Euro Crisis hits GA in Italy

[Jean]

Good news, just read that the luxury tax in Italy will now apply only to over 45 days stays instead of 48 hours as formerly stated.
We can fly to Italy again !
http://www.aerobuzz.fr/spip.php?breve1271

[Antoine]

Thank you Jean, this is excellent news.I can now plan that surprise weekend in Venice again!

[Jeff]

Hi, does anybody knows how it works in Florida. For my condominium I have to pay quite a big property tax. much more than I would have to pay here in Switzerland. I wonder what would be tax wise if will bring my DA40 over to Florida? That's quit an option for the future. Thomas

You would have to pay the use tax once (6% for Florida + whatever the county might want, usually small - Volusia comes to $25)

For airplanes owners with a nexus in the State of FL you have to pay use tax ONLY if your airplane remains in FL for a period of more than 20 days every 6 months. See this link
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/forms/2010/gt800008.pdf

[JimP]

JoeyL, that is just the annual registration tax. There is also a sales or use tax that ranges from 6.875% to over 7.5% of the purchase price on a new or used aircraft purchase. That is just part of why they call Minnesota the "Land of 10,000 Taxes."

[Zsolt]

Very good news and I used the opportunity to fly to Italy last week. We spent a few days at Peccioli Pratello resort, http://www.pratello.it/, beautiful hotel in Tuscany with a 1000 m airfield and friendly owner who flies
a helicopter. Visited Siena, Volterra and other small tuscan villages, enjoying perfect weather, fantastic food and the country side. On the way back stopped in Portoroz, Slovenia, for refueling and flew to other perfect place in Hungary with an airstrip, Hertelendy Castle, http://www.hotel-hertelendy.com/?q=en.
The hotel was organizing a fly-in with a program, 25-30 planes arrived, some Diamonds as well.
It was a nice weekend, excellent flying weather, friendly controllers and I highly reccomend the places above to visit.

[Antoine]

Hi Zsolt

Nice to hear from you and thanks for the interesting report. Definitely on my to do list!
Did you note avgas availability and prices?

(Me I'm flying tomorrow to Straubing, Germany, in shitty weather to have MT fix my leaky propeller hub - not quite Tuscan food to be expected there...

Best regards

Antoine

[Zsolt]

Hi Antoine
No Avgas at Pratello, the closest airport is in Siena, I would guess no more than 30 minutes to fly there.
I called them, Avgas no problem, but, if I well remember, they don't work from 12 to 14.
You also can fill up in Lucca, according to Paolo, the owner, what is also very close to Pratello. Didn't check, I had enough fuel back to Portoroz.
I have to fly also to Avionik Straubing in the near future to replace my Stormscope unit.
The schnitzel is OK at the airport restaurant.
Have a nice flight.
Zsolt

[Jean]

Very good news and I used the opportunity to fly to Italy last week. We spent a few days at Peccioli Pratello resort, http://www.pratello.it/, beautiful hotel in Tuscany with a 1000 m airfield and friendly owner who flies
a helicopter. Visited Siena, Volterra and other small tuscan villages, enjoying perfect weather, fantastic food and the country side. On the way back stopped in Portoroz, Slovenia, for refueling and flew to other perfect place in Hungary with an airstrip, Hertelendy Castle, http://www.hotel-hertelendy.com/?q=en.
The hotel was organizing a fly-in with a program, 25-30 planes arrived, some Diamonds as well.
It was a nice weekend, excellent flying weather, friendly controllers and I highly reccomend the places above to visit.

Thanks Zsolt.
Very nice spots !
I would like to make it to Pratello.
The Hungarian place is somewhat pricy, but if they could make an offer for a Diamond fly-in, it would be wonderful !
Besides needing a fix for your stormscope, how do you rate this device ?

[Zsolt]

Hi Jean
The Stormscope- mixed feelings, if You flying long legs its very useful for avoidance, the range of the stormscope is more than 100 miles. It will not operate precisely in the range 0-20 miles, I had cases in short distance, that the flashes did not show up on my Garmin screen. If I compare with TAS600, the TAS is a lot more useful, I would not like to fly without the TAS. The Stormscope installation would cost You around 10 000 Eur including VAT, its an expensive option and after SVT, TAS600, it would be the third option on my list to upgrade, but I could live without it as well.
The Diamond Fly-in - The Hertelendy castle is not a cheap option and I would suggest an other place near to my airport, Chateau Bela, http://www.chateau-bela.com/, its very close drive Budapest and I could organize a day tip to Budapest and the surrounding areas, reasonable prices at the hotel, some wine tasting or other program. Fuel is not available at my airport, www.lzsy.sk, but in Hungary, LHPR, Gyor what is 20 minutes flight is no problem.
Zsolt

[Antoine]

Flight to Straubing cancelled after spending half a day at the airport waiting. The couds were hugging the ground and our VFR airport was closed.
Just as I was about to launch, a pirep came in: moderate to sever icing and turbulence as of 5000 ft. And it was a PC12 reporting...
No go...
break break
We really should do a fly in. How about july 2012?