Aviation homes · Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte
Homes for pilots and aviation families
We are an aviation family. Whether you want to taxi from your own hangar or simply live close to the runway you fly from, I will help you find a home at a private airfield or with easy access to the major airports and private terminals across Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.
Fly from home
A home that fits the way you fly
At a private airfield
In a fly-in community, your hangar can sit beside the house and the street leads to the runway. I watch these communities for new listings and share each one as soon as it comes on the market.
Near the airports and private terminals
If you keep your aircraft at an airport, or travel by airline often, I match the home to the drive you will make most: to Sarasota Bradenton, Venice, Punta Gorda, or Tampa.
Commuting to your airline base
If you fly for Delta, American, United, or another airline, I look for homes with an easy drive to the airport that has the nonstops to your hub, all year.
Aviation concierge
Fly in to see homes
Arriving by private aircraft should make finding your next home easier, not more complicated. This is how I plan a fly-in visit:
The right airport for the homes you want to see
Tell me which communities interest you, and I will recommend the airport and FBO closest to them, with the drive from each, so your day starts near the homes instead of across the county.
Working with your pilots
I coordinate with your crew or flight department on arrival and departure times and share the airport details they ask for, so the tour plan fits the flight plan.
Met at the FBO, with the day arranged
I meet you at the FBO and arrange your ground transportation for the day, with showings scheduled around your departure time.
Basing your aircraft here
If you will keep an aircraft here, I ask the FBOs and airports nearest your new home about hangar and tie-down availability while we look for the house.
Discretion throughout
Your schedule, your aircraft, and the homes you see stay between us. Private and coming-soon homes are part of what I can show you.
Live at the airfield
Fly-in communities
Hidden River
A gated airpark community of estate homesites of five acres and more, where the streets are platted taxiways that lead to a paved, lighted runway (Hidden River Airport, FAA identifier 22FA, private use, 2,525 by 50 feet in the FAA record). Residents share a hammock recreation area with a private boat launch on the Myakka River.
Source: Hidden River Association (opens in a new tab), checked October 20, 2026
Shell Creek Airpark
Listed by the Florida Department of Transportation as a residential airpark, with a 2,600-foot turf runway (FAA identifier F13) that is privately owned, open to the public, and licensed for daytime visual flying.
Source: AirNav, from FAA records (opens in a new tab), checked October 20, 2026
Prefer acreage where you can build your own strip or helipad? Florida treats either one as a private airport, which needs state site approval, local zoning that allows it, and notice to the FAA, so I confirm the rules with the county before you make an offer. For a helicopter at home, the properties that work are usually outside HOA communities, where no association rules stand in the way. You are welcome to browse homesites and land, including acreage east of Interstate 75.
Easy access
Airports and private terminals
Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ)
Airline service between Sarasota and Manatee counties, with three private terminals: Sheltair, Ascension, and Atlantic Aviation.
Venice Municipal (VNC)
A city-owned general aviation airport two miles south of Venice, with runways of 5,000 feet or more and Skyport Aviation as its FBO.
Punta Gorda (PGD)
Allegiant and Sun Country nonstops from Charlotte County, a 7,193-foot main runway, and PGD Air Center as its FBO.
Tampa International (TPA)
The region's largest airline airport, with private terminals by Sheltair and Signature Aviation.
St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE)
Allegiant and Sun Country service and a 9,730-foot runway, with private terminals by Sheltair and Signature Aviation.
Southwest Florida International (RSW)
Fort Myers' airline airport, south of Charlotte County, with a 12,000-foot runway and PrivateSky Aviation Services as its FBO.
Drive times from each area
| Area | To SRQ | To TPA |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasota | 11 minutes, 5 miles | 78 minutes, 56 miles |
| Islands & Beaches | 16 minutes, 7 miles | 84 minutes, 59 miles |
| Bradenton | 17 minutes, 8 miles | 60 minutes, 43 miles |
| Lakewood Ranch | 19 minutes, 10 miles | 73 minutes, 57 miles |
| Palmer Ranch | 32 minutes, 15 miles | 87 minutes, 67 miles |
| Parrish | 39 minutes, 21 miles | 62 minutes, 41 miles |
| Venice | 45 minutes, 24 miles | 98 minutes, 77 miles |
| Wellen Park | 53 minutes, 36 miles | 106 minutes, 84 miles |
| Punta Gorda | 75 minutes, 60 miles | 129 minutes, 108 miles |
| Englewood and Cape Haze | 78 minutes, 50 miles | 131 minutes, 98 miles |
Drive times as measured for each area's page, checked October 7, 2026. Each community page lists its own drives.
For airline pilots
Commuting to your airline base
Flying for Delta, American, United, or another airline? Your commute is the drive to the airport plus the flight to your base. Here that usually means Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), close to home, or Tampa International (TPA), which lists more nonstops.
| Hub | From SRQ | From TPA |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | ||
| Atlanta ATL | All year | All year |
| Boston BOS | In season | All year |
| Detroit DTW | In season | All year |
| Los Angeles LAX | No nonstop | All year |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul MSP | In season | All year |
| New York JFK | In season | All year |
| New York LGA | All year | All year |
| Salt Lake City SLC | No nonstop | All year |
| Seattle SEA | No nonstop | All year |
| American | ||
| Charlotte CLT | All year | All year |
| Chicago ORD | All year | All year |
| Dallas-Fort Worth DFW | All year | All year |
| Los Angeles LAX | No nonstop | No nonstop |
| Miami MIA | All year | All year |
| New York JFK | No nonstop | No nonstop |
| New York LGA | No nonstop | All year |
| Philadelphia PHL | All year | All year |
| Phoenix PHX | No nonstop | All year |
| Washington DCA | All year | All year |
| United | ||
| Chicago ORD | All year | In season |
| Denver DEN | In season | All year |
| Houston IAH | In season | All year |
| Los Angeles LAX | No nonstop | In season |
| Newark EWR | All year | All year |
| San Francisco SFO | No nonstop | All year |
| Washington IAD | No nonstop | All year |
Nonstops as SRQ (opens in a new tab) and TPA (opens in a new tab) list them, checked October 20, 2026; hubs as Delta (opens in a new tab), American (opens in a new tab), and United (opens in a new tab) name them. Schedules change by season, so confirm with your airline before you rely on a flight. The drive from each area is in the table above.
How I help a commuting pilot
There is an American Airlines pilot in our family, so I know the commute is part of the job.
- Your base and a backup: homes close to the airport with the nonstops to your base, with the other airport as a second way in when a flight is full
- The drive at your hours: I look at the drive at the times you would leave for an early report and come home from a late arrival, not only at midday
- Seasonal schedules: which of your nonstops run all year and which only in season, so the commute works in August as well as in March
- Rest between trips: flight paths and road noise near the home, for sleep at any hour
Flying for another airline, or based somewhere else? Tell me your base, and I will look at the commute from each airport for you.
For pilots
Airport details for pilots
Frequencies, runways, fuel, and FBOs for each field, from the FAA's airport records and the FBOs' own listings, with average fuel prices from AirNav and the latest METAR from NOAA's Aviation Weather Center.
Sarasota Bradenton International SRQ · KSRQ
- Elevation
- 30 ft
- Location
- 3 miles N of Sarasota/Bradenton, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- 0600-0000 local
- Attended
- Continuous
- Fuel
- 100LL, Jet A
- ASOS
- 124.375 MHz, 941-355-8482
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| CTAF | 120.1 |
| ATIS | 124.375 |
| Sarasota Clearance Delivery | 118.25 |
| Sarasota Ground | 121.9 |
| Sarasota Tower | 120.1 |
| Tampa Approach | 124.95, 135.5 |
| Tampa Approach/Departure | 119.65, 124.95 |
| Tampa Departure | 119.65 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 5,006 x 150 ft | Asphalt | High Intensity | 04: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 22: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
| 14/32 | 9,500 x 150 ft | Asphalt | High Intensity | 14: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS I-FFV 111.3; 32: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS I-SRQ 109.7 |
FBOs
- Sheltair: 941-274-5100, 122.775, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $8.76, Jet A $9.93 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
- Ascension FBO: 941-355-2902, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $8.34, Jet A $9.99 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
- Atlantic Aviation (South): 941-358-9600, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $9.23, Jet A $10.29 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Venice Municipal VNC · KVNC
- Elevation
- 18 ft
- Location
- 2 miles S of Venice, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- None
- Attended
- 0700-1900
- Fuel
- 100LL, Jet A
- AWOS-3
- 119.275 MHz, 941-486-2718
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.725 |
| CTAF | 122.725 |
| Tampa Approach | 124.95, 135.5 |
| Tampa Approach/Departure | 119.65, 124.95 |
| Tampa Clearance Delivery | 118.075 |
| Tampa Departure | 119.65 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 5,000 x 150 ft | Asphalt | Medium Intensity | 05: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 23: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
| 13/31 | 5,640 x 150 ft | Asphalt | Medium Intensity | 13: right traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 31: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
FBO
- Skyport Aviation: 941-485-1799, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $7.45, Jet A $9.45 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Punta Gorda PGD · KPGD
- Elevation
- 26 ft
- Location
- 3 miles SE of Punta Gorda, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- 0600-2100 local
- Attended
- Continuous
- Fuel
- 100LL, Jet A, Jet A+
- ASOS
- 135.675 MHz, 941-639-0076
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.975 |
| ATIS | 135.675 |
| Fort Myers Approach/Departure | 127.05 |
| Fort Myers Clearance Delivery | 127.05 |
| Punta Gorda Clearance Delivery | 119.55 |
| Punta Gorda Ground | 119.55 |
| Punta Gorda Tower | 121.0 |
| Tampa Approach/Departure | 119.65 |
| Tampa Departure | 119.65 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 7,193 x 150 ft | Asphalt | High Intensity | 04: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-PGD 109.75; 22: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
| 09/27 | 2,636 x 60 ft | Asphalt | None | 09: left traffic; 27: left traffic |
| 15/33 | 6,286 x 150 ft | Asphalt | Medium Intensity | 15: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 33: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
FBO
- PGD Air Center: 941-639-1101, 100LL full and self service, Jet A full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $7.56 full service, $6.46 self service, Jet A $8.20 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Tampa International TPA · KTPA
- Elevation
- 27 ft
- Location
- 6 miles W of Tampa, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- 24 Hours local
- Attended
- Continuous
- Fuel
- 100LL, Jet A
- ASOS
- 126.45 MHz, 813-296-2752
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| ATIS | 126.45 |
| Tampa Approach | 118.5 |
| Tampa Approach/Departure | 118.15, 134.25 |
| Tampa Clearance Delivery | 133.6 |
| Tampa Departure | 118.8 |
| Tampa Ground | 121.35, 121.7 |
| Tampa Tower | 119.05, 119.5 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01L/19R | 11,002 x 150 ft | Concrete | High Intensity | 01L: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-AMP 108.9; 19R: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-JRT 108.5 |
| 01R/19L | 8,300 x 150 ft | Asphalt and concrete | High Intensity | 01R: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, LOC/DME TWJ 111.95; 19L: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-TPA 110.3 |
| 10/28 | 6,999 x 150 ft | Asphalt and concrete | High Intensity | 10: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 28: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
FBOs
- Sheltair: 813-319-8000, 130.60 (ASRI), 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $9.23, Jet A $9.68 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
- Signature Aviation: 813-870-3813, 130.00 (ASRI), 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $8.73, Jet A $9.45 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
St. Pete-Clearwater International PIE · KPIE
- Elevation
- 11 ft
- Location
- 8 miles N of St Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- 0600-2300 local
- Attended
- Continuous
- Fuel
- 100, Jet A, Jet A-1+
- ASOS
- 134.5 MHz, 727-502-6385
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| CTAF | 118.3 |
| ATIS | 134.5 |
| St. Petersburg-Clearwater Clearance Delivery | 120.6 |
| St. Petersburg-Clearwater Ground | 121.9 |
| St. Petersburg-Clearwater Tower | 118.3, 128.4 |
| Tampa Approach | 135.5 |
| Tampa Approach/Departure | 119.65, 125.3 |
| Tampa Departure | 119.65 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 6,000 x 150 ft | Asphalt | Medium Intensity | 04: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left; 22: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left |
| 18/36 | 9,730 x 150 ft | Asphalt | High Intensity | 18: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-PIE 109.1; 36: left traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-CWT 108.7 |
FBOs
- Sheltair: 727-530-3453, 131.975 (ASRI), 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $10.29, Jet A $8.92 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
- Signature Aviation: 727-531-1441, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Average of 5 daily readings on AirNav, October 20, 2026 to October 24, 2026: 100LL $10.00, Jet A $8.99 a gallon. Website (opens in a new tab) · Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Southwest Florida International RSW · KRSW
- Elevation
- 30 ft
- Location
- 10 miles SE of Fort Myers, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- 0600-0000 local
- Attended
- 0700-0100
- Fuel
- 100LL, Jet A, Jet A+
- ASOS
- 124.65 MHz, 239-416-1031
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| CTAF | 128.75 |
| ATIS | 124.65 |
| Fort Myers Approach | 125.15, 126.8 |
| Fort Myers Approach/Departure | 119.75, 124.125, 126.8, 127.05, 134.425 |
| Fort Myers Clearance Delivery | 132.075 |
| Fort Myers Ground | 121.9 |
| Fort Myers Tower | 128.75 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/24 | 12,000 x 150 ft | Asphalt | High Intensity | 06: right traffic, 4-light PAPI on left, ILS/DME I-RSW 111.5; 24: 4-light PAPI on left |
FBO
- PrivateSky Aviation Services: 239-225-6100, 100LL and Jet A, full service. Today's 100LL and Jet A prices on AirNav (opens in a new tab)
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Hidden River 22FA
- Elevation
- 47 ft
- Location
- 14 miles E of Sarasota, FL
- Use
- Private use only
- Control tower
- None
- Attended
- Unattended
- Fuel
- None
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/27 | 2,525 x 50 ft | Asphalt | Low Intensity | 09: left traffic; 27: left traffic |
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Shell Creek Airpark F13
- Elevation
- 20 ft
- Location
- 7 miles E of Punta Gorda, FL
- Use
- Open to the public
- Control tower
- None
- Attended
- Mon-Fri 0900-1700
- Fuel
- None
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| CTAF | 122.9 |
| Runway | Size | Surface | Edge lights | Each end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/36 | 2,600 x 110 ft | Turf | None | 18: no published aids; 36: no published aids |
FAA airport record (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026 to October 29, 2026 · AirNav (opens in a new tab) · FAA NOTAM search (opens in a new tab). Not for navigation: use current charts, NOTAMs, and an official briefing (1-800-WX-BRIEF).
Fuel prices: source AirNav.com (opens in a new tab), from the prices each FBO posts there, read once a day and averaged by month. Prices include taxes and are not guaranteed; confirm with the FBO before you fuel.
Around the area
Other airfields pilots should know
| Airfield | Use | Longest runway | Tower or CTAF | Fuel | From SRQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Whitted, St. Petersburg SPG | Public | 07/25, 3,676 x 75 ft, asphalt | CTAF 127.4 | 100LL, Jet A, Jet A-1 | 23 nm N of SRQ |
| Peter O. Knight, Tampa TPF | Public | 04/22, 3,583 x 100 ft, asphalt | CTAF 122.725 | 100LL, Jet A | 32 nm N of SRQ |
| Page Field, Fort Myers FMY | Public | 05/23, 6,406 x 150 ft, asphalt | Page Tower 119.0 | 100LL, Jet A | 61 nm SE of SRQ |
| Lakeland Linder International LAL | Public | 10/28, 8,500 x 150 ft, asphalt | Lakeland Tower 124.5 | 100LL, Jet A | 46 nm NE of SRQ |
| Bartow Executive BOW | Public | 05/23, 5,001 x 100 ft, asphalt | CTAF 121.2 | 100LL, Jet A | 53 nm NE of SRQ |
| Plant City PCM | Public | 10/28, 3,950 x 75 ft, asphalt | CTAF 123.05 | 100LL, Jet A | 42 nm NNE of SRQ |
| Arcadia Municipal X06 | Public | 06/24, 3,700 x 75 ft, asphalt | None published | 100LL | 40 nm ESE of SRQ |
| Wauchula Municipal CHN | Public | 18/36, 4,005 x 75 ft, asphalt | CTAF 122.9 | 100LL | 37 nm ENE of SRQ |
| Buchan, Englewood X36 | Public | 12/30, 2,040 x 120 ft, turf | CTAF 122.9 | None | 26 nm SSE of SRQ |
| Coral Creek, Placida FA54 | Private: ask about access | 05/23, 6,000 x 100 ft, asphalt | CTAF 130.65 | 100LL, Jet A+ | 36 nm SSE of SRQ |
| Bald Eagle Airfield, Myakka Head 67FL | Private: ask about access | 18/36, 3,400 x 130 ft, turf | None published | None | 24 nm E of SRQ |
| Duette Training Facility 96FA | Private: ask about access | 08/26, 4,200 x 100 ft, turf | None published | None | 26 nm ENE of SRQ |
Distances are straight-line nautical miles from Sarasota Bradenton International. FAA data effective October 1, 2026. A private-use field needs the owner's permission before you land. Not for navigation.
Interested in a tie-down, a hangar, or land or a home near one of these fields, private ones included? Tell me which field, and I will contact the airport's manager of record and let you know what is possible.
Gliders
Zephyrhills Municipal (ZPH)
Tampa Bay Soaring Society flies gliders from Zephyrhills Municipal, a public airport with two paved runways.
Source: Tampa Bay Soaring Society (opens in a new tab), checked October 20, 2026
Seminole Lake Gliderport, Clermont (6FL0)
A private-use gliderport south of Clermont with a turf runway; contact the operator before you fly in.
Source: AirNav, from FAA records (opens in a new tab), checked October 20, 2026
Our family
We are an aviation family too
My husband, Enrique, is a pilot with more than 2,000 hours who volunteers his flying expertise with organizations such as Civil Air Patrol, and he also serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. My father-in-law is a pilot. Enrique's brother, a former active-duty Air Force pilot, is a pilot for the Air National Guard out of Charlotte and a pilot for American Airlines. I am starting my own flight training, and our son, Grant, has shown an interest in flying, so we hope he will be the fifth generation of pilots in our family.
I look at a home the way a pilot does. Before you fall in love with a house, I check what matters for flying from it:
- The runway: length, surface, lighting, and whether the airport is private use or open to the public
- Who owns and maintains the runway and taxiways, and what each owner pays toward them
- The hangar: door width and height, floor, and power, measured against your aircraft
- Association rules on aircraft, hangars, taxiing, and guests flying in
- Insurance for the home and the hangar, and any requirements the airpark sets
- For a home near an airport rather than on one: flight paths and noise, which I check for every buyer
Questions
Questions pilots ask
Are there fly-in communities near Sarasota?
Yes. Hidden River in east Sarasota County is a gated airpark of five-acre and larger estates whose streets are taxiways to a paved, lighted runway, and Shell Creek Airpark east of Punta Gorda is listed by the Florida Department of Transportation as a residential airpark with a turf runway. I watch both for new listings and share them as soon as they come on the market.
Can I build an airstrip or a helipad on my own land?
Sometimes. Florida treats a private airstrip or helipad as a private airport: it needs site approval from the Florida Department of Transportation, which requires that local zoning allow it, and registration before any aircraft operates there. The FAA also requires notice on Form 7480-1, generally 90 days before construction. Zoning differs by county and parcel, so I confirm it with the county before you make an offer on acreage. For a helicopter, I usually look at properties outside HOA communities, since association rules can rule out a helipad even where the county allows one.
Where can I keep a jet or a helicopter near Sarasota?
Sarasota Bradenton International has three private terminals (Sheltair, Ascension, and Atlantic Aviation), Venice Municipal has Skyport Aviation, and Punta Gorda has PGD Air Center. I can tell you how far each is from the homes you are considering.
Which areas are closest to Sarasota Bradenton International?
Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch are the closest of my areas, and the table on this page lists the drive from each one to SRQ and to Tampa International.
Can an airline pilot commute to a base from Sarasota?
Often, yes. Sarasota Bradenton International and Tampa International both list nonstops to hubs of Delta, American, and United, some all year and some only in season. The table on this page shows each hub from both airports, and I look for homes with an easy drive to the airport with the nonstops to yours.
Is Janelle's family in aviation?
Yes. My husband, Enrique, is a pilot with more than 2,000 hours who volunteers his flying expertise with organizations such as Civil Air Patrol, and he also serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. My father-in-law is a pilot. Enrique's brother, a former active-duty Air Force pilot, is a pilot for the Air National Guard out of Charlotte and a pilot for American Airlines. I am starting my own flight training, and our son, Grant, has shown an interest in flying, so we hope he will be the fifth generation of pilots in our family. So I look at a home the way a pilot does: the runway, the hangar, the rules on aircraft, and the drive to the airport you will fly from most.
Start your aviation home search
Tell me how you fly and where you would like to live. I will reply personally with homes and airfields worth considering.
Janelle Mertins · Compass
Flying in or flying often? I would love to help
Call or text me directly whenever it suits you, or send me a note about the home, community, or move you have in mind.