USA

Sport flying (General aviation) is probably more pleasant and less costly in the USA than anywhere else in the world. There are plenty of airports (around 5000), most of them are equipped with concrete runways and night lighting. Aviation fuel costs about one third of the average price in Europe despite the fact that it includes a tax covering landing fees at all the U.S. airports. The average cost of landing at a sport airport in Europe is anywhere between 20-40 EUR and the bigger airports are even much more costly. I have never paid any landing fee in the U.S.

In addition, one gets all the necessary services at many of the smaller American airports – such as car hire, aviation fuel, hotel booking etc. while in Europe finding these at small airport is mostly a big issue.  

Renting an aircraft in the U.S. is also much cheaper than in Europe – for example a new Cessna C172 with the latest avionics (glass cockpit) can be hired at some USD 130 per hour including fuel which is less than half the average European price. On top of that, of course, given the size and diversity of USA, the flying itself is a very interesting experience.

I have made altogether 4 bigger trips around various parts of the U.S. during which I covered the South (Texas, New Mexico, Luisiana, Florida) the West – California, Colorad, Utah, Arizona, the North/Midwest – Minessota, Wisconsin, Ilinois, Indiana, Ohio, the Northeast – New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Southeast – Florida up to Key West and also Tennesse, Alabama and Georgia. In addition I have done a lot of training flights around Texas and Florida.