Flying out of Paine Field

Turbine

Turbine

Well-Known Member
Im facing a move to the Seattle area in a little over a month. Ill probably be renting from Paine field and was curious if anyone had any experience or advise. I see there is Regal Air and Northway Aviation. Any recommendations? Boeing Field would be fine, just more of a drive to the airport.

Also, is anyone aware of any charter ops that go on out there? Single pilot IFR?

Thanks!

Turbine
 
I would go with Regal. They have been around forever and run a respected operation. I was really impressed when I interviewed there several years ago. Same CP is there today, so I assume things haven't changed. As with most flight schools in the area, they couldn't pay enough, so I had to keep looking and eventually moved to the desert. I also stopped at Northway about the same time and they seemed a bit unorganized (no one in the office on a Tuesday afternoon, no front desk person, didn't answer their phone the next day). Haven't heard anything bad about them though.

Single pilot IFR 135? Ameriflight and maybe a few others go in and out, but I'm not sure if anyone bases their operation there. Most of the field is dedicated to Boeing and the many companies that support their operation, offer heavy jet mx and so forth.
 
I did my multi comm with Northway. Great experience with some great instructors. The owner even took interest in my progress. When preparing for my checkride I spent time talking with several different instructors other than my primary one and they did it because they wanted to help me pass and not because they were looking for more billable hours. They never charged me for them, which in retrospect with insight to the industry, I wish they would have. I visited Regal also when I was researching the schools at Paine and I didn't get the good feeling from them. Northway came across as the local FBO feeling and Regal came across as the pilot mill flight school. That's my experience from my research but not necessarily for everyone else. I would visit both and chat with people at each. Your flight mileage may vary.
 
I was based at Paine for a couple of months. I flew every day. ALL of ATC was extremely professional and accomodating. I kept a tie-down at Regal. I think you could do a lot worse than Regal.
 
I fly out of Arlington just 20 miles or so north of KPAE. I have also worked at that tower for a few months, flying out of there is easy. ATC will work with you and are polite. Just like most Controllers, make their job easy, they make your job easy. There are a few transport category flights per day going in or out of Boeing or ATS for mx, they are still trying to get Horizon and Allegiant in there. There are a good amount of corporate flights, sometimes more than a few. I don't know too much about Regal or Northway, sorry. It's a VFR tower and Seattle Center is who you will be handed off to if on IFR or Flight Following.

The initial tendency when doing the pattern for RWY 34R (shorter on) is to fly too close, the giant Boeing buildings can through your visual perception off. I take my students there just for this reason.

PM if you like, I'll get you what I can.
 
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