TACOMA, Wash. — We are taking off from Commencement Bay to get a bird's eye view of the South Sound's most scenic landmarks.
"We will stay low," pilot Austin Flegel promised. "Usually about 1,000 feet over the water so we will get some very good views of everything."
These 30 minute narrated flights are made possible by a Kenmore Air's partnership with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians who have provided a terminal in front of Woven Seafood and Chophouse, an upcoming restaurant owned by the tribe. For $109 per person, passengers will take in stunning views of Mount Rainier, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Chambers Bay Golf Course, Point Defiance Park, Vashon Island and other sights. In just over two months of operation last year, the Puyallup Air Terminal had more than 100 flights with almost 1,000 passengers.
Flegel enjoys the hands-on flying.
"I just like the freedom that it gives," Flegel said. "I like being able to go pretty much wherever we want, as long as we are below three thousand feet around here. We can go see whatever we want. We can go land where we want."
New this year are direct flights from Tacoma to San Juan Island. The cost is $199 per person one-way and are 55 minutes long, compared to the minimum 4-hour drive commute to get from Tacoma to San Juan Island via the state ferry system.
“We are thrilled to bring more people to Ruston Way and continue our historic partnership with Kenmore Air,” said the Puyallup Tribal Council, the Tribe’s governing body. “Last year we started with fun, exciting scenic flights around the South Sound, and now the planes are going all the way to San Juan Island. We’re proud of the Puyallup Tribal Air Terminal and expect it will continue to be successful.”
After looping around MacNeil Island, we head back to Commencement Bay. Where we land is up to the pilot.
"We're not limited to one spot like a runway so we can come in," Flegel said. "We can change our angle if we don't like what the winds are doing. and pick the perfect spot to land."
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