The Grand Canyon in an RV

[Geico266]

While in the Phoenix area I decided it was time to check another item off my bucket list and fly the Grand Canyon. I flight planned from Chandler (KCHD) under the class "B" to Sedona area to take some pictures. Sedona is unbelievably beautiful, and I high recommend the Sedona Airport for the adventurous pilots, but I digress.

If you are planning to fly the Grand Canyon you will need to buy or borrow the chart below (Thanks Scott!) Do not be intimidated by the restrictions. This is a flight well worth the effort. A little air traffic control is not a bad thing, and it is now the regs.

Originally Posted by ScottSchmidt

I added the GPS coordinates from the charts to my Garmin 496. I decided to start on the east side and work my way west flying the corridors at the prescribed altitudes of 11,500 northbound and 10,500 southbound. I was the only one flying the VFR route at the time I was there, but the charter flights were busy below me. This is for reference only, you still had to fly wide of a few of the restricted areas so beware.


For reference, the blue dot airport is the Grand Canyon Airport (KGCN)

IMHO, the Grand Canyon trip is well worth the time as a destination flight. There are several nice, inexpensive places to stay if you do a little home work. Others have posted great pictures. If you are interested in seeing mine here is the link.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1045925...n7wujCs9is8gE#

The chick with the beer in the pics is my bride of 21 years. I bought the bracelet in Sedona when I stopped for fuel and lunch. I gave it to her that night for Valentines Day 2011. Smooth huh?

Sedona, is an EXCELLENT place to fly beautiful rock formations with no restrictions, but there are MANY helos giving tours so monitor the CTAF and report your position. The airports presents an interesting landing and take off if you are not prepared for up draft and down drafts. Caution should be exercised.

[jay.pearlman]

Magnificent photos. Can we get high resolution copies of some of them.
When I finish my RV 6A, I see a trip I want to take (starting in Seattle)
Thanks for sharing.

[turbo]

the best to fly. it is the longest and starts near grand canyon airport and ends near marble canyon airport which is the place to be for breakfast to see the sun hitting the canyon walls. get the chart and go for it. wish it was a bit closer to florida. hmmm. nice photos!!!!! hard to take a bad pic.

[woxofswa]

A must do for the full Grand Canyon experience is the Bar 10 ranch in Whitmore Wash. The strip is very busy with river traffic during peak season, but they will accommodate private aircraft who pre-arrange.

http://www.bar10.com/

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by jay.pearlman

Magnificent photos. Can we get high resolution copies of some of them.
When I finish my RV 6A, I see a trip I want to take (starting in Seattle)
Thanks for sharing.

You bet. Send me an e-mail and I'll send you the big pictures.

[N282S]

Originally Posted by ScottSchmidt

Vote for me and I'll make sure RV's are required by law to stay below the rim of the canyon. Flying under the bridge at Phantom Ranch gets you a 10% tax break.

Sure, I'll vote for you. In fact, I'll vote twice!

[ajay]

Originally Posted by ScottSchmidt

Now, here is my soapbox speech about the Grand Canyon.
As private pilots we have all these minimum altitudes we have to maintain and areas we cannot even enter below 14,500 ft. Now the tour groups can fly much much lower and in areas we cannot go.
If I were president it would be the opposite.

I don't know if I believe him, but I met a pilot out west who claims he flies below the canyon minimums all the time and that there is little to no surveillance. Who does the policing of this airspace anyway, the park service?

ajay