On Feb 1, 10:04 pm, "Johnny Google" wrote:
Ok,

After 3 years of living in the Bay Area, punishing myself thinking I
will someday actually be able to buy a home, I've made up my mind that
I will make the move to the Sacramento area. At $400-$500K for a nice
house, the cost savings between the two areas will actually give me
enough cushion to invest in a plane and consider flying back and forth
to work.

This seems part fantasy and part impractical.... but so is buying a
home in the Bay Area that isn't a little tiny shack. And OH, how I
might just hate flying everyday!

In order to do this, I need to find a place I would like to live that
is also close to an airport where I can keep a plane. I've flown into
Mather and I figure Rancho Cordova and Folsom are close enough. But
anything north of that and you run out of options quickly... Roseville
and Rocklin seem to only have Lincoln as an option... maybe Auborn.

1)
Can I get some opinions from anyone who actually has a home base of:
Mather, Auborn, McClellan, Cameron Park, Elk Grove (what is the latest
on this little airport staying or going?)

2)
Does anyone fly regularly from the Sac area to the Bay Area ... like
commuting to work? Does the fog really ground IFR departures and
arrivals that often during the winter?

3)
If I do invest in a plane, I would like to find other pasengers to
help keep the costs down to commute - has anyone ever gone looking for
passengers for regular commutes in a plane? I have no idea where to
post such a notice that I am looking for passengers to share a flight.
I would be flying in/out of either Palo Alto / Reid Hillview / San
Jose. I work at Cisco in Milpitas - any interested parties out there?

4)
Is there a Sacramento Pilot's Forum or something to talk with other
local pilots and 'flight-share'? Or how would I find even non-pilots
who want to travel at 1/2 to 1/3 the time between the Sac area and the
Bay Area.

5)
Are there any fractional ownership / partnerships up in the Sac area
for a 182 or 172 looking for a partner?

Thanks for any feedback...

The best GA airports in the area are SAC and Lincoln. I'm based out of
Cameron Park right now but the airport is shrinking (tiedown space
sold to devlopers) and I believe there is a waiting list for tie down
spots (I see ads to sublease tie downs). Its a nice quiet airport but
no instrument approach, and I've considered moving to SAC a few times.
There are several good partnerships in SAC, however you are not likely
to find many partnerships that are interested in selling a share to
someone who wants to use the plane to commute.
Unless you plan on regularly flying with 3-4 on board, the C-182
doesn't make sense. It burns way more gas than the 172 but is only a
little bit faster.

-Robert