Pilots In Thailand?

[HernanUSA]

Any flying out there? Charters? Flight Instruction?

Did some flight instruction/charters flights between Miami and Bahamas. Commercial and Mutli-engine/instrument rated.

Seen some general aviation traffic but when I showed up to the airport it was thai military.

Granted this is not Florida. But I miss flying.

[astral]

There are some private fields.

There is one between Chonburi and Pattaya.

Sorry can't be more exact than that.

I am moving this to General for better exposure.

[gregb]

Had about 1500 hours when I arrived in Thailand 10 years ago. Haven't flown since. Just too difficult. Just too expensive over here and always too busy working trying to support the family. ($120 USD per hour for a C150 dry is a tad expensive for my limited budget.)

Suggest you contact the Pattaya Flying Club (http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/) and talk to them about the situation. All GA pilots are excited about what they do, but it seems they are even more animated over here if you can imagine that. When it is that much harder, people respect and enjoy it that much more.

One thing to keep in mind if you are looking to share costs...partnerships in airplanes are not allowed over here. You will need to set up a Thai company and sell shares in the company. You can't really have private co-owners like they do in the West.

I would love to take up flying again. Nothing better feeling in the world. But unfortunately I'm not independently wealthy.

[BillR]

Not to mention the complete lack of private aircraft in Thailand, I think there is under 200. I have a commercial license and I wanted to continue my flying when I moved here privately, but there just isn't anything exciting available for rent, and buying/sharing an aircraft here is complicated.

I have thought about paragilders, you see them from time to and they look like a great time and I doubt you need a special license.

[BillR]

I have also listened to ATC in thailand on commercial flights and Im pretty sure the pilots sometime have no idea what is being said on the thai end, and they just follow the approach/departure procedures as filed. Something scary to think about next time you land in thailand:)

[robbiecia]

Try the civil aviation training center (CATC) in Hua Hin.

I have a commercial license that i kept current upto a few years ago.

You can just show up and rent out whatever they have by the hour.

Show them your log book and you're on your way.

Hua Hin to Phuket and back via Prachuap kiri kan and Surat Tani is a flight worth taking for the scenery.

A few years ago single engine ran about 4-5 k per hour and multi engine 6-8 k per hour. (includes a check pilot if you need one)

[robbiecia]

I have also listened to ATC in thailand on commercial flights and Im pretty sure the pilots sometime have no idea what is being said on the thai end, and they just follow the approach/departure procedures as filed. Something scary to think about next time you land in thailand:)

Spot on there!

Biggest problem is when Thai controllers try to communicate with chinese pilots.

There have been many unreported near incidents in the past.