In Well Over 400 hours Of Flight Time, ANN Sure Got Around This Year

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Aero-Menace, Jim Campbell

It was a busy and wide-ranging year for ANN. Since taking the plunge and buying a Cirrus G3 Turbo in the wee hours of 2008 (literally on New Year's Eve), we've been spending a LOT of time on/over the road and with some 300 hours in our aircraft and nearly 200 more in a few others (including a long/great trip in a Columbia/Cessna 400) and quite a few hours in a really sweet Turbo-Aztec (with all the ice-fighting goodies... one of the most rugged workhorses in the M/E world).

In so doing, we've been to a number of airports, FBO and maintenance facilities in the course of the year... many of which truly distinguished themselves... and a few that truly did not. That being the case, we wanted to recognize some of the better experiences we had this year in the hope that the word will get out that these are aviation business worth frequenting and have demonstrated their ability to earn our business... and a return visit when the opportunity arises.

On a fall trip to the West Coast, N377SR got to see the best and worst of a number of Southern tier FBOs... among those that truly stood out include:

KAEG: Bode Aero, Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico

While dodging T-Storms on the way to California, our Cirrus (nicknamed "Puff The Plastic Dragon") dropped in at KAEG right before closing time... we received excellent assistance from the tower after ABQ center gave us the scenic tour of Albuquerque and then attempted to vector us into level 3 weather -- but got a very surprising reception from Bode Aero... who despite the fact that it was within minutes of closing time, not only greeted us with a smile, but told us that a rental car was not necessary so long as we could get the courtesy car back to them the next morning at a reasonable hour (and we did). Line service was prompt and efficient, the facility was well laid-out, and the staff was always in a good mood. Despite a "not-cheap" fuel price, the service we received was worth the price differential, and we've since used KAEG as a stopping point whenever the circumstances permitted.

Oh yeah, its in the middle of some truly gorgeous country... and while we really like Santa Fe, NM, just up the road, KAEG holds its own well.

Aero-Verdict: Great Service, Good Value, Highly Recommended.

FMI: www.flybode.com/bodeaero.htm