On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 20:39:06 -0400, Ishrat Zahid
wrote:

I'm relocating to CA from MA in next few weeks and leaving my old flying
club here at LWM.
Wondering if I can get some good recommendation for flying clubs in the
bay area?
I'll be in Milpitas/San Jose area...

I believe that RHV will be closer to you than PAO driving-wise, but I'd
have to look at a map to be sure.

I have flown a bit out of both airports... here are some notes:

RHV

- two runways (3100-ish feet long)
- helicopter training is available
- no restaurant on-field
- airspace butts up against foothills to the east, and SJC to the
northwest. There are basically two fixed-wing corridors you can fly into
it with - "Caleveras" and "UTC" - without talking to SJC.
- IMO, a boring selection of airplanes to kick the tires on, other than
having about 400% more helicopters than PAO... PAO has much more variety
for the airplane nut - Pilatus PC12s, T-34s, Sky Arrows (2 - this is the
airplane that made me want to learn to fly), Scottish Bulldogs (2),
floatplanes, Meridians - the list goes on and on. RHV is a huge
collection of C172/182s, Archer/Arrows, a smattering of Cirri (lease/own
only - no rentals), and decrepit twins. (Dons flame-retardant underwear,
but hey - this is how it seems to me whenever I walk the flightline...)


PAO

- decent restaurant/espresso shop on-field ("Abundant Air"). Really,
isn't this the most important airport feature?
- one runway; about the same length as RHV's but it seems shorter
somehow. Plus, it's not as well paved/level. Gets reeeeally busy at
times. I don't think I was ever called "Number 5 for Rwy 31" at RHV but
it's happened more than once at PAO in my short experience there. I miss
that other runway that RHV has.
- more complex/cramped airspace - just look at a sectional or terminal
chart. I'm still getting used to this (been flying out of there since
Nov. 03). You have Moffett to the southeast (military/NASA field) and
San Carlos immediately to the NW, followed by SFO. Oh, Hayward is over
there to the east too, just a few miles away.
- West Valley Flying Club has several Cirri for rent - both SR20s and
SR22s. This is why I joined this club; I can rent a totally
state-of-the-art airplane for $149 an hour ($175 with TCAS). Checkout
rates are less than that, at least in the winter. The CFIs I've talked
to are professional and passionate about their craft.

In the end (i.e. after spending about 300 hours at RHV and 20 at PAO),
I'd pick PAO for my fixed-wing needs - and I'd pick WVFC as a Base Of
Operations. However - for whatever reason CFIs seem to be more expensive
at PAO than RHV, so if your flying budget is really a budget then RHV
might be better if your needs involve a CFI.


Note that all of the above, along with a buck seventy-five, might get
you a single-shot espresso at Abundant Air, so treat the value of my
advice with this valuation 8^) .

Dave Blevins
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