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.
