Relocating to NorCal

[Gilt]

I've been looking at the Sonora area.... and base my mooney at O22. If anyone knows that area, any info would be helpful...thanks

[Ron McBride]

I understand that hangers at Columbia are hard to get. There is a waiting list.   Check out Calaveras   KCPU  about 25 NW,   or Pine Mountain  E45   20 miles SE   a private aviation community, taxi down the street to your home and hanger. 

 

You should contact other local airports as well.   The big advantage to airports in the western Sierra's are that you are above the FOG in the valley.   Watch density altitudes, they will approach 5000.   But when its IFR. leave the plane in the hanger.

 

I am based at KMPI, 20 minutes by air, or 2 hours by car to the south.

 

Ron

[jrwilson]

Gas is relatively cheap at Columbia, and it is a really nice, friendly airport. There is a fun little state park within walking distance which is a gold mining town. Calaveras is nice too, easy airport, cheap gas.  Good area in general.

[Gilt]

Thanks for the info Ron, I'm going to be based in oakland and use the mooney to commute. I'm leaning towards columbia because they have Wx reporting. Looks like a 35 min flight or if need be a 2.5 hour drive?..I keep the plane tied down now , so I'm not looking for a hangar. I also looked at Placerville...thanks

[Gilt]

Thanks jrwilson ...

[Bennett]

Hayward has new hangars for lease or rent. Large, but expensive. San Carlos occasionally has non-county hangars for rent via SkyWay Holdings. Check with the SkyWay office building manager. The waiting list for county hangars at San Carlos is many years long.

[Bennett]

Hayward has new hangars for lease or rent. Large, but expensive. San Carlos occasionally has non-county hangars for rent via SkyWay Holdings. Check with the SkyWay office building manager. The waiting list for county hangars at San Carlos is many years long.

I had a tie down at Pine Mountain Lake for many years. Kept an airport car on the tiedown until I would move it, and tie down the Mooney. I seem to recall that both Columbia and Pine Mountain are under the same county jusrisdiction. Personally I think Columbia is easier to get in and out of, but I had a second home in Pine Mountain, and it made sense to have the tiedown there. Fair number of homes with taxiways to the runway. Nice community, and there was a good pilot's association.

[Gilt]

Thanks Bennett...what do you guys think is the real drive time to Oakland from Sonora, Columbia area ? Also what towns into the Sierra's would be to far...(snow fall) ?

Thanks.

[Skybrd]

Columbia (O22) is a good airport and last time I checked there was plenty of tie down spaces. If you want a hanger you might find space in a shared one. Columbia is at 2200 msl and usually above the fog layer. The drive to Oakland would probably take 2 hours or more with lots of congested traffic. Sonora is just a few miles from Columbia airport and if you have a second car you could leave it on your tie down spot. For about a year I kept my plane in a large shared hanger on the south east side at Columbia. I later moved to Calaveras airport (KCPU) when I rented a single hanger. Calaveras airport is about 40 minute drive to Sonora.

[Gilt]

Thanks for the info skybrd...

[Skybrd]

Pine Mountain Lake airport is a long drive to Sonora and part of it has a steep grade. If you have business in Sonora, I would recommend using Columbia. You might call Greg at Aero Resources (209) 533-4543 if you want to ask about renting space in the large hanger. I paid $260 per month not sure if it's the same now.

[Ron McBride]

I live in Oakhurst, approx . 2500 MSL, the southern entrance to Yosemite. We get some snow about 4 or 5 times a year. I only shovel snow maybe once every other year and I use a scoop on my garden tracter to most of it. It snowed 6 inches here on the 7th.  I shoveled this year alrready.   We still have some snow and Ice in the shady spots.   This is unusaual that it stays this long.  All of the old timers can't remember when it stayed this long.     Snow level was predicted to be between 500 and a 1000'.

 

Columbia, Pine Mountian and Mariposa all have instrument approaches.   Some are more uesfull than others.

 

Jackson might be another choice for you also.

 

Ron

[Gilt]

Thanks guys...

[mooneyflyer]

I've been looking at the Sonora area.... and base my mooney at O22. If anyone knows that area, any info would be helpful...thanks

The driving commute to Oakland is 2 1/2 hrs with no traffic. But there is seldom no traffic.

I use to commute and the tie-ups were in Tracy and Livermore/ Dublin area.

As for airports, O22 is best.

In winter, icing levels in the foothills go to ground, so expect that.

You really need shelter at O22, mostly due to intense heat in the summer.

Phil

[larryb]

The drive is simply awful during commute times. I'm confused, are you are going to work in Oakland and live in the foothills, and commute via mooney? Or are you going to live in Oakland but leave your plane in the foothills?

[Gilt]

Thanks Phil, good info on the icing...what kinda temps are we talking in the summer ? Hope it's not as bad as Carolina heat in August ...

Larryb... I'm flying for FL now and transitioning to WN in FEB...so I'll pry be based in Oakland and live in the foothills, and commute via mooney...

Thanks guys for the info, also are there any places to avoid in the foothills?

[bonal]

It seems no one mentioned the summer temps. The worst days are high 90's with occasional days in the hundreds however the humidity is very low and light afternoon breezes keep things very comfortable. The CA Sierra foothills are a great place to live or visit. Sonora is a nice small city for most things needed. Columbia is a real nice base location. Oakland executive pretty busy but NorCal approach and Oakland center are real good getting folks in and out of the SFO bravo. The weather here permits VFR almost all year long if you are IFR you won't have too many days stuck in traffic. Your biggest problem will be Bay Area fog at Oakland. Also Top Gun Aviation is only about 15 to 20 min from Columbia and they are a big time Mooney service center. There is also a shop that can do eddy current inspections on site.

Best of luck

[fantom]

Best of luck

As you get taxed, hidden fees, PC intimidated, and unionized into the poor house. Beautiful WX, however

[bonal]

I'd love to know what state is not taxing, regulating PCing unionizing it's people to death. CA is still in the top ten world economies. Like most states the big cities set the agenda (sadly). I hate the politics but the rural majority is much more down to earth. No other state can touch our weather and I always find it funny when people from the rest of the country are so afraid of the occasional earthquake even our worst earthquakes do little damage compared to the hurricanes massive tornadoes and other destructive weather systems in the country. While 2/3rds of the country is frozen solid I was enjoying a trip to Columbia on the first of the year. Temps in the upper 60s and over 100 mile vis. California is far from perfect but you can't beat the flying there is the Pacific Ocean the giant redwoods of the north coastal mountains the Sierra Nevada the Central Valley and so many airports oh and did I mention the weather!

[fantom]

You a real estate salesman, bonal?

[bonal]

far from it just trying to be helpful with local knowledge. i know if i had to relocate to the other side of the country and there was a group of people that i could trust to give me helpful information (mooneyspace) i would hope to get lots of replys.