Phuket Thailand

DREW · #1 09-07-2007, 01:13

Has anyone tried this

http://www.destinationair.com/phi-phi-promo.php

Seems a bit expensive at 4k baht round trip. I tried to book a flight and all I could get was 6k round trip.

Regards

Drew

seven · #2 09-07-2007, 03:23

i did not know that exist,a bit expensive,but the downside for me,is that
you have to go to the airport for departure.If the weather allows it (wind/waves) it should be possible to departure from outside Patong beach.
I live in an island,and have taken seaplanes on several occasions,especially in weekends when other transportations were impossible.
I saw the spesial price was until 31/7.I will not be in Phuket until dec,but it would be fun to take an unusual day trip

7

Spector · #3 09-07-2007, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DREW

Has anyone tried this

http://www.destinationair.com/phi-phi-promo.php

Seems a bit expensive at 4k baht round trip. I tried to book a flight and all I could get was 6k round trip.

Regards

Drew

It was 4k each way!!! Wish them all the success, but flying out of HKT, I can't see the attraction for anyone staying in the south. Now out of Patong Bay or Karon, I think it would be very appealing to holiday makers.

Nicke · #4 09-07-2007, 03:49

Somebody told me about a special price, 3-4k, just a few days ago and said me and ead should go.

landofsmiles · #5 09-07-2007, 11:35

I believe they are getting most of their customers from the Laguna complex.

Why not ask them what the cost would be to pick up from Patong beach?

Would be an unusual way to do a visa run if you could fill it. Pick up from Patong and fly down and land in the harbour in Penang :-)

SiamGecko · #6 09-07-2007, 16:23

I always thought they were aiming for the well heeled who land in HKT and then jump on to get to PP, Lanta, Krabi etc... saves a road n boat trip and really is not expensive when lumped in with a reasonable holiday budget

ATMwalking · #7 09-07-2007, 21:08

I was thinking of giving it a go. I think it would be a fun day out. Sure you could fly to Singapore and back for the same amount of money, but this would be a lot more fun. Only downside is it would take me longer to drive to the airport than for the plane to fly to Phi Phi.

SiamGecko · #8 09-07-2007, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

I was thinking of giving it a go. I think it would be a fun day out. Sure you could fly to Singapore and back for the same amount of money, but this would be a lot more fun. Only downside is it would take me longer to drive to the airport than for the plane to fly to Phi Phi.

I'd love to do it, the views/pics of Phang Nga Bay, PP etc.. would be fantastic and worth the cost alone to me.

Spector · #9 09-07-2007, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiamGecko

I'd love to do it, the views/pics of Phang Nga Bay, PP etc.. would be fantastic and worth the cost alone to me.

I found when you're on final approach (From the North) into HKT you get a wonderful view of Phang Nga. Not sure you would have the same vantage point from the seaplane as they would be heading directly south. Phang Nga is North of Phuket.

ATMwalking · #10 09-07-2007, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector

I found when you're on final approach (From the North) into HKT you get a wonderful view of Phang Nga. Not sure you would have the same vantage point from the seaplane as they would be heading directly south. Phang Nga is North of Phuket.

At least part of the time they are flying just south of Chalong circle, basically paralle with the Chalong Kata road in line with Phi Phi. The view of Phang Nga wouldn't compare with flying up the left coast like when you are coming in from Singapore (only during monsoon season I think). Still there would be lots of nice little islands to look plus phuket from the air would be cool.

Capt. Fantastic · #11 17-07-2007, 05:34

I posted on this company about 18 months ago. At the time the plan was that I would buy a seaplane, ferry it from the US, lease it back to them, then fly it.

The almost four months I spent in Phuket (endpoint was the Coup) was in reality a "crash" course in the realities of business in Thailand. Think about it... what could be a better fit than the beaches and resorts of Thailand and a seaplane shuttle service? And exactly how many such services are there? Still in business, that is.

But the one thing I CAN say is that everyone involved was a total pro. I wish these guys the best of luck.

LivinLOS · #12 17-07-2007, 10:47

In the event that Phuket Flying club gets off the ground (They apparently have got the land now for the airstrip) a mate and I have had a serious chat about going 50/50 on a microlight..

A private airstrip here (like patts has) would be great.. Skydiving, microlight, even flight school.

LivinLOS · #13 17-07-2007, 10:50

Phuket hotels, Thailand hotels, Travel guide, News, Forums - Thailand

EDIT ::: Very odd.. Thats not the window text of the Phuket flying club in the friendly URL script !!!

Capt. Fantastic · #14 17-07-2007, 14:14

I do not wish to start a flame war but...

Let me state as a flight instructor that the entire micro-light field is just creepy. You are far better served getting a real license. For one thing, you will learn about weather... the single biggest killer in aviation. Navigation, communications, airspace restrictions (see attached PDF file), there is much much more to flying than just stick-and-rudder issues.

If your aviation goals are modest then seriously consider the options presented on this website:

Learn to Fly - EAA Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft Information.

My $.02.

ATMwalking · #15 17-07-2007, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

In the event that Phuket Flying club gets off the ground (They apparently have got the land now for the airstrip) a mate and I have had a serious chat about going 50/50 on a microlight..

A private airstrip here (like patts has) would be great.. Skydiving, microlight, even flight school.

Keep me informed on this. I'd love to get licensed, then rent a plane to fly around down here. The scenery would be fantastic. I'd be all over that.

Do they have flight schools up in Patts, BKK, or Chiang Mai. Could be worth an extended stays in one of those places.

LivinLOS · #16 17-07-2007, 14:40

I have flown and owned hang gliders, paragliders, and had a 10 minute stint in a (slope) soarer.. As well as quite a few skydives.

I kinda like the rough and ready bugs in your teeth, outdoor aspect of it.. So the whole string and canvas thing appeals. While I sorta wouldnt mind to get a pilots license its not the thing that would drive me.

LivinLOS · #17 17-07-2007, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Keep me informed on this. I'd love to get licensed, then rent a plane to fly around down here. The scenery would be fantastic. I'd be all over that.

Do they have flight schools up in Patts, BKK, or Chiang Mai. Could be worth an extended stays in one of those places.

Theres a flight school in Patts.. They do both plane and microlight training. I considered going up to do some jumps and squeeze in a micro light / ultralight course.

I know a mate went and did pilots license in SA, cheap to get to and stay, whole package quite affordable (tho I forget how much).

My cousin is a pilot with plenty of non commercial hours and has spent the summer in Alaska bush piloting for fun, this year hes started herding Riendeer with a heli and getting more rotor hours in.

LivinLOS · #18 17-07-2007, 14:50

Phuket hotels, Thailand hotels, Travel guide, News, Forums - Thailand

PATTAYA AIRPARK ULTRALIGHT GROUNDSCHOOL

You can get through the ultralight school in about a week of solid work.. 20 - 25 hours flight time and 20 hours ground school.. Total costs shouldnt run more than 60ish k baht. 2500 baht per hour flight time and 500 baht per hour 1 on 1 ground school.

I just think that Phuket should have an aviation scene.. Theres enough rich folks with time on thier hands, scenery is good, lots of reasons why it could work.

ATMwalking · #19 17-07-2007, 15:15

I don't think I'd do the ultra light course. Would go for a full pilots license. But once I was licensed, I may take an ultra light up for a fun spin.

A phuket flying club would do very well. Just as sailors come here and charter a boat to cruse around, pilot would book planes to tour around.

Capt. Fantastic · #20 17-07-2007, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Would go for a full pilots license. But once I was licensed, I may take an ultra light up for a fun spin.

_Exactly_ the solution I present when asked about ultralights. People tend to think of aircraft as they do ground vehicles. An ultralight is like a motorcycle, a faster airplane is like a sports car... keep within your limits and you will be fine. NOT true. A motorcycle rider can just pull over if he hits unexpected weather, has a part break, or gets lost. Likewise, things happen faster and faster as you move up the speed ladder. Think "a one mile a minute pilot in a three mile a minute airplane." Lesson #1 for new pilots is humility and respect.

One major problem with private aircraft in Thailand is that they are illegal. IOW (unless changes were made recently) an individual cannot own a plane as he does a car.

Regarding visa runs to the airport at Ranong. Yep, that would be the Holy Grail. But right now it is hard to see how a company can make that run and make money at the same time.

LivinLOS · #21 17-07-2007, 22:20

People can own aircraft... They offer storage for your own planes in most of these local places.. You may need to set a nominee (if your an alien non resident) or other system but theres plenty of guys at Pattaya club with hangars and planes.

Thais obviously would have even less problems.

flyout · #22 23-07-2007, 07:45

I can tell you from personal experience that flying in Thailand is not as easy as in other parts of the world. But we are making good progress. For instance, since there is not a general aviation scene here, one has to have lots of patience and plenty of smiles to get around. Even a simple stop at a local airport will entail a 20-30 minute stop in the airport office to pay for landing fee, parking fee and depature fee. Now, realize that all the airports are privatly owned and many of the fees are extremely small, but the time effort is real. As for seaplanes, one must get prior approval from several layers of the governmant to recieve permission to land.. anywhere. And that has taken 6 months for some permits. And the permits have to be renewed frequently . You can not just go fly around and decide to land at a nice looking beach. That has frustrated many operators in the past, but it is getting better.
I do not see where the flying club airport will have to deal with the fee system, but I do not have that information.

LivinLOS · #23 23-07-2007, 10:36

Not sure.. I would think theres a far greater chance you will know the people in the club scene than we will..

I just check thier site every couple of months to see if they have news.

As it happens I was chatting with a guy I know recently and it turns out he is a skydive instructor with 100's and 100's of jumps under his belt.. Theres lots of people around that would have in interest IMO.