WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO GRAND CANYON AIRPORT...AND WHY NO ONE FLIES THERE ANYMORE

I have been flying into Grand Canyon Airport for years (KGCN). The past three years I have not flown there due to health reasons for my wife. We decided to fly to KGCN last Saturday with the weather being beautiful for this time of year. The experience we had was horrible. Several years ago KGCN moved GA parking from the FBO area to a ramp about 1/2 mile south of the FBO. KGCN is a secure airport even though they no longer have any commercial flights with the majority of their flights being sight seeing airplanes that fly over and through the Canyon. Upon moving the GA ramp the FBO, Grand Canyon Air, was to supply a shuttle from transient parking to the FBO and back. The GA ramp is a secure area, and we were not supposed to walk to the terminal. No van arrived and we called their frequency several times without a reply. We decided to walk to the FBO which was a big mistake for my wife due to the high altitude. When we arrived at the FBO my wife could not catch her breath for about 30 minutes. We sat down in the lounge, and when my wife recovered we decided to go home. The FBO refused to shuttle us back to our plane, and we had to walk. Our objective was to go have brunch at El Tovar which is a beautiful lodge with old fashion dining and then step out to the scenic area. We were the only airplane on a huge ramp for transient aircraft. I remember when this ramp used to be full! Now KGCN averages 1 GA flight every 4 days. All the rental car facilities have left the airport as there is no business for them. Taxi service has raised their price to get to the Canyon from $10 to $23 one way due to no competition. In the summer there used to be a shuttle that would carry you to the Canyon for $5 a person each way. They quit their service saying it is too expensive. When we went to return to our plane the FBO would not transport us back either. I made some phone calls to pilots around the Phoenix area, and they all stated they do no fly to KGCN any longer for the above reasons. I talked to the new airport manager and he is in between a rock and a hard place. KGCN is going to put out and RFP for FBO services. Until a new FBO is on board with complete service no one is going to fly their plane there. I surely cannot recommend going to the Grand Canyon by GA Aircraft. It takes 1 hour to fly there from Phoenix and 51/2 hours to drive.The Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen, and I never get tired of the views. It is sad that I will probably never return there in my lifetime. After posting this morning had several phone calls from pilots around the Valley. They recommended flying into G40 Valle Airport 18 miles south of the Grand Canyon and renting a car there. We sure will do this next time.

WORLDS BEST PILOT

It has been awhile since I have posted anything. I cannot believe it is already February! Things have been hectic here as we bought a new dog which we fly up to receive the end of February, after 12 years I bought a new car and had some tuneup surgery on my back and neck. I have been flying for a very long time. Flying gliders I am never straight and level, just flying above the stall sppeed circiling in thermals. Flying my E 35 1954 Bonanza for the past 20 years, I consider myself a pretty good pilot. I have flown hard IFR, staying away from thunder storms and icing, and have flown numerous approaches into California through the marine layer. I consider myself a very good pilot. Then I stop and think about other pilots I know and have to take a back seat to their skills. I have a friend, Pam Melroy, that was the third female shuttle pilot. She is a graduate of MIT graduate school and flew in the Air Force as a Colonel flying the C130. Pam entered the Space program for NASA and became an astronaut flying several missions on the Shuttle. How in the world can I compete with this...I can't.

I flew with Major Jason White "Trash" at Luke Air Force Base. His F16 flies a little faster than my Bonanza with a lot more thrust. I met Jason when he was a glider pilot on the Air Force Academy flight team. I was president of Arizona Soaring that year, and we had a regional contest that he won in the two place category. I never thought I would be flying with him a few years later. How can I compete with him...I can't. Patty Wagstaff is another friend who used to live in Arizona. Patty is never flying straight and level. She makes airplanes do things that are physically impossible. Patty's flying defies the laws of physics. How can I keep up with that....I can't. Tim Bellury was an Air Force pilot and then flew for Delta finishing on the 757 and 767. We grew up together and Tim has been a friend of mine for over 52 years was flying 300 passengers every flight around the country. Flying my 4 seat Bonanza how can I keep up with that....I can't What I finally realized is that I try to be the best pilot I can be flying the mission and equipment I have. I try to make all flights as smooth as an airliner for maximum passenger enjoyment, and being as safe as I possibly can. I realize that I am one lucky guy flying from Mexico to Canada and all the Western and Rocky Mountain States. I will be forever thankful!