G-Man
Cleared for Takeoff
We're doing a family reunion/vacation for a few days in early January on Marco Island, Florida. It looks gorgeous: right on the Gulf of Mexico just north of the Everglades.
I'd love to do a morning of flying and take my Dad and maybe other family members. It'll be the first time I take any family members flying.
I'm a two-year, 150-hr VFR pilot from Colorado who's never flown over water you couldn't swim across. And, it's my Dad's 80th birthday.
I'm comfortable in a Cessna 172. Since it's a new and unfamiliar environment with passengers, I will hire a CFI to fly right-seat. Me, Dad, and brother are ~500 pounds, so should be fine with a sub 160-lb CFI and ~25 gallons.
Would like to fly for an hour or two and see some sights. Maybe over the island and beaches, maybe over the Everglades. I'm not familiar with the area or airspace. Don't want more than a half-day event door to door.
Local airports include:
Marco Island Executive - KMKY - Is there a GA flight school/rental?
Naples Municipal - KAPF - Looks busy, but has flight schools/rentals.
Everglades Airport - X01 - Does it have services or rental/instruction?
Immokalee Regional - KIMM - Does it have rental/instruction?
What's the POA wisdom on:
Airport recommendations for the area?
Flight schools in the area?
Best way to accomplish this mission?
Unseen hazards/risks for this mission?
Any issues flying with family? Dad is eager. Brother might not want to. (I would never pressure anyone into flying.)
Thanks for the local info!
I'd love to do a morning of flying and take my Dad and maybe other family members. It'll be the first time I take any family members flying.
I'm a two-year, 150-hr VFR pilot from Colorado who's never flown over water you couldn't swim across. And, it's my Dad's 80th birthday.
I'm comfortable in a Cessna 172. Since it's a new and unfamiliar environment with passengers, I will hire a CFI to fly right-seat. Me, Dad, and brother are ~500 pounds, so should be fine with a sub 160-lb CFI and ~25 gallons.
Would like to fly for an hour or two and see some sights. Maybe over the island and beaches, maybe over the Everglades. I'm not familiar with the area or airspace. Don't want more than a half-day event door to door.
Local airports include:
Marco Island Executive - KMKY - Is there a GA flight school/rental?
Naples Municipal - KAPF - Looks busy, but has flight schools/rentals.
Everglades Airport - X01 - Does it have services or rental/instruction?
Immokalee Regional - KIMM - Does it have rental/instruction?
What's the POA wisdom on:
Airport recommendations for the area?
Flight schools in the area?
Best way to accomplish this mission?
Unseen hazards/risks for this mission?
Any issues flying with family? Dad is eager. Brother might not want to. (I would never pressure anyone into flying.)
Thanks for the local info!