Airport comments for the World
Comments 15,362 to 15,411 of 15,880
Car rental
National and Avis rent through the public terminal, while Hertz rents through the Flite Line FBO. It was hard to get a car on the August Civic Holiday weekend -- Hertz and Avis had nothing available, and I had to guarantee a car (which is unusual) through National.
For an economy car, National charged $40/day before taxes+fees including the COPA discount. It's worth noting that the opening hours are unusual, so plan your arrival carefully (for example, National is closed from 12pm-2pm on Saturday).
FBOs
There are two FBOs on the field:
Flite Line: http://www.fliteline.ca/ (off taxiway B, if I recall correctly)
Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre: http://www.wwflightcentre.com/ (end of taxiway C)
Flite Line usually has the cheaper gas.
The longest wait ever
Not my favorite place...
Must have been due to rush hour with all the transpacific flights landing pretty much at the same time, after a very long flight from Sydney, took over an hour to go thru immigration, almost missed connecting flight to ATL... how stressful and frustrating.
Another time on the way back to Sydney from Atlanta, flying with UA via O'Hare, the connection was missed due to weather delays. Stuck there for 24 hours, UA wouldn't give me my luggage back (so I had to wear the same stinky clothes for 48hrs), only got a lousy hotel room, no compensation or apology. Compare that to SQ when in a similar ordeal I was given a pack with some clothes and toiletry, plus about US$100 cash equivalent.... Shall I also mention that I was flying business on UA and economy on SQ when this occured. I understand the operational constraints, no worries there, but when it comes to customer service UA, DL and AA have a lot to learn from asian carriers like SQ, CX or TG.
Oh well other than that I never been to LA before so I went to see the Getty museum, quite interesting really.
The reason why I want a PPL
Or at least something to look forward to !
Every year Phillip Island is home to the Australian Moto Grand Prix. In October 2004 I rode there with a mate all the way down from Sydney to attend the Grand Prix and witness Valentino Rossi historic win on the Yamaha, claiming back-to-back championships on two differents bikes (he won the 2003 championship on a Honda).
It's a very scenic but also a very long way from Sydney (we got there via Princes Hwy, and back via the Great Alpine Road which caused some overenthusiastic riding and subsequently claimed the life of a soft-compound rear tyre).
I sold my bike 2 years ago and when I resumed flying, I made it an objective to get my PPL in time for the 2007 MotoGP in order to fly there (safely). I am not flying often enough to reach that objective though.
Still, am going this year, flying commercial via Melbourne, and will fly there as a PPL pilot in 2008 (hopefully)
Delta
It was my homebase from 1997 to 2000. This airport is a model of efficiency with all its concourses linked by underground rail, everything goes fairly smoothly when you consider the huge number of passengers and rotations.
I flew in and out from Hartsfield more than anywhere else, and racked up zillions of frequent flyers miles with Delta Airlines in the process. As I remember it, Delta is your typical American carrier. Unless you fly business, you feel like cattle. Compared to Singapore Airlines, service really sucks.
Other than that it feel pretty safe and is usually on time.
Terminal 1
I dont know what drugs were being used at the time by the architect that imagined that soviet-style concrete monstrosity. Not only is it ugly, but the baggage claim is an embarrassment with people walking on one another. When you think it's the first impression that so many holidaymakers are getting of France...
Other than for the bits that collapse on people underneath, T2 is somewhat more practical.
Well I am from the south of France, and we don't like Paris there, so maybe I have a bias.
Home
This place is dear to my heart because this is where I grew up, and most of my family still live here....
About 25 years ago my father had a little 20ft sailboat which was berthed at Port-Saint-Laurent (the marina you can see just west of the airport on the satellite picture). I remember once we were sailing and the Concorde just flew overhead on short final (it used to come every year in May for the Cannes festival and Monaco GP, one year there were five of them parked on the tarmac). I still remember this magic roar ! Simply out of this world !
I subsequently saw Concorde take off or land in CDG, LHR and JFK, but nothing beat that memory. I always wanted to fly on Concorde but unfortunately that will never happens, however I feel privileged for having seen (and heard) it in flight.
I listed Bankstown at my home airport but I could have liste
I live fairly close by, walking down the street to the beach I can see the main runway 34L which is reclaimed on Botany Bay, I drive next to it every morning going to work (actually, in the airport tunnel under the runways) and my job is so close to the airport that the building is shaking when heavies e.g 747 are on very short final on runway 25 - so close you can almost touch the aircraft !
We get to see some interesting aircrafts land there now and then. Indeed there were quite a few of us to watch the A380 land here for the first time almost two years ago.
Flying around volcanoes
We did a scenic flight in a C172 out of Taupo, over the huge Lake Taupo (itself filling the caldera of a massive volcano that erupted last 1,800 years ago, and there are some theories that the Ice Age would have been caused by the ashes from its largest explosion 26,500 years ago), then down to Ruapehu, a 9000ft volcano which is still active. A unique experience and a must-see for anyone visiting New-Zealand north island.
Where I caught the flying bug
I was leaving in nearby Marietta at the time and this is where I took my first flying lessons back in 2000 in a C152. Nothing memorable about the place itself though.
I moved to Australia by the end of the same year, and didn't resume flying lessons until 2005.
Viva The Whitsundays
Landed here on a short (maybe 15 minutes) shuttle flight in a Cherokee 6, from Hamilton Island where we just arrived from Sydney. Absolutely fantastic views of the Whitsundays Islands :-)
The grass runway is located between two big hills so you basically can't see the circuit on the downwind leg (which is itself above water) and keeping the runway centerline is not just an option here...
Oh I almost forgot the subsequent sailing around the Whitsundays was awesome too !
Simply the best
Arguably the best international airport in the world, ahead of Hong Kong then Sydney.
And I dare say home to the best airline in the world as well (SQ), which I believe is no coincidence !
Careful here - no dead side
The southern side of Camden is dedicated to gliders, so gotta be careful in joining the circuit here - circuit always on the northern side of the field, and there is no dead side to the circuit.
Skyfox Gazelle
had a TIF on a Gazelle ultralight there. How slow compared to the Warrior, but also how easy to fly. Flying at fairly low level above the beach, awesome :-)
where I have done my first solo flight
I am a student pilot at Schofields Flying Club based there
International airport in his own mind.
Too much time on his hands and a good bulldozer
Fly Boys Cafe
Fly Boys Cafe will officially open on August 3, 2007 at 10 am
Take the train to/from the airport and Rome
Commuter trains run right into the middle (literally) of Fiumicino. You can take an express train that goes to the main train station, Termini - actually, they've renamed it Giovanni Paulo II station, I think. Or, for quite a bit less money, you can take a commuter train. The downside to that is that it makes a couple of stops on the way so it takes longer and it doesn't go to Termini. But if you are going to Trastevere, for example, it's fine.
Landing Fee ($8.67)
Beware the landing fee! If you need the runway room then by all means use St. Hubert, but in my opinion, Maschouche and Les Cedres are preferable if you're going to Montreal.
For me too, only further back in time
Remember riding my bike to LP Airport in 1946. Too young to drive, I had a wad of money earned during the week as an auto mechanic (yes I was doing engine overhauls at that age and being paid the magnificent sum of something like $20.00 a week during summer vacation ).
My thought was to take a ride. When I asked the pilot signing off someone's log book how old you had to be to take lessons I was rocked to my ACE Sneakers when he said "no age limit". "You mean I could take a lesson?" the answer yes, brought the next logical question, "How much?" Think it was something like $14.00 an hour, maybe a half hour, that's what I wound up buying anyway.
"Hold on though" says the FI, "you can't just hop in and start flying" "You have to know all about aeroplanes"
"Oh, I do!" (I spent my nights and weekends building balsa models)
"OK" he smiled "Go over to that yellow plane over there (a J-3) and I'll be over to see what you know"
I passed the test so my first ride in an airplane was my first lesson in piloting.
When we landed he told me I needed a logbook available from the front office. That was when I met Mr. Gorski a fine looking older man whose friendly smile never let you forget that flying was important and serious.
There was another young pilot back than a year or two older who also soloed on his 16th birthday. His name was Breeziano or something like that we all called him Breezy. We became kind of friends but kind of competitors too. He certainly built better models than me, but I think I had the edge on Stick and Rudder.
It would be wonderful if the Gorskis were still alive they were the best of an age before the `white knuckles' took over.
Good self serve fuel prices.
Good fuel prices.
There's a good bit of IFR training here. They stack in the hold at the Stanfield VOR 5-miles to the West & than shoot approaches into CGZ.
Short and interesting
The runway here is quite short (1520ft) and has ravines at both ends, plus downdrafts. I went there with an instructor from Victoria and he told me nobody got it right on the first approach. I didn't either. Backtracking to take off, he showed be tire skid marks that went to the edge of the pavement, then disappeared in the bushes down the ravine...
Tim Horton's at north field
To add to Tony's comment, there's also a Tim Horton's (like Dunkin Donuts in the U.S.) about a 5-minute walk from the Ottawa Flying Club, so it's easy to walk over and grab a coffee or a bagel.
Great little airport
Really, really nice terminal. Leather comfey love seats for you to relax on. Cute little cafe to grab some food.
Spent some time talking to the Unicom lady (didn't catch her name) and she mentioned that it usually gets busy around lunch time on the weekends.
Really nice place.
One of Northwest's Frequent Stopovers
I've been here several times going to and from the Philippines. Northwest likes to use it rather than Narita because of traffic and economic reasons. (Sometimes known by the alternative nickname of "Route 66) See some of my acerbic comments on inadequate southern California airports. When the Japanese don't have a good place for an airport, they make one ... in the US we wring our hands for years on end and often do nothing.
A place To Learn About Paralell Runways
Transited many times on trips to and from the Philippines. Chian Airlines and EVA Air both hub here. A mediocre terminal in my view, someday I'd like to actually visit the island of Taipei, it would likely make up for the airport. This airport is sadly noted as the location of one of the more tragic and well-known "wrong departure runway" accidents, Singapore Air Flt 006.
It's near boats
Visited here many times when my son was stationed at the )verY0 nearby MCRD, San Diego. Very crowed airport, runways is too short and approaches cluttered but it is quick and convenient to the downtown and the bay and if you have to go to California this is one of the better places.
A Great Place to Visit ... Not
Let me count the times I've been through here ... let me count the ways the airport has disappointed me. A great case study in how _not_ to build an airport.
One bright spot for me, this is where my wife first entered the US back in 2001 so it will always hold a warm spot in our hearts as the true beginning of our life together.
A better, but less interesting place
I've been here a number rof times as a passenger, usually transiitioning to ground transpo for trips into mainland China. One of the best airports in the world for transiting visitors .. food, shopping, great transport down town, etc.
I welcomed the recent addition of Meigs, hopefully we might also see the "old" VHHH (Kai Tak) with the famous "Checkerboard" approach to runway 13? Been there and done that too.
Many should add this after 8 Sep 2007
haven't had the pleasure of visiting here yet but there's a great show scheduled for 8 Sep 2007 .. classic radials, fancy cars and lots of fun.
Airport closes at night
The airport closes some time around 11:00 pm (no takeoffs or landings allowed except medevac) and the ferry across the channel stops, so unless you can track down a water taxi you're stuck for the night. A few years ago I talked to one pilot who landed late, didn't get away in time, and ended up sleeping in his plane.
Just driving by!
That was my comment above. More photos of Chilko Lake and vicinity can be found on my Virtual Tourist pages for this area. (Darby2)
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3bd31/de3dc/
~Darbs
Just driving by!
I made a trip by road this summer to Tsuniah Lake via the back road from Chilko Lake as I have done several times in the past. The fishing in Tsuniah was fabulous as usual.
There were two planes parked on the turf nearby.
MCY
A great place to fly into, but ramp space is very limited.
CTL
A much busier airport back in the 70's.
BCI
I flew in here in a Stearman one day, and was warmly welcomed by about half the population of the town. A nice friendly place.
ROK
Situated right on the Tropic of Capricorn. A cattle town.
ISA
A good airport and quite an interesting city.
HTI
Seeing the amount of rock and soil they moved in order to contstruct this airport is mind-boggling.
OKY
Be sure to visit the Army Aviation Museum. Some great airshows were held here years ago.
Amberley
Lots of interesting military aircraft here.
TSV
Always efficient.
CNS
One of my all-time favourite airports, and cities. The birthplace of Bush Pilots Airways.
BNE
I can't wait until they open the new parallel runway. A pity it won't be pointing into the prevailing (south-easterly) wind.
KGI
Flying in here I am always amazed at the size of the holes in the ground. There must be some awfully big rabbits in these parts.
PER
This airport has to hold some sort of record for the number of SID's and STAR's. I guess they want to make it look like a big place. ATC seem to think they are at Chicago or somewhere.
One thing in very short supply is ramp space, and the delays in getting to the runway (particularly early in the morning - everyone seems to want to depart at 0600) are unbelievable.
A very clean and pleasant city though.
BWT
A cosy city.
KNS
The wind! The only thing between here and the South Pole is a barbed wire fence, and it is mostly broken down. Great seafood though.
Nice Scenery
🔗 Sat, 04 Aug 2007
— Anonymous Flyer at Calgary International Airport, Canada
Lot's of hot women in Calgary. Most of them are married, but that's okay! I'm cool with that. I can keep a secret.
The jet fuel tastes funny in Calgary.