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Fly To: Santa Fe
For many, aviation is about freedom. Whether it’s for work or for play, general aviation grants unparalleled opportunities to access locales that would otherwise be out of reach. In this “Fly To:” we are visiting the artist and ski town of Santa Fe, New Mexico. We discuss how to fly there, what to do, when to go and where to stay in this enchanting city.
Summer is Here! Head to the Mountains.
let’s take a trip from lively Santa Fe up through Southern Colorado
Summertime can be brutal in the south. Some people head to the beach to fully embrace the heat, but for others, the Rocky Mountains can offer a welcome reprieve with promises of cool, dry air and endless outdoor activities. This three part “Fly-To” series will start in picturesque Santa Fe and conclude with some mountain flying in Southern Colorado.
Exploring Santa Fe
There is no better place to begin a summer mountain adventure than Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santa Fe offers an atmosphere that is decisively different and has a little something for everyone.
Events You Shouldn’t Miss!
June 15,16 or June 22,23 2019
Santa Fe has a long history as an artist’s town and this free event draws people from all over to take an intimate look at the artist’s studios and most recent works.
Santa Fe Edible Art Tour
June 14-15 2019
Have you ever been walking through an art gallery and thought, “gee, I could really go for some food”? The Santa Fe Edible Art Tour is a city-wide event that allows you to eat your way through some of the top local galleries. Artists provide a curated culinary experience in their own workspace and are on-site to talk about their exhibits.
Santa Fe Bandstand
All Summer Long
The Santa Fe Bandstand runs from May through August and provides FREE live music on the historic Santa Fe plaza from local and regional artists. Bring a chair and listen to great music, or better yet, grab a patio seat at one of the restaurants nearby and sip on a cocktail with the best view around.
Flying into Santa Fe
Santa Fe Regional Airport (KSAF)
Santa Fe Regional Airport FBO
Open 24-hours
ILS, VOR, RNAV (GPS) Approaches
3 runways with maximum length of 8300 ft
Things to Know Before Takeoff
Watch that density altitude! The airport sits at over 6,000 ft elevation with rising terrain to the east. Those warm summer months can tack-on some serious length to your takeoff roll.
Heading East? Look at the charts! Terrain rises sharply east of the field, if you’re in a normally aspirated plane be prepared to circle, or take a lower altitude route to the south or north.
The airport is about 10 miles from the city - UBER/Lyft are reliable in the area if the crew car is taken.
What to do in Santa Fe?
Where to Stay?
Fly To: New Orleans
For many, aviation is about freedom. Whether its for work or for play, general aviation grants unparalleled opportunities to access locales that would otherwise be out of reach. In our new blog series “Fly To”, we will show you some of the places where we like to fly and pass along a few ideas of what to do when you get there. Second stop, New Orleans!
NOLA
“Laissez les bon temps rouler”
Established: 1718
Population of Parish: 393,292
Metro Population: 1,262,888
Elevation: -6.5 to 20ft
When to Go
New Orleans is an easy going city where you can find plenty of delicious food, strong drinks, live music, and a laid back attitude year round. Picking the opportune time to visit truly depends on what kind of NOLA trip you want.
Spring - Jazz Fest to Mardis Gras
From March to the end of May is the busiest time of year, for good reason. Spring is the best time to visit the city weather-wise where you can expect highs in the upper 70s and lows in the 50s.
Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, takes over the town from March 1 - 6 in 2019. The celebration of the year and the busiest time, Mardi Gras is an exciting time to visit. Parades and Krewes fill the streets with colorful feathers, costumes and floats. Contrary to many beliefs, while festivities may get out of hand, most of the parades and events around town are family friendly.
French Quarter Festival, goes down in the town from April 11 - 14. Go to the french quarter where there are nearly two dozen stages set up to hear jazz, Latin, r&b, zydeco, New Orleans funk, swing and rock. Food from the finest establishments around the city fill Jackson Square and sprawls into the neighboring streets. And of course catch the “Worlds Largest Jazz Brunch” at Woldenberg Riverfront Park, the festivals signature event.
Jazz Fest April 25 - May 5 . The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly. With music on multiple stages, delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around the world.
Summer - Sweat Some, Save Alot
The Summer months from June to August boasts some of the hottest and muggiest days with temperatures in the 90’s and humidity thick enough to cut. However if you are planning on being indoors most the time and want to avoid the crowds and hiked hotel rates, than this might be the best time for you. Many of the luxury hotels offer slashed deals and restaurants that are often difficult to find reservations are wide open.
During the entire month of August, travelers will also find that many restaurants like Commander’s Palace also offer “COOLinary” prix-fixe deals which are multi-course lunch specials for $20 or less and dinner for $39 or less.
Fall - Calm and Cool before the storm
In fall you can expect more pleasant weather with daily highs in the mid 80s to low 70s and thinner crowds. Although hurricane season in New Orleans poses a threat from June through November, however severe storms are rare.
Winter -
Winter is a sweet spot to avoid crowds, score solid deals on flights and hotels, and see the city decorated in holiday cheer. The winter months of December and January boast daily highs averaging in the low 60s and daily lows in the 40s.
Crawfish Season?
Although there is not an official crawfish season as there can be with shrimp or crab, from March until June you will find the mudbugs seasoned, sauteed, boiled and fried from joint to joint across town. The city has an entire event dedicated to the mudbugs The Crawfish Festival goes on from May 3-5, boasting over 30 musicians, dancing, and crawfish cooked up any way imaginable.
If you are looking for some crawfish in the off season hunt down the closest Ice House and there’s bound to be a boil going.
Where to Land
New Orleans Lakefront Airport
Open 24-hour for VFR and VOR GPS
No landing fees
US Customs available 24-hour
3 runways with maximum length of 6880ft
Airport History
Lakefront Airport was built in the 1930's in true Art Deco Fasion and at the time was considered and architectural masterpiece. It was the first major airport in the region, and served proudly as a general aviation airport to this day. Inside the terminal building, travelers would find an array Art Deco pieces, featuring murals by artist Xavier Gonzalez and friezes by Enrique R. Alferez.
What to do in the big easy?
Museums & Places of Interest
Where to stay in New Orleans
Neighborhoods
The French Quarter
SETTLED: 1718
VIBE: Romantic, Jazzy and Mysterious
KNOWN FOR: Bohemian charm, Jackson Square history, Steamboat cruises, Bourbon Street Bars and fun, Old-world architecture
The Garden District
SETTLED: 1833
VIBE: Manicured, Prim and Proper, Charming
KNOWN FOR: Grand mansions, Magazine Street shopping, Audubon Park and Zoo, the St. Charles Streetcar
Marginy & Bywater
SETTLED: 1806
VIBE: Hipster, Colorful, and laid-back
KNOWN FOR: Marigny Opera House, Colorful Creole cottages, Washington Square Park, and Frenchmen Street music scene
Warehouse District
SETTLED: 19th century-industrial area
VIBE: Artsy, sophisticated and trendy
KNOWN FOR: James Beard Award-Winning Chefs, Julia Street or Gallery Row, National World War II Museum, Mardi Gras World, the Convention Center
Hotels
You Can Buy an Airplane
Buying an airplane is a rewarding but complicated process. However, there has never been a better time to buy. From tax incentives to employee productivity private air travel is the answer to airlines travel woes. Here we explain the affordability and accessibility that comes with buying a plane.
Invest in Easy Travel
Private planes definitely have a stigma - they're EXPENSIVE. While an airplane may cost more than your car, it opens up endless possibilities for you and your business. Let's do some quick math. If you or your team use airline travel multiple times per month you are likely spending tens of thousands per year getting around the country. The hours spent commuting to and from an airport, waiting in TSA lines and delayed flights work together to hurt your bottom-line.
Price of a Plane
Prices vary widely in the aircraft market, but there are options for every budget. For many individuals and small businesses, travel is regional and a light plane is a perfect choice. Something like a used Cirrus SR22 or Beechcraft Bonanza will run between $200,000-$500,000 and offer efficient and fast travel around a 600-mile area. Annual and hourly operating costs are very reasonable.
For others, something that flies higher and faster may be necessary. A Citation Mustang or Phenom 100 are great planes to buy. These planes cost between $1-$2.5 million and offer 1,000+ mile range and speeds of an airliner. Many owners are surprised how affordable these private planes are to operate.
If these prices shock you, don't fret. There are so many ways to save on both the upfront capital and operating costs. Our group specializes in cost reduction through the use of fractional ownership, leasing, and chartering with our partners. For example, two companies may choose to team up to buy and operate the plane - reducing overall costs by half. We can even help with the matchmaking process.
Save Big on Taxes
We know what you're thinking, how can I possibly SAVE money buying an airplane. It's actually pretty easy, especially for businesses. Recent legislation has allowed for 100% first-year book depreciation for both new and used aircraft. This essentially means that you can "write-off" (deduct) the entire cost of your aircraft on your taxes the year you purchase.
Not only are you saving upfront but a huge portion of related aircraft operating expenses are deductible too. The IRS doesn't view your flight on your business aircraft differently than a ticket on the airlines. You may deduct these company trips the same way you would any other flight. This makes ownership achievable for a huge number of buyers.
Buy a Plane Today
Flight Level Partners specializes in working with first-time buyers. We take the time to educate you, our clients, on both the good and bad of ownership and build ownership strategies that make you successful. We believe that aviation continues to offer unparalleled advantages to businesses and professionals, alike. Call us or shoot us an email today to talk about how ownership can benefit you.