Multi training - Bay Area

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ateamer

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ateamer
Looking for recommendations for multiengine training in the South Bay. I'm in Santa Cruz, but the only multi trainer at WVI is out on a continually-extending lease.

Has anyone trained at Nice Air at RHV? They look like the most affordable.
 
I've had language barrier problems at Nice, which is why I've trained next door at Squadron 2. They are also a 141 operation, which may or may not meet with your needs.

San Jose Fuel has two Duchesses. Bloody expensive, but so are all multis. Crappy airplane, too (especially in the back seat), but it will serve for that training.

I thought Ocean Air had a twin. West Valley (Palo Alto) probably does.
 
No recommendation, but here are some links I'd found in the past about multi-engine training in the bay area:

San Carlos has an operation which teaches multi-engine:
http://www.sancarlosflight.com/mutli-engine-training

West Valley currently doesn't show any multi-engine on their line:
http://www.wvfc.org/aircraft

Sundance's web page shows a Duchess and a Baron
http://www.flysundance.org/fleet.php

Advantage Aviation has a Duchess:
https://www.advantage-aviation.com/aircraft/n383/

Bel Air in San Carlos:
http://belairintl.com/multi-engine-rating.php

Aerodynamic Aviation in Reid Hillview has a twin Comanche:
http://www.aerodynamicaviation.com/aircraft.php


There's others out there as well. What I did was do a number of google searches along the lines of:

Multi-engine training Palo Alto

Multi-engine training San Carlos

Multi-engine training Reid Hillview,

etc. You get the idea.
 
MAKG1 said:
I thought Ocean Air had a twin. West Valley (Palo Alto) probably does.
Click to expand...

Ocean Air has their twin rented to NASA for some project. It was supposed to be back mid-August bit keeps getting extended. Like the federal government doesn't have any planes so they have to rent.
 
ateamer said:
Ocean Air has their twin rented to NASA for some project. It was supposed to be back mid-August bit keeps getting extended. Like the federal government doesn't have any planes so they have to rent.
Click to expand...

You would be amazed what NASA keeps around, and doesn't keep around.

Generally, they are airplanes that everyone else would consider too obsolete to use. Like a DC-8 (N817NA) or the very first 737 (N515NA).

If they aren't obsolete, NASA doesn't have them.

Odds are, the guys using it are right upstairs….

NASA has a dearth of low altitude slow manned aircraft.
 
WVFC is short a twin right now, and has been for a couple years. They want a Duchess or similar on the line, so if you want to buy and leaseback, that's also an option.

Aerodynamic just got the twin. JUST got the twin. The price is very reasonable (for a twin), as are all their aircraft, but they haven't had it long enough for me to feel comfortable with them. They specialize in tailwheel.
 
You might consider Bay City Flyers in Hayward:

http://angelcityflyers.com/about/locations

I did my multi at their Long Beach location and was happy. They use a fleet of Diamond DA42 aircraft. They charge $375/hr, which includes the instructor. Only a little bit more expensive than the typical Duchess or Seminole, and the plane is modern, comfortable, fun, and dirt-simple to fly engine-out due to the FADEC.

The downside is that you don't learn how to feather an engine, etc. with six levers in front of you, so if your ultimate goal is to fly an old multi piston, it might not be the best option.
 
noahfong said:
Why do you say that? (Just wondering what you look for in airplanes).
Click to expand...

'Cause I can't fit in the back seat of one.

Not a problem I normally have with small four seat airplanes.

The "footwells" are so high that I doubt a small child can fit back there. Strictly decorative.
 
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