No auto fuel at Felts Field due to lack of interest.

SFCC/UND said:
I thought felts field dried up.
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I kinda thought so, too, until I had to do circle's over Shadle Park cause I couldn't get a word in edgewise, on a Thursday afternoon, of all things. Like three planes in the pattern, two plus me trying to land, and three or four waiting to take off. I was dumbfounded. I still think we could do without a tower as I feel like we all can take care of ourselves without all the verbiage and silly permissions. But it was a hoppin' place. One helicopter flight school, one fixed wing missionary training flight school program, one busy avionics shop that has a couple of A and P's for wrenching, a Medivac operation, and some outfit that changes a Malibu into a Pilatus. It's normally pretty benign but once in a while....
 
Yeah I've been there with 6-7 planes using both runways doing pattern work. Then it turns into a ghost town for three hours... ya never know.
 
Wow seems like some movement there. I really enjoyed training at felts back when I got my cfi in 2008. But since the school closed down a few years ago, just didn't see a, lot of movement. Then I moved to San Diego and wished I was back at felts lol busy down here. Now I'm in training in St Louis and will be based in IAD.
 
SFCC/UND said:
Wow seems like some movement there. I really enjoyed training at felts back when I got my cfi in 2008. But since the school closed down a few years ago, just didn't see a, lot of movement. Then I moved to San Diego and wished I was back at felts lol busy down here. Now I'm in training in St Louis and will be based in IAD.
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There's still no general public flight school or rentals at Felts (Moody's missionary aviation program, Spokane Turbine Center is Kodiak and mostly missionary specific, and the helicopter school are all pretty specialized). Just a handful of independents like me teach out of there, but there's no place for the average Joe to rent a plane.
 
SFCC/UND said:
So I guess Spokane airways is the only place you can rent from these days.
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No, actually they went out of business last winter. There is a new school that rose from their ashes which has a few 172's and a Cirrus, based at GEG. Time will tell how they do. I've picked up a few of their disgruntled students for a few reasons I wont get in to, but I give them the benefit of the doubt as I know starting a new operation is tough and they are probably still getting their feet under them. I hope they succeed and grow.

I have the 150 for rent at COE plan to add a Cherokee, Skyhawk, or Skylane in the next couple years and probably a Citabria after that but I'm in no rush to do so.

As DE727UPS said, there's a couple planes available up in Deer Park. Also, there is a small flight school for sale up there which includes hangar, office, and two Skyhawks. They've been trying to sell it for over a year, I think they are asking right under $200K though.
 
My wife keeps pushing me to get an airplane to do instruction in EPH or MWH. I just heard about a guy that started some flight training in EAT and surprised to learn that executive flight is closing their doors.
 
rframe said:
Dang, I'm currently paying $4.08 at COE for ethanol free premium and only haul it 1 mile, but that isn't an option for transient aircraft unfortunately.

Of course, I'd expect to pay a bit more on airport but $1.30 more (132%) just seems out of line.
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I have. The stc on my 150, unfortunately it's a 30 minute drive to get it, and after the 3rd time it tested positive for ethanol I gave up.

I would much rather spend $4.05 instead of $6 even though I love the smell of burning 100LL

Maybe off topic but does the state get involved with airport fueling for weights and measures? I never see a weigh master tag on the pump like you do at car stations.

I have suspected for some time that a certain self serve fuel station is only pumping about .8 gallons for each one you pay for
Is it certified like car fuel?
 
Cessnaflyer said:
My wife keeps pushing me to get an airplane to do instruction in EPH or MWH. I just heard about a guy that started some flight training in EAT and surprised to learn that executive flight is closing their doors.
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I remember Wenatchee Aero closed up years ago. At one time I think Executive flight used the same hangar but when Wenatchee Aero took over they quit doing instruction. Don't think Ex-flight has done instruction for quite some time. Are you saying they are closing the charter ops, too? There were some long, long, time pilots who wanted to stay local who had worked there forever. They bought out Airlift Northwest in Seattle a long time ago and did a lot of medivac. Wonder if they are just closing down the EAT part of it? I'll be there next weekend so will try to poke around a little. Heck, I remember Ex-flight was one of about 10 Lear operators national wide that our union had approved for crew transportation.

A guy named Neal Karmen used to run an FBO in EPH and it used to do real well for the size of town. He was a DE and did my CFI. Heard he went to American and moved to Seattle a long time ago and nothing much going on there anymore.
 
SFCC/UND said:
Good lord what is going on in Spokane
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It's a weird culture. In my opinion, one of the best places to fly in the country, but I've had many people call and email me who were going to move into the area for retirement with their airplanes or people who wanted to learn to fly and they were shocked/saddened at how indifferent and/or flat out rude and un-welcoming the aviation businesses and general aviation sub-culture was here. I pretty much agree.
 
Yeah, it's surprising how few FBO's and flight schools there are. For the size of Spokane I've always been bewildered about the state of GA. It's weird because there is a pretty active EAA chapter at Felts and this subculture of very well funded old biplane/antique aircraft guys. They fly around in Stermans, T6's, and I know a guy with a 195. But the flight school/rental segment is just not there. Somewhat you can blame the winter weather, I guess, and the per capita income in Spokane is lower than most realize.

I'm good buddies with the guy that runs a very successful avionics shop and pilot supply biz at Felts. They took over the fuel ops when FFA went down and have an IA on staff. Did my last annual there. He toys with the idea of a flight school with my Cherokee and their Mooney but it's hard for me to justify in my situation. The liability for a guy in my shoes makes no sense considering the return. They need some brand new CFI with nothing to lose who needs to build time and wants to stay local. Plus, I did what Rframe is doing 15 years ago in Seattle and never made a dime while sticking my neck out more than I care to admit from a liability standpoint. I was lucky to escape unscathed.

Anyhow, I'm looking at leaving the area within a year. Time for a small town to put me out to pasture in.
 
DE727UPS said:
I remember Wenatchee Aero closed up years ago. At one time I think Executive flight used the same hangar but when Wenatchee Aero took over they quit doing instruction. Don't think Ex-flight has done instruction for quite some time. Are you saying they are closing the charter ops, too? There were some long, long, time pilots who wanted to stay local who had worked there forever. They bought out Airlift Northwest in Seattle a long time ago and did a lot of medivac. Wonder if they are just closing down the EAT part of it? I'll be there next weekend so will try to poke around a little. Heck, I remember Ex-flight was one of about 10 Lear operators national wide that our union had approved for crew transportation.

A guy named Neal Karmen used to run an FBO in EPH and it used to do real well for the size of town. He was a DE and did my CFI. Heard he went to American and moved to Seattle a long time ago and nothing much going on there anymore.
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Executive flight only supplied the fixed wing lift for Air Lift Northwest. They didn't own it. The University of Washington owns it(and provides most everything but pilots, mx and airframe). A few years ago Aero Air took over the fixed wing flying for ALNW. Most of the BFI based pilots just switched companies and continued to do the exact same job. Air Methods does the rotor.
I know they still had an FBO and charter last winter in EAT. Big FBO for such a low traffic volume airport. I think they're the only one on the field though.
 
DE727UPS said:
Yeah, it's surprising how few FBO's and flight schools there are. For the size of Spokane I've always been bewildered about the state of GA. It's weird because there is a pretty active EAA chapter at Felts and this subculture of very well funded old biplane/antique aircraft guys. They fly around in Stermans, T6's, and I know a guy with a 195. But the flight school/rental segment is just not there. Somewhat you can blame the winter weather, I guess, and the per capita income in Spokane is lower than most realize.

I'm good buddies with the guy that runs a very successful avionics shop and pilot supply biz at Felts. They took over the fuel ops when FFA went down and have an IA on staff. Did my last annual there. He toys with the idea of a flight school with my Cherokee and their Mooney but it's hard for me to justify in my situation. The liability for a guy in my shoes makes no sense considering the return. They need some brand new CFI with nothing to lose who needs to build time and wants to stay local. Plus, I did what Rframe is doing 15 years ago in Seattle and never made a dime while sticking my neck out more than I care to admit from a liability standpoint. I was lucky to escape unscathed.

Anyhow, I'm looking at leaving the area within a year. Time for a small town to put me out to pasture in.
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Need to do one last hooters all you can eat wings before you go :) I haven't been back there since you and I ate there last.
 
z987k said:
Executive flight only supplied the fixed wing lift for Air Lift Northwest. They didn't own it. The University of Washington owns it(and provides most everything but pilots, mx and airframe). A few years ago Aero Air took over the fixed wing flying for ALNW. Most of the BFI based pilots just switched companies and continued to do the exact same job. Air Methods does the rotor.
I know they still had an FBO and charter last winter in EAT. Big FBO for such a low traffic volume airport. I think they're the only one on the field though.
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Thanks for the clarification. Ex-flight got it's start in the early 80's due to a guy who owned a rest home and grew his biz to include several more. He kind of subsidized the place but during the heydays it was a pretty big operation on it's own. Like I said, big enough to make the IPA's list of qualified Lear operators. Wenatchee, on it's own, could never support what Ex-flight was. Not in the 80's nor now. I know medstar has Pilatus in Tri-Cities. Wouldn't be surprised if they put one in EAT, or a rotary wing.
 
SFCC/UND said:
Need to do one last hooters all you can eat wings before you go :) I haven't been back there since you and I ate there last.
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Yeah dude. Rframe is in the house and if we time it right might get an actual JC mod to chill with us. What's your schedule like in the near future?
 
DE727UPS said:
Thanks for the clarification. Ex-flight got it's start in the early 80's due to a guy who owned a rest home and grew his biz to include several more. He kind of subsidized the place but during the heydays it was a pretty big operation on it's own. Like I said, big enough to make the IPA's list of qualified Lear operators. Wenatchee, on it's own, could never support what Ex-flight was. Not in the 80's nor now. I know medstar has Pilatus in Tri-Cities. Wouldn't be surprised if they put one in EAT, or a rotary wing.
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Well ALNW has a commander in YKM most every day all day, that pretty well covers the east side of the cascades. Life Flight has one down in the Dalles which is a short hop up into most of Eastern Washington. I thought Medstar had a King air or PC-12 or something in Spokane somewhere as well as in Richland.
 
DE727UPS said:
Yeah dude. Rframe is in the house and if we time it right might get an actual JC mod to chill with us. What's your schedule like in the near future?
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I'll be off for a week before my sim session. So I'll be in Spokane September 20-26th then I'll based in IAD after my sim checkride beginning in October. But I'll defiantly make it out.
 
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