Airport comments for the World
Comments 15,883 to 15,932 of 16,062
1st Cross Country
Second stop on my long cross country. Also grew up here.
Great Restaurant
Great 50s style dinner at this airport.
Flight School
Location of my flight school, first solo, first cross-country and check ride.
Great Airport
Really nice airport just south of downtown San Antonio.
Flight Training
Did some flight training here. Not a good school but a great airport.
Home of Avionics Unlimited
The best avionics toy store in our area.
1st Solo
My first cross-country solo.
Cheap Fuel
Good self-serve fuel stop. Cheapest fuel in the Houston area.
1st Airport
Landed her the day after my check ride. First airport as a real live private pilot.
N6616J Home Airport
My home airport for my 1968 Piper Cherokee 180D.
Hermiston, OR
Hermiston is a great little airport in NE Oregon just a couple miles south of the Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border.
The 4,000 paved runway is in great shape (being overlayed in the fall of 2007) and fuel is among the cheapest in the area.
Be careful of the restricted airspace immediately to the West (the Boardman Bombing Range Complex).
There is an available crew car in decent shape.
Kinshasa's other airport
According to an interesting article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue ("Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche) this aiport lies in the centre of town. When he lands, there are people walking across the runway, carrying items on their heads, apparently oblivious to the plane landing. People grow vegetables in the grass near the runway, soldiers have taken over some of the empty hangars, and their children play among the moving airplanes, unconcerned about the danger. A very interesting article.
Designated Emergency Landing for US Space Shuttle
According to an article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue ("Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche) the single, 15,420-foot runway, is designated by the US as an emergency landing strip for the space shuttle. According to Langewiesche, the ramp is crowded with "decrepit jets that are too fragile for the country's dirt strips, but can manage the paved runways of eastern and southern Congo." Interesting article to read.
Runway full of potholes
An interesting article in Vanity Fair's July 2007 issue called "Congo from the Cockpit" by pilot/writer William Langewiesche describes the runway as asphalt, but "jarring", as pilots have to "pick our holes". The article is definitely worth reading, as the conditions some of these pilots fly under are pretty extreme.
Good Place for Lunch
Whoops, scrub the last comment, it was meant for Lachute, not Mont Laurier. Mont Laurier has a nice little snack bar/restaurant right beside the ramp, great for breakfast or lunch. Look for the Piper on a post. It is alot nicer to eat there now that there is a no smoking law in Quebec!
Good Place for Lunch
A great little airport, close to Montreal and Ottawa, run by nice people. The restaurant is great, or you can borrow a bicycle to ride into town.
GOANA Air Safari
We landed here in 2002, during the bush fire season. There were brush fires burning West of the airstrip, and we flew long curving finals to avoid the smoke. We were grounded there for two days, IMC in smoke. Australia is a very interesting country! We used the time to go on a boat tour of the estuary, visit a Koala sanctuary and visit several pubs.
GOANA Air Safari
Landed here in 2002 as part of our GOANA Air Safari trip - then we flew up the coast past Sydney at 500 feet!
This is a very nice tourist stop - lovely beaches, great fish and chip shops too!
GOANA Air Safari
Landed here for fuel in 2002 - I don't think we saw a soul except for our fellow tourists. Pumped our own fuel - Australia does have self-serve, I think it was on the honour system too.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
Or clear Canadian Customs when returning to Canada - the strip crosses the border, and both countries have a customs post on the road beside the ramp. Don't forget to phone first and give them the required notice!
GOANA Air Safari
Flew here with a GOANA air safari trip in 02 - each couple flew their own Cessna 172. Very picturesque little rural Australian town. Spent time walking around the old part of town and had supper on a riverboat - we were told that all towns in Australia are like this :P
Wine Tours
Flew here with a GOANA air safari trip in 02 - each couple flew their own Cessna 172. We were grounded here for 48 hours by a dust storm, and we had to do the wine tasting tour twice!
Light rail
I live in Orleans but my hangar is at Carp. Light rail would solve lots of problems. I think Carp and Arnprior are the only local airports to permit the building of private hangars at reasonable cost.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
US Customs officers will drive over from the bridge to clear you. Even on a Sunday, only 1 hour notice required!
KHCD
Very old view.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
Clear Customs here if flying from Ontario or Quebec to Vermont/New Hampshire. Nice places to eat downtown - it's a university town.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
Efficient place to clear customs and get fuel (if required) flying South from Ottawa.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
Cleared US Customs here when returning from the Bahamas. Surprisingly friendly and efficient Customs officers. You have to taxi to the other side of the field for gas/food/parking.
Expensive!
The most expensive place I have ever landed at. Landing fees, Customs fees (although we cleared Bahamian Customs earlier in Eluthera), FBO parking fees, very expensive avgas, fuel delivery charges, service fees for the FBO, VAT on everything.
Great Place for a Family Vacation
Flew here direct from Melbourne Florida. The airport is an old US Navy facility, now a civilian strip with customs and fuel by prior arrangement. Stayed at the Duck Inn - four bedroom cottage surrounded with orchids and fruit gardens. Rented an old (1960s) car from a local and toured Eluthera for six fabulous days. We will go back someday.
Caution Density Altitude
I landed here when my spouse demanded a pit stop enroute Pheonix. Don't expect that it will cool off in the evening - it never cools off here. Elevation 4,300 ft, but density altitude in the afternoons with temperatures 120F - over 9,000 ft. We used about 4,500 ft of runway to take off, just two people in a Baron B-55.
Pick Up Your New Pilatus PC-12
Stopped here enroute Arizona. There is a large Pilatus dealership on the field. We sat drinking our water while watching a private owner inspect his brand new Pilatus. Jealous? Me?
They had a BBQ going and we got free burgers - so we didn't feel too bad.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
A nice convenient little airport to clear US Customs if you are heading West from Southern Ontario.
So Close to Halifax and Dartmouth
A great little airport and so convenient to downtown Dartmouth and Halifax. I flew in here as a passenger in a Sea King many times during my Navy years. I went here once in my Baron to visit friends in Halifax - shortly afterwards I heard Shearwater was closed to commercial and GA traffic again, perhaps for good.
First GPS Approach to Minimums
I flew my Baron into Kap for a Hope Air mission in 2004. I took Simon Garrett from Rockliffe along for the company and some Multi-IFR experience. We filed IFR which was a good thing since it was IMC from North Bay to Kap. We flew the GPS Approach to minimums and taxied to the terminal in heavy rain. Then we had to wake up our passenger who fell asleep departing Ottawa. At least he had confidence in our abilities.
Gosh!
Not to be missed by fans of the movie. Preston is the hometown of filmmaker Jared Hess, who filmed Napoleon Dynamite there. It has been called the "middle of nowhere" and that is an apt description. In Idaho, but just a few miles north of the Utah border. The mountains are still high and rugged (9,500 ft) but the valleys are wide in this part of Idaho and there are lots of farms.
I landed at Preston (U10) before noon and taxied in to the "terminal". The airport was at 4,700 ft elevation and it was very hot and dry. There was self-serve fuel. There was a little lounge and washrooms that reminded me of the old clubhouse at Rockliffe Flying Club - you use pliers to turn on the water! There was an unlocked courtesy car in the carport beside the terminal, but no ignition key for the vehicle. I looked all over for a key or someone who had a way to get into town. There was NOBODY around - I stayed there for 90 minutes, and no one came by. No cars drove by. I looked in several hangars, there were vehicles parked in front, but nobody there. So, since the temperatures were already climbing into the 95+, and the forecast was 108F for the afternoon, I grabbed a granola bar and a bottle of water out of my cooler and departed for Wyoming. A shame really, since I would have loved to drive into town to have a milkshake and look at Preston High School. Gosh!!
Narrow Runway With a Twist 14 - 35
There is one narrow, curved grass runway at Elk City Idaho, designated as 14 and 35. Yes, it has a kink in the middle. It is shaped like a hockey stick, and it is narrow, with trees and brush on both sides.
About 100 metres into town, a sleepy but friendly little place that probably sees lots more activity during the Elk hunting season. Nice place to stop for breakfast or lunch when flying in the Idaho backcountry.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
I crossed the border at Coutts Alberta (CEP4) in July 06. There is a little grass runway that runs East-West right along the border, the US side of the border is Sweetgrass Montana (7S8). The highway border crossing is only 100 yards away, so the agent just walks over, like at Piney in Manitoba. I think THY was parked with the tailwheel in Canada and the front tires in the US. The border runs along the side of the runway.
There are several little air strips like this between Chilliwack BC and Piney in Manitoba. Because they are only yards from a customs office, they only require one hour advance notice (to avoid that $5000US fine). Check the AOPA International Operations website or the AOPA Airport Guide for the latest advance notice requirements for the specific airport.
When I phoned to give my one-hour notice, the US Customs agent asked me to confirm I was flying a taildragger and suggested I should not land here if it was wet, since it can be very rough.
Clear US Customs here going to the USA
I crossed the border at Coutts Alberta (CEP4) in July 06. There is a little grass runway that runs East-West right along the border, the US side of the border is Sweetgrass Montana (K7S8). The highway border crossing is only 100 yards away, so the agent just walks over, like at Piney in Manitoba. I think THY was parked with the tailwheel in Canada and the front tires in the US. The border runs along the side of the runway.
There are several little air strips like this between Chilliwack BC and Piney in Manitoba. Because they are only yards from a customs office, they only require one hour advance notice (to avoid that $5000US fine). Check the AOPA International Operations website or the AOPA Airport Guide for the latest advance notice requirements for the specific airport.
When I phoned to give my one-hour notice, the US Customs agent asked me to confirm I was flying a taildragger and suggested I should not land here if it was wet, since it can be very rough.
Light rail
Thanks for the fuel info, Tony.
There's talk at Ottawa city council about building a light rail line as far as the village of Carp. If that ever happens (and it would be years away), CYRP could become a fairly important Ontario GA airport.
Introduction to Mountain Flying
Runway elevation 5,000 feet but the mountains you fly over on downwind are 9,000 feet high! Beautifully maintained grass strip with first class camping facilities. This is a very popular fly-in campsite on summer weekends, the Maules, Super Cubs, Skywagons and other groups organise fly-ins here. JC is the first introduction to mountain flying for many folks. Go to McCall Idaho (KMYL) for advice before flying into JC, Big Creek or the other popular Idaho backcountry airstrips. I'll post some photos when I learn how.
The North Field vs. The International Airport
Runway 04 - 22 at the North end of the Ottawa Airport is for General Aviation - the flying clubs and local avionics shop are there. The Ottawa Flying Club has a restaurant open for breakfast and lunch. The same landing fees apply at the North Field.
There is an Esso Avitat and a Shell FBO just East of the main International terminal, just beside Runway 07-25 for business travellers and charters.
Self-serve fuel
Yes, they have 24-hour self-serve, and their regular customers can sign up for their loyalty program for another discount! See John at West Capital in the FBO building.
Breakfast every Sunday
The Brockville Flying Club has a fly-in breakfast every Sunday. It's hard to find official info, but I think it's 8:30-11:30 am. I hope to try it out tomorrow.
Busy GA airport, expensive gas, fees.
Busy GA airport, expensive gas, fees.
Nice little airport, good fuel prices, but nothing else,no r
Nice little airport, decent fuel prices.
Special landing/takeoff procedures
Because there's a high ridge just east of the airport, the normal procedure for landing on runway 12 is to do a wide left downwind, then follow the river valley through the town on a slant left base. Because of a hill SE of the airport, you won't see the runway until you're almost lined up on final. For departure from runway 30, just reverse the procedure (unless your plane has a very good climb angle) -- instead of trying to outclimb the ridge, make a gentle right turn after takeoff and follow the river valley southeastwards until you're high enough to get over the hills. Note also that there are trees off both ends of the runway. If you're in a low-powered plane like a Cherokee or Cessna 172, it might be a good idea to take off when the air is cool (e.g. not midafternoon on a summer day), and to be a fair bit under maximum gross weight (you can top up your fuel at Pembroke [YTA] and Peterborough [YPQ], which are both only 62 nm away and have long paved runways), though the gravel runway is a good length at 2,200 ft. It's a fun airport for a pilot, but note the previous comment for a passenger's perspective.
Up on a hill
This airport is up on a hill, several hundred feet above the city below and Lake Nippising. That's both a good and bad thing -- once, I was able to depart VFR when the city was completely fogged in, because the hill was above the top of the fog with blue skies above. On the other hand, if there's a low ceiling, it will be lower here than in the city.
Kingman airport
KIGM was a military training field in WW2. It had thousands of aircraft on the field, which extended quite a ways to the southwest at that time. It is much smaller now, although local lore has it that expended cannon shells and other training artifacts can be found in the desert to the south.
KIGM has an excellent breakfast/lunch cafe open every day except Monday.
Cross Country Solo
🔗 Sun, 22 Jul 2007
— @davidsherrod at Angelina County Airport, United States
First stop on my long cross country solo.