Backcountry Pilot • flying in Hawaii

flying in Hawaii

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flying in Hawaii

Hey my fine feathered friends. Is there anyone in Maui Hawaii that would like to trade some flying time or just take me flying. We will be there in Nov. and would like to fly around for an hour or two.

Thanks
Shane
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Shane,

I rented a cessna 172 there once. I had to get checked out with an instructor. That was only 3 or 4 touch and goes. It probably would have been less, but he was P.O.'d that I was coming in over the water and touching down on the numbers.

That guy said, "G. damn it, we have 10,000 feet and you are taking the chance that we could become fish bait if the engine quit". He was not a backcountry guy used to "needing" all the realestate.

It was quite fun. I did island hopping.


take your log book.
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I always fly with a CFI when I'm in Honolulu because of the airspace issues. HNL is the only place that I've been where I couldn't pick the airport out of the surrounding lights.
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flying in Hawaii

Yeah I might not do so good in a really crowded flight environment. I have looked at a couple of FBOs for rentals but I think with the checkout and the traffic hassles and what not it might be better to just keep the company pilot on board to run the radios.

I would just rather find someone more like most of us to fly with if I can.

Shane
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Hawaii

I have rented planes twice in Hawaii, once on the Big Island and once on Maui. The Maui trip was by far the best.

Departed OGG, flew to the backside of Molokai and landed at the lepper colony. From there we went to Lanai, landed at the airport there, walked around. From Lanai, flew accross the channel back to the south side of Maui and flew between Maui and Hawaii to Hana. And then back to OGG.

Saw a lot of things that could only be seen from a small plane.

Both times I rented 172 that probably would not pass an annual. They were dog tired and had lots of corrosion.

Really great experiences, worth doing.
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I was at the Hana, Maui airport last winter. I did learn that they have one of the Diamond trainer-class singles available there now for rent. Besides being a LOT prettier than Kahului, it's a friendly, sleepy little airport that I would feel good about supporting. The folks I spoke to had some interesting stories about how those small singles get to the islands in the first place. Have fun, and check your PM's 8)

FWIW in Hawai'i: ask for a Hobbs meter that runs on Island Time :lol:

Oh Yeah- Look for some of your southeast Humpback whales off Molokini and Lahaina- May be some there in the calving waters by November. Quite visible from the air

-DP
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DP, on that whale watching, make sure you are 500 feet or more. I was "scolded" for being a good bit less. jg
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...remember, life is uncertain, eat desert first!
... and, those that pound their guns into plows, will plow for those who don't.

patrol guy wrote:DP, on that whale watching, make sure you are 500 feet or more. I was "scolded" for being a good bit less. jg


So THAT's how they get those identifying marks on their backs :lol:
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Re: flying in Hawaii

shorton wrote:Yeah I might not do so good in a really crowded flight environment. I have looked at a couple of FBOs for rentals but I think with the checkout and the traffic hassles and what not it might be better to just keep the company pilot on board to run the radios.

I would just rather find someone more like most of us to fly with if I can.

Shane


That's exactly what I did. We flew with Island Hoppers on the Big Island (Kona) and had a great trip. If your only looking at flying for a couple of hours like we were, it's a better way to go. If you want to make multiple flights over different days, or a very long day trip, then a checkout may be the way to go.

An added plus was the company instructor acted as a "tour guide" and delivered info not in the brochures; and allowed my wife to enjoy the scenery instead of having her face in a map or tour book while I flew.
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This last spring my son and I went to North Shore and rented gliders. That was a lot of fun and gave me my flying fix.

It's kind of a cool sensation to be up there flying knowing you not burning gas!
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HuskyPilot wrote:This last spring my son and I went to North Shore and rented gliders. That was a lot of fun and gave me my flying fix.

It's kind of a cool sensation to be up there flying knowing you not burning gas!


Dillingham is a great place. Did a glider flight awhile back, but now we go out there each trip to watch the tow planes do their thing. The birddog and Scouts were fun to watch making their short approaches.
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Re: flying in Hawaii

Bumping up this old thread - headed to Kauai next week and wanted to find out if there are any BCP friends in the area with recs on flying? Looked up those DA40s, still available to rent, and certainly a bit pricey - but given how hard it is to get piston singles to the islands, not a huge surprise. Anybody have particularly good/bad experiences over there? Or anybody who wants to fly together?
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Re: flying in Hawaii

I rented a DA20 on the Big Island. Out of Kona, last winter.

The one man FBO operation did not rent to anyone without an instructor, which was fine by me. I just wanted to have fun and learn and experience a new environment and a different airplane. It was nice to have the company and MUCH cheaper than going through a checkout would have been.

Flew a couple hours. Did some touch and goes at various airports on the Big Island and Maui.

Unfreakingly believably expensive, but worth it as a bucket list thing.
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Re: flying in Hawaii

I'm not sure about Kauai. Make sure to get fuel before 5 PM though, the FBO closes and if you need gas, you're out of luck until the morning.

If you rent on Oahu, I recommend a company at Barbers Point (PHJR) called The Right Flight School. Great aircraft, great staff, and you dont have to worry about the crazy airspace at HNL. A close second place rental place would be Barbers Point Aviation. Both companies have reasonable prices for their aircraft.

Finally, either buy or download the free copy of the Hawaiian Flying Guide. I'd consider this an absolute MUST for safely meandering through the islands by air.

Have fun!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
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Re: flying in Hawaii

Evanr42,

Sent PM, Aloha.

PHNL: checkout Missouri, Arizona, etc...
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