Airport comments for the World
Comments 15,167 to 15,216 of 16,002
Compass anomalies
Metal buried under the runways at London City airport is causing serious anomalies for magnetic compasses:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080114/sc_nm/britain_airport_magnetism_dc_1
STOL and rotorcraft only
The runway is short (1,500 ft) at high elevation (over 9,000 ft), so the airport is accessible only to helicopters and to STOL aircraft like Twin Otters.
Airport to be renamed
The Nepal government plans to rename the airport in honour of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first people to climb Mt. Everest (the airport serves Everest).
American architecture exhibit
Until 24 February 2008, the Tulsa airport is running an exhibit showing (pictures? models?) of the top 150 buildings, bridges, etc. in the U.S., as selected by the American Institute of Architects:
Serious delays and riots
Aerolineas Argentinas has had flight delays of several days out of Ezeiza, leading to riots by stranded passengers over the weekend of 12-13 January 2008:
Decommissioned 747 hostel planned
Stockholm Arlanda Airport has approved plans for converting a decommissioned Boeing 747 into a hostel with 80 beds and a suite in the cockpit:
Former site of Republic Aviation factory
This mall is built on the site of the former the Republic Aviation Corporation. During World War II, it built over 9,000 P-47 Thunderbolts together with several other aircraft. Fairchild bought out the company in 1965, and the plant closed in 1988. The last building was demolished in 1997 to make way for a mall expansion.
My base airport
Great GA airport on the edge of DFW. It's thriving: just renovated runway and plans for new tower next year, increasing traffic.
Building map
There's a building map and legend available here:
Area 51
This airport serves the infamous "Area 51", and the identifier "(K)XTA" looks like a parody of space alien conspiracy theories ("XTA" = "extraterrestrial"?):
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080110area51.html
New service from Skybus
Skybus will begin scheduled service to GYY from Greensboro, NC on 13 March:
New service from Skybus
Skybus will begin scheduled flights from Columbus, OH to ILG on 7 March, and from Greensboro, NC to ILG on 13 March 2008:
Skybus service
Skybus is adding service from Columbus, OH to IAG beginning on April Fool's Day (seriously), to serve Buffalo, Rochester, and Toronto:
Non-stop Fort Lauderdale to London
Zoom airlines is adding a non-stop flight from FLL to London (presumably Gatwick LGW) -- it will be the first scheduled trans-Atlantic flight route from the airport in over a decade:
International terminal (D) renovations
The international terminal, terminal D, is getting $25M worth of renovations, including moving sidewalks, a new explosives-screening system, additional gates, and new restaurants and shops:
New terminal open
Terminal 3 opened on 9 January 2008. It has 28 gates, including eight designed to handle the Airbus A380:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080109/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_singapore_new_terminal_1
Vickers-Armstrong
This is where Vickers-Armstrong manufactured several of its planes, including the Vickers Viscount (I took my first flights as a baby in Viscounts and Vanguards).
Ryanair coming
Ryanair plans to base a Boeing 737 here and fly additional routes to Malaga, Murcia, Nantes, Palma and Wroclaw:
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/bournemouth-airport-news-090108.htm
VOR/DME 8 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
NDB-A approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
VOR/DME 34 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
VOR/DME 31 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
"Propeller park" planned
Since the FBOs are geared mainly towards turbine traffic now, the airport has plans for a "propeller park" to serve light piston aircraft:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2007/071107vannuys.html
Park and aviation museum coming
There was a threat that this airport might close, but they reached a compromise with the cities of Cincinnati and Blue Ash, and will build a park, an aviation museum, and some other community facilities near the field:
Building controversy
In 2007, a developer attempted to build an office building higher than allowed, cutting in the the approach path, but was forced to tear off two floors:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2007/071126sunroad.html
Attempt to ban large aircraft
In fall 2007, Santa Monica city council introduced a law to ban large aircraft from the airport:
Home of the New Piper Aircraft
Piper moved here after floods destroyed the original Piper plant in Lock Haven, PA in 1972. There have been some rumours that the company might move to Albuquerque or Oklahoma City:
Development plans very close to airport
There are proposals to allow development as close as 500 ft to one of the runways, despite airport and state objections:
In danger of closing
The city of Biddeford, Maine may hold a referendum on closing this airport in November 2008 or sooner. For details, see
re: Scheduled Commercial flights starting soon??!!
According to the airport's web site, they're planning to renovate Wonderboom to become ZA's third major international airport, but I see no indication of any schedule airline service there yet.
Parking options
There is a very small number of tie-downs (some of which have been commandeered by a flying school) located behind the old fire hall. The only other option is to chock the plane on the apron in front of Mara-Tech. The parking charge is the same either way, and is billed by the airport by mail after your visit. There is an exit-only gate near the tie-downs so that you don't have to go through the terminal, and Mara-Tech will drive its fuel truck over to fuel your plane here.
Nav Canada
Nav Canada uses the old terminal now. The control tower is still located in it, and in addition to offices, there's a Nav Canada pilot kiosk on the ground floor.
Good service, but pricey
This is a high-quality FBO (a bit nicer than the Esso Avitat next door), but also pricey, with lots of fees and expensive gas. If you're meeting customs, you have to make at least a short stop at the Esso or Shell (your choice), but otherwise, if you don't need the shiny FBO, the Ottawa Flying Club on the north field is a less expensive option for fuel and parking.
Expensive
The Esso and Shell on the south field are fairly expensive for fuel and have high parking and ramp fees. Esso used to waive the ramp fee when you were meeting customs there, but I don't know if they still do that. If you don't need the full FBO red carpet service (and aren't arriving late in the evening), the Ottawa Flying Club on the north field is a cheaper option for fuel and parking.
Flight training but not fuel
OAS is the rival flight school to the Ottawa Flying Club across the ramp. OAS is privately-owned, and uses Katanas instead of Cessnas for training. They offer parking, but I think are not allowed to sell fuel to visitors.
Learned to fly here
I learned to fly here, and parked my plane here for a few years before moving to Ottawa/Rockcliffe. It's gotten busier recently, now that the club runs the professional pilot program for Algonquin College.
Five-minute walk from the Ottawa Flying Club
Coffee, sandwiches, doughnuts, etc. Tim Horton's is sort-of like Dunkin Donuts in the U.S., but much, much more popular.
Parking
In addition to the parking at the flying club on the north side of the field, you can park on the south apron by the museum if you are visiting. You need to call Rockcliffe Unicom on 123.5 MHz for taxiing instructions. I think that the parking is free.
Saginaw Airport
Funny, it was still in the December FAA data set.
re: Saginaw Airport
Thanks for the info, sad as it is. I verified online that the airport is closed, and changed its status. Google maps still shows an on sat photo from before the subdivision.
Saginaw Airport
Is now closed with a subdivision on it, but was a real gem of Ft. Worth while operating.
Gas
If you are ever crossing overhead, I have had pretty good experiences with the gas prices here!
Fees and alternative airport
I don't remember all the fees and fuel prices from my visit in the summer of 2006 -- they weren't onerous, but they were enough to annoy. On the other hand, it's a well-maintained, all-weather airport with easy access into the town of Gaspé as well as the Gaspesie region. For a less expensive alternative, there's Du Rocher-Percé (Pabok), which is slightly closer to the tourist town of Percé:
Closer to Chandler
This airport is actually closer to Chandler (a much larger community) than to Percé. It's a small rural strip that's not always attended, but doesn't have the landing fees, etc., of the larger Gaspé airport to the north:
World Rally and Precision Flying Championships, July 2008
The 18th World Rally Flying Championship and the 16th World Precision Flying Championship will be held here from 13-26 July 2008. Here's the site, in German:
And here are the rules, in English (PDF):
never been
never been
re: Long Runways
Hi Tony
Did you work with Craftsmen Electrics in Sydney in 1989 as i think i might know you. I am across from Scotland visiting my brothers in Newcastle (Don) and Sydney (Jim). If you are who I think you are it would be great to catch up.
Billy Broadley
Treviso-Venice Airport
Finally one quiet, dissent and possitive airport in Europe. Espresso is just amazing. Staff busy but smiling. Weather always sunny even when is raining. Thank you Treviso we will come again, indeed.
re: Landing fees
The airport authority is collecting the landing fee, while Nav Canada is/will be collecting the usage fee.
Reopened to civilian flights
🔗 Tue, 15 Jan 2008
— @david at Mosul International Airport, Iraq
The Mosul airport in Iraq reopened to civilian flights on 2 December 2007 -- it had been shut down since 1992 because of the U.S. no-fly zone and then the second Iraq war:
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-12/2007-12-04-voa9.cfm