What It’s Like to Fly Over the Alps in a Tiny Plane

TL;DR

We live in the Austrian Alps for a few months of the year, and our hometown has a sports airport with a short landing strip.

The airport is not only frequently utilized by business owners and their company jets and helicopters, but also by anybody else who'd like to book a sightseeing tour in a small plane.

The pilots are solely locals, and they follow all the regulations to the T. Safety is everything here, and you will have to adhere to the rules.

Several pilots are members of the local flying club, and all the earnings are split within the club for plane maintenance and pilot payments.

Apart from booking a tour, you can also get a small plane pilot license, but that's another story altogether!

Why you will love this

You will be able to see the Alps up close from the small plane. It's nothing like flying in a larger passenger plane; instead, it's as if the light aircraft floats just above the mountains.

Depending on your booking, you can ask the pilot to fly certain routes. The pilot will elaborate on the mountains and everything that can be seen below or from a distance.

It's an experience that will keep you fully engaged because you will literally see the mountains the way birds see it, from a very different angle and perspective.

You will love this if you adore the mountains, and if, for once, you'd like to see more than just cable car and mountain top hiking views.

How to Fly Over the Alps in a Tiny Plane

The process to arranging such a trip is simple.

1. Choose the area where you'd like to fly. We did the Wilder Kaiser mountain range, but you can fly over the glaciers too, lake regions or down to Italy to the dolomites. You can also just pick an airport near your accommodation to start out.
2. Look up if an airport or specific pilot offers the route that you are looking for. Many pilots are flexible and you can customize your route. You can book flights via third-party sites such as wingly, or you can call the airport or visit the airport office for infos.
3. Book a flight on a specific day. Keep passenger count, price, and flight duration in mind. The shortest flight duration is 30–60 minutes, but you can also book a longer, 2 ½-hour flight trip.
4. Show up on the day of the flight at least 30 minutes before take off. The pilot or airport office might ask you to be there earlier too.
5. Get into the plane and strap in before taking off. Enjoy the view and land safely back when you are done.
6. Don't forget to thank the pilot and to take a picture with them.

Tips

Try to book your flight on a sunny, clear day for the best experience. It was sunny when we took off, but as you can see in the pictures, it was a bit humid and misty up there.

Every season is different, and the experience won't always be the same. Think winter wonderland views in January.

Several small airports are open for direct bookings, and at times that's the only way to book a flight. To find small airports, search for airport on Google Maps. Smaller airplanes can take off from international airports as well, such as the Salzburg international airport or the Innsbruck international airport.

Tiny airplane flights are suitable for most age groups, but I'd chat with the booking office or pilot, just in case. If you have heart conditions, you should consult your physician first.

If you have weight or knee issues, you may have to let them know so that they can prep a ladder to help you get in.

Ask the airport booking office or the pilot if they offer gift vouchers. A few do, and this is definitely a great experience worth gifting.

When we booked our flight, we were told that the price was fixed and that 3 passengers could come along (+pilot separately). You might get that budget option if you book a flight directly with the airport. We paid about $180 at the time for a 30-minute flight. It includes takeoff and landing time.

If you book via third-party sites such as Wingly, you will pay much more for a booking, but it's way more convenient and straightforward.