¡Chile Lindo!

Tour Aviation Chile guides pilots through a stunning slice of South America

ChileTake the best nature has to offer: sandy beaches, snowy mountains, deep blue lakes, smoking volcanoes, glaciers, fjords, waterfalls, archipelagos, geysers, salt plains, hot springs---you name it---and mix in delicious seafood, lush vineyards, warm hospitality and 350 airports, and you've got Chile.

To get to Chile, pack your passport, and any one of numerous airliners will take you to Arturo Merino Benítez, the international airport on the outskirts of the country's bustling capital, Santiago. But to really get to Chile, head to the serene, tree-lined neighborhood of La Reina, at the base of the colossal Andes mountain range. There, at Santiago's largest GA airport, Aeródromo Eulogio Sánchez Errázuriz (better known as "Tobalaba"), is a gateway to an insider's view of the South American wonderland: Tour Aviation Chile.

Founded by Jaime Hernández, Tour Aviation Chile offers los aviadores access to the country's dramatic beauty and inner culture through customized self-fly tours. More than 75% of the country's runways are unpaved, and although these grass, dirt and gravel strips are often off the beaten path, they're well traveled by Jaime and his team of experienced pilots.

"Our mission is to give an amazing flying experience to our customers, showing them the best of our great country, with high safety standards in all of our operations," says Jaime, who has logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time. "For us, it's a big pleasure taking pilots on tours, and we have always received very good feedback. But an even bigger pleasure is establishing friendships with aviators all around the world. This is an enormous satisfaction!"

Chilechile
Pumalin Park, a dramatic area of southern Chile belonging to environmentalist Douglas Tompkins (cofounder of The North Face and Esprit), is home to Vodudahue Valley ("devil's corner"). A 1,600-foot grass strip sits within a narrow valley shrouded by the Andes.

Tours can be as structured or as spontaneous as a customer prefers. In a choice of Cessna 172, 182 or 210 or Piper Cheyenne, visiting pilots fly from the left seat, accompanied by a guide who handles all details and logistics, including lodging, meals and ground-based activities. Assistance is provided with flying regulations, navigation and radio communications, as needed. And those looking to improve their flying skills couldn't ask for a better classroom: mountain navigation, short- and soft-field takeoffs and landings, and high-altitude operations are part of the daily flying repertoire. ¡Que bueno!



Villarrica Airfield is on the western shore of Villarrica Lake at the base of Villarrica volcano, a popular ski center.

More than 75% of Chile's airports are unpaved. The grass strip at Haluaihue Airfield sits on the coast of Seno de Reloncaví, a gulf on the Pacific Ocean that marks the end of the Central Valley and is considered the beginning of Patagonia.
It's not uncommon to find mountain goats at SCLD, the high-elevation runway at Llanada Grande in the Río Puelo Valley. Smoke plumes can be seen coming from Chaitén, a volcano in southern Chile that entered an eruptive phase in May 2008.


As recent as five years ago, there were no roads to this area; aviation was an alternate to horses as the main mode of transport.
Pilots landing on the grass strip at Hostería Fundo Chollinco in Chile's Lake District can stay in luxurious log cabins along the serene Calcurrupe River, flanked by steep mountain cliffs. Ground-based activities include fly-fishing, rafting and canopy, a sport that takes adventurers along zip lines at treetop level through a system of harnesses, pulleys and steel wires. Visit www.hosteriachollinco.cl.
Posada Martín Pescador offers visitors access to Chile's interior lakes, rivers and hiking trails.

With more than 5,000 hours of flight time logged, 36-year-old Jaime Hernández is an expert on flying in Chile. He and his team of pilot guides know their country intimately and are passionate about sharing the best it has to offer, both in the air and on the ground.

 
TOUR AVIATION CHILE
 
www.touraviation.com jaime@touraviation.com (562) 275-1859

Atacama Adventure (8 days)
Pilots fly over the salt plains of northern Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the world's driest regions. Stops include Chuquicamata, the world's largest copper mine, the European Southern Observatory and Valparaíso, Chile's main port city.

Southern Wonders (9 days)
Turquoise waters and dramatic volcanoes populate the view from above the Lake District. Earthbound activities include fishing, white-water rafting and wine tasting. Pilots will also fly to Chile's largest island, Chiloé, known for its small fishing towns and colorful architecture.

A Peek at Patagonia (12 days)
Glaciers and fjords dominate the far south, some areas of which are accessible only by small grass strips. This extended tour includes a border hop over the massive Andes Mountains to Bariloche, an Argentinean alpine town.

The Chilean Caper (18 days)
An extended tour that combines the Atacama Adventure and A Peek at Patagonia tours.

Click on the map to see larger version.

 

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