John Pursell

The article hits the key point. If we let Santa Monica out of its obligations, it opens the floodgates for others to do the same. I'm not sure if the pro-business/anti-regulation incoming president will hold the local government to their obligations. The real big money has nothing to do with the land the airport sits on. It's all about the airspace restrictions and the west side of downtown LA.

The meaning of having your flaps down lost its meaning in the post 9/11 environment.

I'll throw out a couple of suggestions, since I live in the Orlando area. A number of folks on Beechtalk have started going to Winter Haven while staying around Disney. It is geographically a longer drive, but a direct shot on I-4. Folks seem to think the services were better/cheaper and the drive isn't as bad as you think. Cheap gas can be had at Orlando Apopka, but there are no overnight tiedowns. I think you can't go wrong with any of the airports mentioned.

A broker on www.beechtalk.com sets the gold standard for Internet ads. Although this is not a Mooney nor a Beechcraft, it will give you a template. http://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=94813

I get NOTAMS via email from the AMA. Many are not members of AMA. It's one part of the UAS regulations being discussed. John

I was in the same boat as you. Professional pilot trying to survive on probationary pay. I sold my Cherokee (sorry, not a Mooney) with thoughts that someday I'd by another plane. Guess what, I still don't own a plane for a variety of reasons. My take is to find a way to keep it, if you can. This assumes that you want to keep it. John

Florida telephone number

This was always the first lesson I gave my instrument students.

I don't know anything about them, but have you looked into PIC. They started the accelerated IFR program and they come to you. Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to master instrument flying in your plane? I would think that you'd be better off in your plane. http://www.iflyifr.com

I don't think it's out of line to ask for high hull limits. I'm sure that a gear up would be expensive to fix and the insurance company would want to subrogate the claim.

The big red flag for me is how much more is your 231 costing you vs. the cost of purchasing an unknown plane.

I currently rent C-172's from an outfit that owns 7 planes based out of various airports in Florida. I personally fly the planes out of the western Orlando area. I was asking the mechanics the vary same questions. They see much more corrosion out of the coastal airports and treat those more aggressively than those based more inland. The planes based out of Apopka and North Orlando have much fewer problems.

6" wider, useful load of 1200 in the cabin plus fuel, TKS FIKI and AC. John

Are you speaking about the plane or the wife?

Current price is $4.75 for those flying to Sun n Fun.