Buddy Rides Ride Again ! (!)

The VASI mission is to promote safe, neighborhood friendly and sustainable General Aviation at the Venice Municipal Airport. To accomplish our mission, VASI is re-introducing the Buddy Ride Program, offering FREE airplane rides to friends of General Aviation. Together, you and your Buddy Ride Captain can discover General Aviation firsthand with a tour of the airport, the aircraft and the friendly skies.

Who Can Ride: Adults and children of all ages. Buddy Riders must be able to climb small steps to board the aircraft and therefore, must be generally fit and mobile. Minors must have parent or guardian approval and all Buddy Riders must furnish a signed liability waiver. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The waiver is provided for signature prior to the ride.

What to Expect: Depending on the nature of the request and aircraft availability, Buddy Riders can expect a ride duration lasting anywhere from 20 minutes around the pattern to an hour journey across Southern Florida. Riders may wish to take an escorted tour of the airport facilities under the supervision of the VASI Buddy Rider Captain and learn more about the equipment, hangar and ramp areas. Bring your camera! All flights are conducted during daylight hours in good weather.

Where Are We Going? See your house. See the Gulf. See another airport. Talk to your Buddy Ride Captain. Buddy Riders and Buddy Ride Captains can discuss points of interest and decide on destinations duration of flight. The important thing is for you to experience aviation in a safe and comfortable environment.

Reasons We Might Not Go: Weather may postpone a Buddy Ride. Because Buddy Ride Captains want Buddy Riders to have an enjoyable experience, the Captain my call to delay or postpone your flight due to weather conditions. The Golden Rule of all aviators is, "It's better to be down here wishing you were up there, than up there wishing you were down here."

Ready To Request Your Buddy Ride? Click on the Ball. In the email that opens, please provide your name, phone number to contact you, who is interested in the ride (yourself, your children or a family member), requested dates and anything else you wish to provide about the flight. VASI will make every effort to schedule your Buddy Ride as close to your requested date as possible. However, 3-5 days notice is generally required.

About Buddy Ride Captains: Buddy Ride Captains provide their time and aircraft on a volunteer basis for the benefit of General Aviation. Buddy Ride Captains are experienced pilots, if not current professionals, retired professionals, or retired military aviators. Most have flown humanitarian missions and many have instrument and commercial certificates. Their greatest interest, aside from an enjoyable Buddy Ride, is the safe operation of the flight.

The Buddy Ride Program is a Not-For-Hire aviation program. Consequently, Buddy Ride Captains must be able to demonstrate, at a minimum, currency of a 3rd Class Medical Certificate, currency of Private Pilot privileges including takeoffs and landings, and currency of the equipment used for the Buddy Ride.