Recreational Flying in Bogota

Dan says on Sep 8, 2004, 09:09:

flying I was interested at one time in flying Ultralights and remember seeing something about an airfield at or near Bogota, you may be able to do a search about it. I think it was a place in Bogota that was a resale agent for some type of aircraft from the US. Perhaps it's a good place to start.

Dan

God Bless America!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 8, 2004, 13:47:

Are you in Bogota? I'm very curious to learn about this, too. Also curious about the restrictions placed on civilian aviation in Colombia due to the strict efforts to stop drug courier flights.

If you're in Bogota, Mike, you should just head out to the various airfields and ask around.

-AR

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goosekirk says on Sep 8, 2004, 20:54:

Me too! I've been curious about this since my first visit. The only aircraft I've seen here are commercial airliners and Blackhawks, and I tend to keep an eye out. I'd love to know how much civilian aviation there is here.

Kind of off the subject, but has anyone else seen the "crashed" airliner used as part of a paintball field outside of Bogota? I think we were going to Zipaquira when I saw it. I'd like to go back and check it out. I don't recall there being an airfield nearby, so it's kind of intriguing!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Sep 10, 2004, 12:57:

airplanes There is an airfield for private pilots north of Bogota, it is called Guaymaral airport, for those who live in Bogota go on the autopista norte, where the BIMA mall is there is a small side road that drives you down to it, you can also reach it turning left (south) at the intersection in Chia prior to reaching Andres Carne de Res. There is also another airfield for private pilots at Girardot on the road between Girardot and Espinal. About the crashed airplane it is on 7th ave on the outskirts of Bogota, it did not crash there is was bought as scrap at Eldorado and moved there for the paintball yard.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KOMACHI says on Sep 11, 2004, 14:54:

i like this subject Hi you all,

I am a Commercial pilot and I have studied at Aeroandes in guaymaral airport. I hold a CPL Multi IFR in Colombia and FAA's a PPL Multi airman certificate.

as from Colombia to America I just validated my certificate based on a foreign license, I think the same process goes for you, you will have to go to the aeronautica civil (Colombia’s FAA) which is located on the airport el dorado at the first floor go to the 3dr floor and ask the pretty lady in license department. There is usually a bit of a waiting line but is fine, don’t forget to get your log book. You might need a certificate that states you have never had been arrested over drug offenses, but I am not sure. That is a must for Colombians to obtain a license and has to be renovated every 4 years. You also have to get a medical license because your FAA will not be valid. I have the doctor's office address somewhere...
Anyway there is a club called aeroclub. They offer relatively cheap classes and they might rent you a plane to go to the training zones if you take some classes with them. Just to get familiar.
no special qualification or mountain license, just remember your maneuvers and memorize the specifications of the plane you want to fly, Colombian civil aeronautic test tend to focus a lot on the colors of the tachometer and their meanings... weight and balance of the very same plane and the engine specifications,
Guaymaral is a VFR airport SKGY RWY 28/10 at 5473' 8478ft AMSL class "b" airspace

I will be arriving in Colombia on sept 17, if you are in Colombia I can give you an introduction to fly in Colombia. I will show you the training zones and if you want to fly maybe if I have time (and we can share the rental of a cessna152 or 172).

for the ultra lights is best to go to Gerardo, they are nuts down there!!!
You just need like 4 or 5 hours to get a license (I think) is very easy to obtain one

Email me at

oscarpilot at free.fr



(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KOMACHI says on Sep 11, 2004, 14:57:

is "girardot" not gerardo sorry

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tommytoyz says on Sep 11, 2004, 18:24:

Flyomg beyong training zones Komachi :

Is it possible to fly freely in Colombian airspace, say take a route from Bogota to Medellin and on to Cartgena and Santa Marta? Or is it restricted or dangerous and be misidentified as a narc? Maybe people on the ground will shoot...What's the availability of Avgas and Jet A outside Bogota?.....any info very appreciated. Colombia is a beautiful country and it would be great to be able to explore.....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KOMACHI says on Sep 12, 2004, 04:57:

there is some misconception
Ok let me answer your questions,

It is possible to fly freely in any airspace in Colombia (this aint Afghanistan) like any country you just make your flight plan show your respective licenses (this is very important both medical and airman certificate, with respective addition for the equipment you will fly) because Colombian civil authority are extremely strict with this. carry a valid type of ID ex, Passport because before departing to any city you will have to taxi your plane to the police (depending on the size of the airport) or a police agent will check your plane, but is just routine it last 1 minute, he ask you where do you go and where are you going, your ID, pilot license and that is it.
You can go to any airport in Colombia Off course respecting the "R" type of zones like everywhere in the world. You won’t get shot from nobody "this aint Vietnam, I am telling you because I worked as a bush pilot in the Amazon (land of guerrilla) and they have no beef with pilots. As long as you don’t have an emergency in the middle of the jungle which will be very hard for rescue teams to find you, but since you want to fly over the cities that wont be a problem.
Why would you need Jet?? Are you flying business jet? Learjet? You must be one rich dude that is like $3000us /hour?
For the Av gas even small VFR airports has Texaco or Mobil pumps, I don’t think all of them accept credit cards but mayor airports they will.
Landing fee is depending on who you rent the plane from. it gets payid with Plane’s airworthiness certificate. Parking is not usually a problem (actually never).

Why would you be identified as narc? If you make a flight plan, let’s say for a ... that really depends on your budget. let say you take a King Air 300, a midsize multiengine you make your flight plane at 6 am, you take off from SKGY and arrive at medellin SKRG rionegro airport at 8 and take one of the greatest breakfast of your life " whit arepa and chocolate" then go to TWR make another flight plan depart or do some gas and arrive to cartagena SKCG by noon.
Why would you be identified as narc? Will you flight at night coming from Venezuela or Costa Rica?? Without a flight plan?? Will you take of from an unauthorized aerodrome in the middle of the Amazon with only a GPS flying low altitudes? If you answer no and if you are a pilot then you know the answer. (i think even in florida you will be in deep S*&^t for doing that.
as a matter of fact Colombia has the rank 8 in airports in the world, oh yes! we have some aviation tradition, check brazil or Bolivia who would imagine that south American countries has more airports that European countries or Japan?? do you know Avianca? second oldest airline in the world!

http://www.aneki.com/airports.html




(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tommytoyz says on Sep 12, 2004, 14:37:

Thanks for your detailed response With all the noise about the US and Colombian military doing drug interdiction missions, I was concerned it would interfere with General Aviation in Colombia. My concern arises from the incident involving the American missionaries, who got shot down in their Cessna by the Peruvian Air Force.

As for the requirement for Jet A, It's not for a turbine. I'm thinking of buying a new Diesel power plant in the future, which can burn Jet A or Diesel. But I'd prefer Jet A, as I wouldn't be certain of the fuel quality of Diesel nor it's availability close to the airport. But if Jet A is available, that would be dandy. These new power plants sip 40% less fuel and Jet A is also cheaper to boot. But it all just might be simpler to rent within Colombia.

Thanks for your info.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

KOMACHI says on Sep 13, 2004, 09:29:

that is some noise... That is why I don't try to believe everything the papers say;
The incident with the Peruvian missionaries happens only because they happen not to respond to identify themselves. Inexperienced pilots that fail to follow Radio procedures. if I fly over the pentagon without calling wont they shut me down?
Down to Chinatown baby!


(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

0 funny, 0 helpful.