Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

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soarer20
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Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by soarer20 »

Thinking of taking my Katana to Safari Express just near Bellingham at the Boundary Bay airport. Safariexpress.ca

Anyone have any feedback or heard of them?

I hate the idea of having to do the whole EAPIS customs bs just for maintenance, however there isn’t anyone in Washington that knows diamonds with Rotax.

Feedback?
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thefoxx
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by thefoxx »

Yes I know of Safari and they have been extremely helpful over the years with advice for me and my C1. Genuinly great guys.

I haven't used them for service, however, but I know they maintain the DA20-A1's, C1's, DA40, and DA42 for the flight school attached to their shop so they definitely have the knowledge with nearly every model of Diamond.

I'm located about 60 mins flight north of them but have a local shop doing my maintenance.

Sorry couldn't be more helpful - but thats my experience with them!
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Colin
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by Colin »

I use FlashPass on my iPhone for my monthly flights over our northern border. It makes it pretty painless.

Currently you have the further obstacle of needing a PCR Covid test and you need to file your arrival with ArriveCAN as well.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
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N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
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michael.g.miller
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by michael.g.miller »

Colin wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:56 pm I use FlashPass on my iPhone for my monthly flights over our northern border. It makes it pretty painless.
Baja Bush Pilots has a similar service, for much less money (included in the $49/yr subscription), and it covers the inbound eAPIS for Mexico.
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thefoxx
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by thefoxx »

Colin wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:56 pm I use FlashPass on my iPhone for my monthly flights over our northern border. It makes it pretty painless.

Currently you have the further obstacle of needing a PCR Covid test and you need to file your arrival with ArriveCAN as well.
Sounds like those terrible PCR tests will be coming to an end very soon to get into Canada - that will make it significantly easier.
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by Colin »

PCR tests will be coming to an end very soon to get into Canada
Where is your information coming from?
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
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Colin
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by Colin »

Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by soarer20 »

The short trip from KAWO to Boundary bay went well.

The list on aopa and eaa are fairly complete. I believe you still need ArriveCAN (app) to prove that your vaccinated.

Safari Express seems to be the area expert with Diamond Aircraft and rotax. I believe I counted 11 diamonds that they service! Although I must say it’s concerning that there are so few shops around that are experts with Rotax.

I’ll report back after the annual is complete.
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by DiamondDavid »

Hi Soarer20...

I am based art Victoria International and bring my DA 20 C-1 over the pond to Jan and Mike at Safari Express for any serious procedures and for my annuals, as they are very familiar with Diamond aircraft and maintain a local training fleet.

They might not seem to be the most organized or the most punctual, but they have the knowledge
and judgement and are never charging you for time 'learning' Diamonds.

Jan, the owner, is a rock-solid, honest diligent and earnest guy.

Worth try for sure.
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soarer20
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Re: Anyone used Safari Express aircraft maintenance?

Post by soarer20 »

The saga continues.

My plane has been in their shop for 2.5 months now. In the northwest it’s so hard to find a Rotax mechanic that I’m planning on buying a different airplane.

It took nearly 1 month before they could do the inspection. Which sucks because it was difficult to get my plane to them as they are in Canada and I’m in the US.

I believe they are good with rotax but don’t seem to have any special knowledge.

They do not respond to emails or voicemails quickly which makes it frustrating and hard to get answers to questions and get status updates.

Estimates over the phone have been changed a few times. I might have misheard the labor quote. However, I’m not comfortable with an annual on an open hourly rate.

Unfortunately, they know the da20 better than any shop I have found. This is good and bad. They found my canopy rods were worn which no one else caught.

They cracked my glare shield and want me to pay for repairing it. Not happy about this. It wasn’t in great condition but I’ve removed it many times without damaging it and expect they will take the same care I do.

They initially failed to notice I had the upgraded oil lines and we’re ready to replace them at a cost of $1500.

So far they are 20 hrs in to the annual and an additional 25 hrs in to fixing things and unfortunately due to parts availability somethings will be left unfixed.

I think a better route to go would be getting your annual done in the USA, then having them do an inspection for a flat rate.

This has been the most expensive annual I’ve had in 5 years.
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