Comments 526 to 575 of 908
gy
hello
Snowy Owls seen at airports in Ontario
Hi, I am currently looking for Snowy Owls. They seem to be a bit late this year (2011). These white owls love airports and use them for hunting grounds. If anyone sees one could you let me know. They will sit on the corner edge of a shed or will sit on the ground in the snow. Thanks and safe flying! jennifer@naturesphotoadventures.com
Jennifer
Wifi at Ottawa Airport
I'm glad it's free because I won't pay a cent for that crap...pitiful downloading speed.
Wait a good 2-5 minutes to browse anything..video is a no-no... You can check your email, that's about it.
I guess there is nothing good that's free.
Private Airstrip
This is a private airstrip which belongs to an ex- Air Canada captain, as I was told. Runway about 2000 ft long was in a good shape in October 2010, there were glider trailers and a tug parked on the adjacent taxiway. Approach from the East is "hooked" as the neighbour does not permit to fly over his barn (seen about two thousand feet following the runway heading eastwards). Procedure known to me was to fly a curved final around the barn before aligning with the runway. Electric line at the Western threshold was buried, as far as I can remember. Also, airport call on the radio is "Great Lakes", not "Colgan".
Private Airstrip
This is a private airstrip, owner has a hangar stuck to a barn - that's about as much I was able to see when overflying the field. It is a PNR, but the surface looked too bad to land - though approaches are clear. Might be a bit tricky to find - use the square ponds on the lakeshore as a prominent ground feature, then follow the road from the Beaverton to the West.
PPR Airstrip
I have not landed there - this airstrip is PPR and when I was circling over it end of November '10, a black SUV pulled into the middle of the runway and just stood there. There were no aircrafts next to the hangar, as opposed to shown on the Google Maps. Approach from the East looks intriguing - it is a tunnel cut through the trees!
The Biggest Runway Ever! :-)
Muskoka is another popular destination for the Toronto student pilots' cross-countries. This airport sports a huge runway, good for big jets and air force machinery. You need to talk to Timmins RCO (was London, but now they only provide FISE there) to operate in their control zone. RCO guys are positive and helpful, working with lots of student pilots.
You can frequently meet some expensive and cool aircraft at Muskoka - Corvalis, Cirrus, corporate jets and so on. Terminal building is very nice, facilities comfortable. I think it's a good place to visit now and then. Check out the airport website for more details: http://www.muskokaairport.com/
Interesting Airport
Peterborough is used as one of the default cross-country destinations by Island Air flight school (and a bunch of others, I believe), so I've been there three times while working on my license. Overall perception - long, rather narrowish (for the length) runway, very friendly and useful unicom operator, cute little FBO hut and always something interesting flying around. A twin working on IFR training mission around the Peterborough NDB, Moonies, Bonanzas, Cubs, Robinsons, everything else GA landing and taking off - and ultimately a bunch of jets sitting at the airport where they get painted, refurbished! I like this airport, it has this comfortable feeling that everything is ok around it.
re: Airport sold
Reply to @david: The airport has not been sold yet. The city agrees to sell. The city said the proposed sale result in $1,225,000...
Best Grass Roots Airport in GTA
I hereby award Greenbank a Best Grass Roots Airport in GTA diploma. :-)
Seriously, this is a great little airport. Two grass runways, both sloped, marked with flags and very well cared of. There is a "secret" flying school there, using a 172, and a 24/7 gas pumps for the local grasshoppers community. No worries if you'll see the birds on the runway - they know this whole GA thing and will let you land or take off without any problems.
Nice and clean FBO, very scenic surroundings (especially in the Autumn), great place to fly in with friends. Such a pity that accident happened to the original airport owner, but an excellent conditions of the airport afterwards are a testament to the great job done.
If ever in doubt which grass strip to fly to East of Toronto, go Greenbank!
Good Airport
Oshawa is a Good Airport. Free from that Pearson control cloak covering almost everything around Toronto, you can take off from Oshawa and get a training area right in front of you. Fast and convenient. Rental prices are the lowest in the whole GTA, though condition of the planes is... let's say, they are very well used.
Oshawa has a useful NDB and a friendly tower, which won't punish you for inadvertently intruding their airspace (from the said training area) right away, and will be helpful and cooperating providing a flight following within their control zone when you go cross-country following the shoreline to Kingston or back.
I would suggest this airport (or actually a Durham Flight Centre) as a choice for those who want to practice the instruments flying in GTA without bogging into the airliners dodging and violent radio chat almost inevitable East of Toronto.
A Bigger Small Airport
You can't get in or out from this airport without a rental car, even though it looks like sitting in the middle of the city. Oh well, there is a bus stop next to a funerals home in front, but in winter they don't clean the snow there so you'll have to wait in a pile of snow.
Toronto Airways has one of the least interested instructors I've seen in the whole Toronto area! Like, really, if you are a potential customer (renter, student pilot, whatever), paying a hefty price, you may expect certain level of positive attitude towards you. FBO folks were nice, though.
Seneca College airplanes are also based there, and those guys are setting standards in competence and quality of flight training.
From the pilot prospective, runways are huge and comfortable. Tower is generally friendly, though if you are flying from CYKZ to CYTZ and vice versa they tend to be... a bit picky sometimes. Not really bad, just picky. Won't release you from the frequency until the last second, etc.
They have this funny little Markham airport plugged into their airspace - I'd suggest going through the CYKZ control zone instead! Markham people can pop up in front of you in a glider without warning (yeah, they have their own separate frequency for gliders, I know, but better - just fly with Buttonville radar keeping an eye on you and throwing advisories if needed).
Love and Hate Airport
Brampton is super-cute, with its nicely painted buildings, nice little restaurant and a smallish pilot shop. You can actually see some bunnies eating flowers in front of the Caledon office early in the morning.
Brampton is a mess, with its packet parking, piles of airplanes moving in all directions, super-lame unicom and traffic chat, people doing circuits of all sizes and cutting in front of each other.
Brampton flying center is all about making money. Big money with lots of international students. Membership fee, enrollment fee, fee for this and fee for that... Noticeable overload over the already not-so-cheap prices. Not good for renters.
FBO work appears like being organized back in time, and hugely deteriorated afterwards. Things like forms, flight documents, internet access and such look like they were thought out, but then dropped into "no one cares, just take it as it is" mode.
Brampton is one of the two locations in all GTA where you can actually rent a SuperCub! Checkout will cost you just about two thousand dollars to go solo (keeping in mind all the fees and taxes).
Ultralight and Skydivers base
Baldwin is a home for Toronto Aerosports ultralight flying group (http://www.torontoaerosport.com/) Airport community mostly operates Challengers (like a dozen of those), but there are also Savannah, two Merlins, and a bunch of other interesting machines on tie-downs - even a Piper twin. Ultralight people are sharing the airport with skydivers, please check the NOTAMs! Skydivers are currently using a Shorts Skywan - if it's not on the ground, it might be dropping people right over the field...
No flying over the Eastern side of the airport - there is a trailer park which habitants are not at all happy with any aircraft passing above them. So runway 01 is a RH circuit, and if you need to join a left downwind for 19 - you may have to do that from south, looking for the traffic. Always stay on the frequency and look out for NORDO aircrafts in the area.
In any case, if unfamiliar with the area, I strongly suggest calling Toronto Aerosport people on the phone and ask for advisory before attempting to land or closely overfly Baldwin. They are good people and will help.
landing at stirling
very active strip with a large membership with welcoming members .Gas is availible when members are around. landing on 09 needs your attention on days if wind is strong from the west. land a bit long, as down drafts are present if you try to "land on the numbers" also if its a hot day,and winds are light and you are close to gross in a150 or a 140 piper you may want to take of down wind as trees are 35 feet tall right at threshold of 09 and there is a slight uphill grade when taking off towards the east, were as 27 , the land drops away over the cliff [comments from a fellow flyer how has flown out of here for many years}
airport condition
this airport has excellent approaches from east or west with no wires or trees, runway is grass but smooth ,two mooney,s flight off here as well as twins and other 4 place aircraft. The airport is own by jim marker . Members of the flying club currently do the grass cutting. David Byrd has been doing the bulk of the
work along with Mike Fox. the field is prior permission only at this time.
CNF-9 Niagara South Airport
there are two runways one gravel 4400 feet ditch to ditch as shown and the other is 01 - 19 3300 feet ditch to ditch grass field no services PRIOR PREMISSION REQUIRED
SEE CFS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
re: Whitewater Lake Sudbury Aviation
John and Pearl McMahon were my aunt and uncle. My name is Ronda Mackwood nee Makela. My mothers father was also part owner of Sudbury Aviation with his brother John. My father owns Lauzon Aviation on Lake Lauzon in Algoma Mills.
re: Kingston Ultralight Club
Reply to @david:
Homebuilt flow from Guelph Airport to Goderich in October 20
I am trying to locate Brian Harrington who flew a homebuilt aircraft from Guelph to Goderich. I believe Brian knew my father many years ago. Does anyone know him? If so please contact me at maryeoneil52@yahoo.com. Thanks
re: Kingston Ultralight Club
Sounds great. I'd love to drop by in my Warrior for a visit, but a 1,200 ft grass strip doesn't leave a lot of safety margin (it's doable, especially when I'm lightly loaded, but closer than I like). Maybe I'll drive in some Sunday.
Kingston Ultralight Club
Camden East airport is the home station of the Kingston Ultralight club, the group flies, powered chutes, trikes and fixed wing. Club meets 1st Sunday of each month at the strip 0900 hrs. The club is both a COPA flight and a UPAC Squadron.
wardair
gone 1989 . bin on it TWICE (there, back)
maple airport i think i was there twice(leaving/arriving/the
buttonville 4 times ( leaving/arriving/leaving/arriving). toronto centre island billy bishop ( not SEATON HOUSE centre island and not OWEN SOUND billy bishop airport that i know of and billy bishop big flap hero/not hero never . Owen sound billy bishop NEVER . they were hiring 'dispatchers' air traffic controllers porter airlines larry tanenbaum paul 'god' godfrey's (grandfather changed name from greenberg or something) friend. the 'maple syrup'=baloney.
MAPLE airport.
gone in 87 (wikipedia) .
oshawa and markham airports.
next. or ALREADY .
BUTTONVILLE airport.
cadillac-fairview (as in EATON centre for example) got it .
Quiet and friendly to ultralights
The field is nicely maintained by EAA chapter 65. If you fly there regularly, they ask you join them ($50/year or so).
Friendly owner
The field's owner, Newton Little, is an aviation enthusiast that is too old to fly but maintains the strip and welcomes guest pilots. He lives in the house next to the field - please ask him for permission or inquire about hangaring your plane there. There is also an RC field on the premises. Great scenery to the NW.
Looks like the airport is closing
Cadillac Fairview will be developing the airport lands.
http://fly.blakecrosby.com/2010/10/buttonville-airport-to-close.html
Vending machines
The flying school is the only (sort-of) public building at the airport. It has washrooms, a restaurant that operates only on weekends, and vending machines available the rest of the week.
Fuel
Burlington has both 100LL and Jet-A. The fuel pumps are operated by the airport, not the Spectrum Airways flight school.
Expensive airport
I just called Glanford Aviation (Shell), the only FBO that appears to offer 100LL, and they charge a $25 facility fee for a single-engine piston plane (not waived with a fill-up) on top of the airport's $18.50 minimum landing fee. That means that you're out $43.50 + HST = $48.72 the second your wheels hit the Shell apron, before you even start to put fuel in your tank. Would you fill up your car at a gas station that charged almost $50 to just to enter their lot and park in front of the pump?
Even big-city airports are usually much cheaper than this (Pearson is, of course, an exception). I don't know what the city of Hamilton (and Shell) are thinking, except that they want to scare as many visitors as possible away from Hamilton, and make sure no one spends any money in the local economy.
re: Restaurant?
Reply to @bcrosby:
As of a year ago ,No, but the people at the airport are more than happy to accomodate you if you want to go to town for lunch or ?(we ate at the Beanery GREAT place)
Gilles
Nice Airport, Mediocre Service
While the flying club members are friendly, the terminal staff are less than pleasant to deal with. Next time, I'll take my money elsewhere.
Airport sold
The airport has been sold to developers, who plan to continue to operate it and to build a residential airpark around it:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/10/06/ottawa-carp-airport.html
ARCAL runway lighting issues
The antenna for the ARCAL type J (5 clicks) runway lighting is on the west side of the museum building. Because the huge museum building is in the way, it is difficult or impossible to activate the lighting on the ground in the east half of the field (including holding short for runway 27), so you may have to taxi to midfield to activate the lights first, then taxi back if you're departing from 27.
When approaching from the east in the air, you may also have trouble activating the lighting (unless you wait until mid-downwind). Approaching from the west, it should be much easier, since you have the antenna in line-of-sight.
That said, the ARCAL is very picky, and may take several attempts even when you have it in line of site. The flying club experimented with a lot of sensitivity settings last summer in an attempt to improve it, but with no luck. Just be patient and keep trying, or call UNICOM to see if anyone's still in the club to activate the lights for you.
Contact
The local person to call is Brian McDougall
A Brief History
Have you ever eaten a bag of Cheezies? If yes, you have a connection to this airport as it is owned by Jim Marker, the inventor of Cheezies.
A Brief History
Long abandoned and with no sign of a runway to be found, the only clues that this location was ever an aerodrome was the remnants of an old windsock on the shed that might have been a hangar at one time. After spotting the old windsock, a bit of research found the airstrip marked on a topographic map from the 1960's. Today, the location can be found by driving along Highway 33 between Wellington and Bloomfield and looking for the 1/2(?)-scale Vought F4U Corsair replica perched on top of an old garage. The old airstrip is across the highway on the north side of the abandoned railroad tracks.
Fly-in B&B
A fly-in bed and breakfast owned by Mr. Scott. However, this info is many years out-of-date and the current condition is unknown.
re: A Brief History
Reply to @david: Those who grew up in the "County" call it Point Peter or simply the Point.
re: A Brief History
Reply to @prattsoplenty: I grew up in Kingston, which isn't quite local, but I've always pronounced this as "point PEA-tree".
A Brief History
Also known as Point Peter to the locals, this location is the MACS (Military Aeronautical Communications System) Trenton HF radio transmitter site. Originally a range for the Bombing and Gunnery school at Picton, the site was also the launch pad for the Avro Arrow test models.
Artificial water runway?
When you zoom in, you can see that what looks like a runway is actually a small, artificial waterway. Very interesting.
Avoid avoid avoid.....
I do everything in my power to avoid flying through Toronto International (which is yet another airport named after a dead politician, a dismal trend). The security line-ups are long, the prices are high, the taxes are high, and the layout of the terminal (it takes 20 minutes to walk from the gate at international arrivals to customs - and then you have to exit into the unscreened area and go through security again. Just a really really bad layout.
Fortunately, being in Ottawa, I can get almost anywhere in North America in one connection or less - while avoiding YYZ.
Fly-in Breakfast - July 18 2010
Flew here for the breakfast 2010-07-18. PPR, Narrow runway (75' total, but only the centre portion is paved). Very friendly people, great breakfast - they had a separate lineup for pilots/passengers vs. the local residents and campers. Be sure to sign the guestbook.
Wx Cameras
I see this airport now has weather cameras on NAV CANADA's flight planning web site...sweet!
A Brief History...
Private airstrip used during the filming of Fly Away Home (1996) starring Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin, based on the story of Father Goose, Bill Lishman.
re: Neato!
🔗 Tue, 11 Jan 2011
— Anonymous Flyer at Herb's Travel Plaza Airstrip, Canada
Reply to @david:
I have landed on the grass strip at Herb's on numerous occasions. The grass strip is about 500' long, with the Hwy. 34 overpass as an obstacle to the west.
The paved strip has cars and trailers parked approximately half way down the runway. They are parked there to prevent any mishaps between the incoming car / truck traffic and landing / departing airplanes.
Owners are friendly, good food, friendly staff!
BTW, I fly a Challenger II Ultralight.
Do not attempt unless you're absolutely sure you can safely get in and out of the grass strip.