day through HIO for the Intel shuttle. Heaven forbid that we fly commercially if we don't have to!

And close? The Intel Jones Farm complex is right across the street from HIO and the Hawthorn Farm complex is just down another street. Can't beat the convenience. Now if I could just fly myself on company business. OLM to HIO is only about 45 minutes in the Arrow or C-182 (vs. a 2 1/2 hour drive).
 
Beautiful photos, guys.

I have to admit, though, that the first thing on my mind is what it would be like to have an engine out situation at 3000 agl with nothing but tall spruce and rocks below. I'm used to worry-free flying at 1000 agl over the vast Iowa fields. I even like to climb to 4500 or so to cross the Mississippi just to be safe. I must be a pansy. Or an over-analytical engineer. Or a glider pilot.

By the way, Tony, soaring is consideration #1. I've already researched it quite a bit through many conversations with Eric Greenwell and others. Around Portland, it basically isn't that great, but with a longer season, they probably fly a little more than we do (in their rusty Schweitzer trainers). However, a weekend trip opens up a lot of possibilities and puts you in range of classic Western soaring conditions. The Portland climate wouldn't be good for the Foka's old wooden bones. I'd have to shop around for a plastic ship. I'd hate to subject either the Foka or the 140 to conditions that would put either one at risk of deterioration.
 
seems to me it would just be easier to live where the good soaring conditions were instead of a weekend trip away from good soaring :)
 
Beautiful photos, guys.

I have to admit, though, that the first thing on my mind is what it would be like to have an engine out situation at 3000 agl with nothing but tall spruce and rocks below. I'm used to worry-free flying at 1000 agl over the vast Iowa fields. I even like to climb to 4500 or so to cross the Mississippi just to be safe. I must be a pansy. Or an over-analytical engineer. Or a glider pilot..


You keep your aircraft in good repair, full of fuel, and don't worry about it.

If your up on the high country where there is nothing but trees and rocks your not going to be at 3000', you'll be more like 10,000' and with the 120 you glide all the way to the coast or Idaho.
 
Preach it, brother!


Awh, hell no, we are always getting rain, 900' ceilings, wind at 55k, power outages, and flat landers are not allowed to fly until they take a mountain flying course, SEA Class B blocks all of Puget Sound, and you are always over water.

but the truth is today its soooo clear that I I can see Mt Rainer from Oak Harbor. (look that up on a map)
 

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Awh, hell no, we are always getting rain, 900' ceilings, wind at 55k, power outages, and flat landers are not allowed to fly until they take a mountain flying course, SEA Class B blocks all of Puget Sound, and you are always over water.
Yeah, summer was on a Thursday this year and I had to work! :D
 
You can tell when you are in the northwest, when people consider "Johnny-on-the-spots" indoor plumbing..
 
Summer? like when it gets light at 0400 and stays that way until 2200?

I love that time of year. Much better than when the sun rises at 0755 and sets at 1625! BTW, real numbers for December 21 this year in Olympia.
 
I live in eastern oregon in the summer months, but move to the Portland area in November to April. I fly a 1959 182. I have hangared it at a little airport called Lenhardts ( south of portland about 30 miles from LO) . Jack is an old spray pilot and he caters to old rag wing, tail draggers. The airport has side by side runways and of course on is Grass. He just finished building some new hangars. I can't tell you anything about the price. We have a condo in West linn, which is next to Lake Oswego. I think LO is one of the highest priced places in and around Portland.

I fly all over Oregon in my single engine aircraft. You just have to get used to the rugged terrain under you at times. I have flown from Or. to IL. a couple of times in my Cessna with no trouble. I am posting a picture of a trip from PDT Pendelton to Sunriver, looking west toward Mount Hood. Bob
 

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Typical flying in and around the northwest, the most beautifull flying you'll ever do.

http://www.primetab.com/flying/flying.photos.html

WOW! You did a great job cataloging your travels. I loved it.

I got my PPSEL in Spokane, WA, flying out of GEG. My long solo XC was from Spokane to Pullman and then on to Pru Field (Ritzville) and back to GEG.

I now live in South Florida. It was pretty cool to see your picture of Ritzville. When I stopped there on my XC, I was a little focused on making that landing and didn't take in the surrounding scenery. That's a great picture.

Just curious, there's a couple of planes in the grass at Ritzville that look like they've been inop for about 20 years. Do you remember seeing those?

Thanks again for the great pics!
 
This thread oughtta be deleted, what with pilot porn like y'all's photos.;)
It sure is beautiful up in that thar corner of the US.

Grace and peace,
 
but move to the Portland area in November to April. ........ Bob

Bob, as a Portland boy I have to ask...Why Portland during monsoon season?

Chris
C-206
KPDX based

BTW I ended up landing at Rome Station, the strip was dry and straight forward. Thanks for the help on Burns Junction info.
 
Bob, as a Portland boy I have to ask...Why Portland during monsoon season?

Chris
C-206
KPDX based

BTW I ended up landing at Rome Station, the strip was dry and straight forward. Thanks for the help on Burns Junction info.
Chris-- To answer your question. My wife got more or less disenchanted with our home town of Vale. We have a daughter in West Linn. So we made an agreement I would spend the summers in Vale and the winter months when I can't fly so much in West Linn. I know portland gets a little rain at that time but a deal i s a deal. Bob:)
 
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