Company Offers Self-Piloted NZ Tours

by ANN Correspondent Pete Tobin

The wonderfully charming Joanne McCaughan and her husband Matt specialize in showing pilots from all around the world all the beauty of New Zealand from the sky through their company called Flyinn.

"We provide holidays for pilots who want to fly themselves around New Zealand!" proudly proclaims Joanne.

For pilots who find this appealing, your adventure would begin at the Flyinn base of operations on the south island near Wanaka. Their runway is on an actual working high-county sheep station.

After arrival and spending a day to get over jet-lag, customers will be checked out in one of Flyinn's bright yellow Cessna 172s. From there you will head out by yourself or with a guide pilot in right seat depending on which of the three tours offered by Flyinn that you've chosen.

These trips are all inclusive and come complete with jet-boat rides and fishing trips and lots of fun things to do all depending on your selected destinations.

The scheduled trips can be as short as eight days, in which the pilot would log 12 hours of flight time -- or as long as 19 days, in which the pilot would log 28 hours.

Certain destinations do require a guild pilot in the right seat due to the mountain flying environment and the potential dangers for someone not familiar with the region and required mountain flying techniques.

"Plus, this is a holiday. You'll want to be free to look out the windows and see areas of New Zealand that can only be viewed from the sky," stated Joanne. "Plus the guides pilots offer information about interesting point in the area that you're flying to and help you make the most of your trip."

FMI: www.flyinn.co.nz