Comments 4,251 to 4,300 of 4,732
Oshkosh 2003
Ended up here when weathered out by a huge line of thunderstorms on a flight home from Oshkosh. Had dinner in a Hooters that was an easy walk (for somebody who just spent a week walking around Oshkosh) from the airport. Ate dinner with two Canadians who arrived VFR in a Grumman Tiger.
Central County Airport (68C)
Awesome grassroots airport. Lunch every Friday, sometimes drawing over 50 aircraft!
Supply / demand
I'm not defending the costs of landing a 747... yes it's outrageous. But, having been into Pearson in a light plane once, I would say that the landing fee is fair - especially outside of peak hours ($75). I'm sure the landing fee is set to keep us little guys from joyriding in the area and becoming a hazard to the more serious traffic which is lined up on approach. Certainly the $75 (or $200) is not a money making proposition.
I do agree, though, that there are a lot of better alternatives nearby. CYTZ in an awesome little airport. Approaching the city over the water, with the skyline just of your shoulder is really amazing.
re: IFR
I came into Rockcliffe a few weeks ago with a 1,000 ft AGL ceiling and good vis underneath (daylight), and it was no problem transitioning from the Gatineau VOR/DME 09 to a visual landing at Rockcliffe.
re: Flyboys Cafe
We flew in for Flyboys Oktoberfest last Saturday (October 13th). It was great. They had their local bratwurst, german potato salad, pickled beets, and to top it off, they had Black Forrest cake. It was one great meal, and along with that, they had some great beers, that you normally wouldnt' find in the chain restaurants. They were quite busy, as it was guard drill weekend, but the staff kept up with the crowd. I must add, I had a couple of conversations with some of the Air National guard men and women, and let me tell you, it makes us sleep better at night to know how proud these men and women are of their unit, and their country. So, stop in, and show your apprciation to the men and women in uniform, and buy them a beer, and say thanks. We did and will do it again!
Baja Flight
Hello Joe
You missed a good Baja Flight last Oct. Terry crashed his Dac into the sea and compleatly distroyed it! Where were you?? We are planing a flight to the Black Hills of S.D. next year.
Rick
joputol
Hi
Nice! Many thanks, easy to find helpful information. Good work.
No food
There is no food available at Baie-Comeau except for some junk-food vending machines and a coffee machine. There is a room that used to be a cafeteria -- it still has tables and a microwave -- but there's nothing served there any more. Staff told me that the nearest food is in town, about 18 km away (I think).
Fees
Baie-Comeau has both a landing fee and a terminal fee. The security guard collects it, before she or he lets you back onto the field through the locked door. I think that they're around $15 each, but they were waived for my Hope Air flight. You pay for gas from the FBO inside the terminal near the checkin desks, so you can't just stay outside to avoid the fees.
Using the mandatory frequency
Baie-Comeau is a mandatory-frequency airport, with a remote transmitter run by Mont-Joli; however, unlike other MF fields, Mont-Joli does *not* want you to make any traffic calls on the MF (they chastized me over the radio when I announced that I was taking the runway for departure) except what they ask for.
fall 2007
It is very difficult to work with the Alaska Airlines customer service counter within the secured area. It's understaffed, usually with uninterested employees.
This airport has a nursery on the B concourse. It's a great little private room with two leather couches, a coffee table, a crib (bring your own sheet/blanket), rollercoaster beads, toddler-size chairs, and its own private bathroom. The only downfall is it doesn't have a monitor for arrivals/departures. Oh, and the room kind of stinks.
Departures are routinely delayed. Most aggravating.
fall 2007
this airport is currently undergoing a major remodel. perhaps with more gates, we'll have the opportunity for more flights at more convenient departure times.
TSA security is very thorough, but consistently very lenient in what you're allowed to bring. for instance, they allowed me to bring about 8 oz. of juice for my baby in her cup and plenty of other baby food/drink supplies.
Time to get through security is really fast and easy.
re: Can't find this airport
Yes, I don't see anything in the satellite photo either. According to the FAA database, there's supposed to be a private 1,400 foot turf runway there (not listed in the AFD). Does anyone have more information?
Can't find this airport
I've checked the coordinates and looked at the satellite image and found nothing at this location.
re: Flyboys Cafe
I was agree! I was at Mansfield for a business meeting, and stopped in waiting for my plane. THe bratwurst they have is absolutely the best I have ever had. They also have a good selection of seasonal beers, which the Spiced Wheat was my favorite. I also got to see two C-130's perform an airdrop mission on the airport. I must agree with another post and say it's "pretty cool".
Southwest end of runway in poor shape
The southwest 600 feet of the runway (the first 600 of rwy 06 or the last 600 of 24) is in pretty bad shape, and has now officially been NOTAM'ed closed. The rest of the runway is a bit bumpy, but generally OK. The apron is at the northeast end.
U.S. Customs
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is willing to meet aircraft at Maxson -- it's not officially listed as an airport of entry, but it's much closer to the Thousand Islands Bridge where the CBP officers are based than Watertown (KART), so it saves them driving.
One quirk (for both Maxson and Watertown), is that they won't accept arrival notices before the day of arrival because so many pilots don't show up, so you have to get up early to call two hours before arrival for a morning flight. They also couldn't meet me at 7:45 am because it was too close to shift change, but 8:00 am was fine.
Here are the phone numbers:
Voice: (315) 482-2472
Fax: (315) 428-5436
WoW!
Wow, I am the first to leave a comment!
re: St.Catharines airport
Its a great place to visit......See ya
St.Catharines airport
The airport is only a 10 munite drive from the Falls (niagara falls) there are also helicopter and aircraft flights over the falls every day. The airport is served by a Flight service station and there are motels and hotels in close proximety. Niagara region is also a wine region so wine tours are common. Niagara on the lake is one of the most beautiful towns in canada and is located a 5 minute drive from the airport.
re: Just had to get this one in while it is still on the map
Yes, sadly the field closed almost a year ago, on September 30, 2006. According to the Wikipedia article, it was built in 1910, was the first aerodrome to be described as an "air-port" (in 1919), and was the founding location of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol (1941).
Caution
Take care to clear airstrip of deer before landing.
FBO Notes
The Petro-T FBO also offers free parking if you fill up with them. The 100LL is 10 cents cheaper if you self-serve. Nice lounge. First ramp off Twy D.
xa96
XA96 is the En Gedi ranch airport. Look to the south to the mesa and caliche. The runway is on the caliche strip. The white dots are gas well locations. Cattle may come to the sound of an airplane engine in the winter. Recommend low pass before landing. Monitor HHF weather and look at windmills lor local wind before landing. Experienced pilots only, but all welcome. Conventional gear recommended. Steve Vandiver telephone 806 683 2372.
Really Nice Place
This is one of those special grass airports in the north east. There are usually a few tail draggers on the field. Good restaurant. An excellent choice for lunch and an easy afternoon.
Atlantic, great service
My wife and I did an overnight in Burlington a few weeks back. I like the people that work there - very helpful and sincerely friendly. There was not much going on when we arrived so they offered to drive us into town.
Closed to itinerant aircraft
This airport is now closed to itinerant aircraft, according to the Burlington approach controller I talked with today while overflying Plattsburgh -- visitors are supposed to go to Plattsburgh International (KPBG) nearby, an old military strip with a very long runway. The controller said that they were still using Clinton Co. for paradrops, and that there were still some local planes there (possibly including a DC-3 I once saw take off), waiting for hangar space at KPBG.
re: Customs ramp
So it was -- right beside the Heritage Hangar on the south ramp (near taxiway C). Quick and friendly customs.
re: Busy GA airport, expensive gas, fees.
Here's the web page with the fees -- read 'em and weep:
http://www.massport.com/hansc/hansc_operating.html
If you landed at 11:05pm and met customs, you'd be out $235 in fees before you even taxied to the FBO. The after-hours fee for customs applies all weekend, so this isn't a great place to clear coming from Canada ($175 customs charge on a Saturday).
Signature's fees aren't quite as bad -- in December 2006, they were asking $12.75/night for parking, and a $25 handling fee (waived with fuel purchase).
Customs ramp
According to the woman I talked to at the Atlantic FBO, US Customs does *not* meet planes at the FBO; instead, you have to taxi to the customs ramp. She said that it was on the west side of the airport, but the airport diagram shows it on the south end, near the National Guard buildings.
Atlantic FBO
Atlantic has taken over the AvCenter FBO at Burlington. When I called on September 13 2007, there were no landing or ramp fees for a single-engine piston, and a US $10/night parking fee. 100LL was $5.07/us gallon, including taxes.
Spectrum Airways
A great family business which includes a maintenance facility with energetic and helpful mechanics. One of the best places I've overnighted with my plane.
re: Flyboys Cafe
It opened on 3 August 2007. They have a nice clean place, with great views of the airport. They also have good food. They have what they call a Flyboy Burger, it's great. They also have local made bratwurst, home backed buns, and fresh cut fries. They just received their liquor license about a week ago also. This place is if I may say "pretty cool", as there is all types of aviation action from military (C-130 and KC-135), corporate jets in and out, lots of general aviation, and I even saw a couple of cargo jet's in there (USA Jet, DC-9).
Hills
There are lots of hills surrounding the airport -- there's nothing scary, but you do have to be on top of things. The grass runway was in fairly good shape (a little bumpy, but no holes), and there are nosewheel planes based at the airport, so they obviously maintain things (taildraggers can handle much rougher ground than nosewheel planes). I like the airport, and I plan to stop there again, though I might not want to try outclimbing the hills with my family on board on a hot summer day. The runway is good and long (over 3,000 feet), so that's not an issue.
When I take a trip across the US from Alaska, I am going to
I hope to meet some distant cousins.
Kevin Brownsberger
Red Bluff Air
Nice airport and easy to find. The FBO is run by a couple retired guys who are easy enough to get along with. $5 ramp fee if you stay overnight. They'll waive it if you buy fuel. Enterprise rental is a couple blocks away and they'll pick you up at the airport. Lassen Volcanic National Park is about an hour's drive away and a great destination for backpacking or even a day trip. It can get HOT in the afternoon so check density altitude and your performance charts.
Fuel from Air Killarney
I called Air Killarney (705-287-2242) -- they're not based at the airport, but they advised me to call when I land. According to the woman I talked to, it takes only five minutes for them to get out to the airport to fuel a plane.
Fuel and maintenance
Available from Almaguin Aero Maintenance (Ron and Vera Cooper), 705-386-0011.
CYPQ - Peterborough
Spent the weekend with relatives. Parking = $8.00/night. Friendly FBO. Beautiful runway for an a/p of this tfc volume.
A Great Feild
POC is a great airport. There are many students that fly there from the local college. The controllers are great as well. (they would be better if they got a new tower manager...)
If you stop, the line guys are GREAT, however they could use a new boss as well. i think i see a trend.
all things considered POC is great, i miss flying out of POC.
The approaches are quite fun and it is nice and close to a variety of airports. CCB- non-towered, CNO- large class D with very cool war birds, and ONT- class C with lots of big jets and a busy radio.
take a flight for lunch and enjoy my favorite airport!
If you can get in
Best airfield in the U.S. Army.
Nice Place
This has a very nice grass runway, and lots of new hangers. Think there are ($300+ per/month)
I fly in/out some time in my Sport Star (light sport aircraft)
Light Sport Aircraft for Rent
If you looking for your light sport in a Sport Star Aircraft,
check out Triangle Aviation at 8900 Airport Blvd. Leesburg Florida 34788
phone 352-787-3447 Tell them Buddy sent yea!
Home of Canadair
Cartierville was the site of the Canadair (now Bombardier) factory. There is still a major Bombardier plant here, but the airfield is now a golf course and residential development. Hundreds of aircraft were built here to be ferried to England in World War II.
There is at least one known case of an airliner bound for Dorval (now Trudeau) which landed here by mistake in the 1960s.
A STOL experiment
This was the site of a experimental airport set up as a federally funded research project in the 1970s to research the economic feasibility of short take-off and landing air service in downtown airports. Air Transit was an an airline operating shuttle flights from downtown Montreal to downtown Ottawa (at Rockliffe, CYRO) using specially modified de Havilland Twin Otters (series 300) that had improved spoilers and sophisticated avionics. The approach and take-off path were quite steep, as they had to clear the Victoria Bridge to the east and the power lines to the west. The crews were provided by Air Canada.
I flew once from here to Ottawa. The arriving terminal in Ottawa was the building which is now the entrance hall of the museum. I guess the economics didn't work out, as the STOLport concept didn't catch on.
It's too bad that this airport wasn't kept as a downtown GA field, as it conveniently located and isolated from residential areas by freeways, factories, and the St-Lawrence river. It's now the site of movie studios and a technology park.
Birthplace of bush aviation in Canada
This airport (actually, the co-located hydrobase) was where Canadian bush flying started... in 1919! It is still a busy field for small GA aircraft.
Two runways, one of which has an approach over the lake which is used as a hydrobase. There is a restaurant at the treshold of this runway, which also is the docking area for floatplanes. Fuel is available. Excellent aircraft maintenance facilities, including a good engine overhaul shop.
Douglas Aircraft
This airport was long the home of Douglas Aircraft, later merged into McDonnell-Douglas, later acquired by Boeing. There's not much manufacturing going on here now, but this is where classic planes like the DC-9 and DC-10 launched.
Airport comments for North America
Oshkosh 2003
π Mon, 22 Oct 2007
β @ptomblin at MBS International Airport, United States
Refueled here on the way to Oshkosh. They had free hotdogs, which I think is why my fellow club members chose it.