Hi all, I'm trying to figure out a way to fly from Lone Pine Airport to Visalia airport on Monday 16 September (Between bakersville and Fresno).

We be hiking across the Sierra Nevadas this weekend then would like to fly back from Lone Pine on Monday 16 September in the morning. Two passengers, 180 lbs each with ~30 lbs of gear (400 lbs total). Should be a beautiful area to fly through.

Here are the airports in question:

https://skyvector.com/airport/O26/Lone- ... ey-Airport

https://skyvector.com/airport/VIS/Visal ... al-Airport

Could we call a local flight school and hire a flight instructor to pick us up in a 172 ?

We're willing to pay, but don't know where to start (even searching in google. Flight charter ?)

I called a paramotor company—thought it would be awesome to have an extended introductory flight —but they said they couldn't carry enough fuel to make it that far.

Anyway, is there a forum for this type of request, or on barnstormers or...any ideas much appreciated

(mods, I wasn't sure exactly which forum to place this in. Hope the campfire is okay!)

Unless someone is willing to do it for free, that flight will be considered a part 135 charter flight. It’s highly unlikely that any respectable flight school will touch it, as the FAA looks really unfavorably upon illegal charters.

I’m sure there are lots of 135 outfits in the Central Valley. Might look at FAT or BFL. Just know that it’ll be $$.

If you’re lucky, someone here will do it for fun, but a 172 might not cut it with that load plus the pilot.

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Thanks guys !

For comparison purposes, the East Side Sierra van shuttle from Lone Pine to Fresno for 3 people with backpacks cost me $650 last year and took about 6 hours via Lake Isabella.

I love to fly but hadn't seriously considered an air taxi for this. I'd be curious to know how it pencils out.

CAVU

I did the HST from Fresno-ish to Lone Pine-ish. I considered trying to find a charter to do the shuttle and in the end... we drove. Have fun and watch out for the poop bags on Whitney.