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  #1  
Old 06-27-2012, 08:45 AM
Mike D's Avatar
Mike D Mike D is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 456
Default How do you go the last mile on your trips?

I would like to use my plane for some mid range adventure but getting from the airport to the final destination seems to be a problem sometimes.

I have made trips where I had relatives or friends pick me up. I have used the courtesy car. I have called a taxi. I have rented a car and had it waiting for me at the airport.

So, my question is really to find out if there are any tips ot tricks to inexpensively go the last mile ot two. In these cases I would not have friends or relatives in the area, and can't use the courtesy vehicle (either staying longer or not available).

The taxi's I have used in the rural towns don't seem that safe or take a long time to get there.

The one time I rented a car it cost way more than a full fill up in the RV. This was at a jet center here in Texas.

Say I want to fly the wife and kid to San Antoino to see the river walk. I could take a taxi, but I need a car seat for the 1yo son. I could rent a car, but after my last experience, I would rather drive my own car from Houston to San Antonio. Any tips on how to get less expensive rental cars not connected to a major airport?

Or alternatively, say I want to take the family to a camping spot for the weekend but there are no rental cars or taxi's. But this type of trip might not be safe incase someone gets injured or sick.

I heard that you can call the county sheriff for a ride, but this seems ridiculous to a city boy like me. Is it true? Any experience?

Maybe there is not a solution, but just checking.
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  #2  
Old 06-27-2012, 09:09 AM
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Buggsy2 Buggsy2 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 565
Default

It's a real problem for GA. I wish AOPA or similar groups would work on some solution. You've named most solutions I've heard of or used myself. It's why pilots also bring along folding bikes, etc, and partly why Terrafugia designed and built their airplane. A friend has used the local sheriff as a last resort.

At one airport in Nebraska I stopped at overnight to avoid a huge thunderstorm ahead, there was not a soul around, and only a payphone (this was years ago before cell phones were common). Finally managed to get the local taxi guy to come out...like you say, some of these operators are a bit dodgy. Checked into the local motel and they had the TV weather on about the expected huge hailstorm that night...with my plane sitting outside. Fully expected it to be ruined the next morning, but fortunately it only rained.
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  #3  
Old 06-27-2012, 09:11 AM
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9GT 9GT is offline
 
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No, As a retired cop I can tell you as a matter of fact that you do not call a law enforcement official for a ride unless you are looking for a trip to jail. You might look into a county transit ride if those are available where you are going. Quite a few counties here in Michigan have them. They usually cost only a few dollars for a ride but you sometimes you may have to wait for pick-up unless you schedule in advance. They use small buses or vans and offer door to door services. They use various names such as "Dial A Ride" or similar. Call the County/City offices to find out if they offer these services.
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  #4  
Old 06-27-2012, 09:25 AM
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schristo@mac.com schristo@mac.com is offline
 
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Default Enterprise works pretty good...

We use Enterprise since they will come pick you up and bring you back... much cheaper than the FBO or pre-arranged car waiting for you. Pretty easy to get a good rate at he lat minute when you know your plans are set.
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  #5  
Old 06-27-2012, 09:25 AM
aerhed aerhed is offline
 
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Location: Big Sandy, WY
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Default

Mike, why is the sky blue? Seriously, you've bumped into the reason small aircraft haven't become THE answer to medium/long distance travel. Also one of the reasons small aircraft are fading. I guess this is why people keep whacking away at the flying car.
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  #6  
Old 06-27-2012, 10:03 AM
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Vlad Vlad is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
Default Plan, plan and plan

Michael you mentioned mid range travel and family. There is not much you can do other then carefully plan ahead. Don't go with family to a destination where only LE can provide the ride. There is probably not much to see for your kid anyway.

On long range trips and alone I would suggest always keep fuel tanks full and have alternates withing 100 miles radius.

If you don't have friends or relatives at faraway destinations then make them and maintain . For example, I have open invitation to visit San Antonio any time I want starting tomorrow. RV will be taken care of and I'll get two free burritos

Go travel!!
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  #7  
Old 06-27-2012, 10:13 AM
Mile High Relic Mile High Relic is offline
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denver area
Posts: 272
Default

Good question.

The one solution that isn't mentioned is to just ask someone hanging around the airport for a ride. I've only done this a few times, but it worked great. It probably doesn't work as well in the middle on the night though.

I did this once for when I couldn't reach any of my family (pre-cell phones) as they were all at the hospital. A nice lady (who I later discovered was the wife of my brother's boss) took me to my parents house.

Another time Avis in Albuquerque screwed me and had the car at ABQ instead of AEG where it was supposed to be. I asked a guy who had just landed if he was going downtown. He wasn't, but offered to take my wife and I there anyway, and wouldn't take any money.

Most days I'd be more than happy to pick-up/drop-off someone at KBJC Northwest of Denver.

Also, for the time being, I have one more car than I need, so if anyone needs it at KBJC it could be made available. It seems to me we could/should have a way to devise an RV courtesy car network that would work with the location services on your iPad/iPphone and let you know where there is a car. As mentioned before, AOPA ought to be able to do the same thing GA wide. I'd guess that liability concerns stop a lot of ideas like this from getting implemented.
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  #8  
Old 06-27-2012, 10:24 AM
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ppilotmike ppilotmike is offline
 
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Location: Denver, CO
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Default Motopod

Doesn't work for the RV-6 (or any other 2-place), but check out the MotoPod solution for the RV-10...
http://www.motorcyclepilot.com/
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  #9  
Old 06-27-2012, 10:31 AM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Location: Dayton, NV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by schristo@mac.com View Post
We use Enterprise since they will come pick you up and bring you back... much cheaper than the FBO or pre-arranged car waiting for you. Pretty easy to get a good rate at he lat minute when you know your plans are set.
We also end up using Enterprise due to lack of other choices....but in general, you can't pick up or drop off on the weekend at most locations we have used - that makes it pretty difficult!

We have, however, been graciously hosted by many RV'ers who offer transportation if you post a need here on the forums. Heck, I have landed someplace with the intent of walking to a car rental place in town and had an RV builder walk up and offer a ride - quite a few times in fact!

Paul
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Last edited by Ironflight : 06-27-2012 at 12:04 PM.
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  #10  
Old 06-27-2012, 10:52 AM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
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Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
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Default yeah, airport cars and insurance?????

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mile High Relic View Post
Good question.

It seems to me we could/should have a way to devise an RV courtesy car network that would work with the location services on your iPad/iPphone and let you know where there is a car. As mentioned before, AOPA ought to be able to do the same thing GA wide. I'd guess that liability concerns stop a lot of ideas like this from getting implemented.
Our local club tried to setup a courtesy car. Key management, fuel and insurance were the real killers. Like a lot of airports, the tie-down is only a mile from town, but you have to travel 5 miles to get around the fences to get to the other side of the field. Transit is a joke, non-existent, or comes to meet the odd scheduled airline flights.

I agree, we all should put our cel numbers on VAF, AOPA or COPA pages so that nobody gets stranded! No doubt this would lead to travellers getting safer tie-downs, or hangar space when needed.
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