Airport comments for Canada

Comments 1,676 to 1,725 of 1,841

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Gas pumps

The last time I was there, the pumps at Brampton were set up like an automobile gas station -- they were on an island, with a little booth in the middle for the attendant. You taxi to either side of the pumps, get a fill up, then taxi on. The Brampton Flying Club (one of Canada's biggest) is the FBO, and has a slick operation running inside.

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Great War Flying Museum

The Great War Flying Museum (http://www.greatwarflyingmuseum.com/) is at this airport. On nice weekends, you can often share the circuit with a Fokker, Sopwith Camel, etc. in WWI markings.

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Student pilots

This airport is a frequent destination for student pilots cross-countries from other parts of Ontario and Quebec. It's easy to find by the lake, there are no landing or parking fees, and it has an onsite FSS to give the students a hand, fuel, a long runway, and an ILS for the IFR students. The three major flight schools in Ottawa (the Ottawa Flying Club, Ottawa Aviation Services, and the Rockcliffe Flying Club) send all of their student pilots to YGK for their first solo cross-country flights, and there will sometimes be two or three Ottawa-based training planes parked there at the same time.

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re: Landing Fee

I think Tony's right -- the landing fee is keeping away GA traffic. I've always chosen North Bay (YYB) instead of Sudbury (YSB) as a fuel stop, since it has no landing fee, and no ramp fee for a short stop. YYB is also a very short drive from downtown North Bay, while YSB is a long way out of town.

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Home away from home

Instructed for 4 years at GFC now at Waterville

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Home Base

great airport.learned to fly here.wintertime can be bad

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Maybe it doesn't count

I've done the PAR and the missed but not actually landed.

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Friendly FBO

During a fuel stop en route from Calgary to Brampton the FBO staffer offered his car so we could go down the street and grab a bite to eat. I wouldn't EXPECT this from the FBO but it goes to show the friendliness of the people there. Parking the 206 next to a fighter jet was kind of neat too!

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Cleared Canadian Customs Here

Landed here after dark in Oct 04 to clear customs. Taxiways were very rough and ramp lighting was not very effective. The ramp attendant heard us fly in and drove over to let the Customs agent in the back gate and let us out after we were cleared. He drove us to our hotel afterward fuelling us - great service after a long day of flying.

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Private Grass Strip

Flew my Husky here from Buttonville the day the importation process was completed - great grass strip. Did several touch & goes, then landed and had coffee with one of the residents, a retired Air Canada pilot.

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trees

big trees at north end. Most jets cannot make climb gradient departing 33!

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They paved it.

That's it. They paved it. It used to be grass. I guess there were people who said that when they paved what is now Pearson.

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Air Montmagny

This airport, a bit over 30 nautical miles west of Quebec City, is the home of Air Montmagny, which must have one of the shortest regular air routes in the world -- during the winter, when the ferry to the island isn't operating, they fly passengers back and forth to Île-aux-Grues Airport (CSH2), less than 4 nautical miles (7 kilometers) away. I made an unscheduled stop here for fuel in summer 2006 after a long diversion around a thunderstorm, and if I remember correctly, Air Montmagny also operated the FBO.

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Good Fuel Stop

Dease Lake is a good fuel stop along the Cassiar Hwy with cheaper fuel than Whitehorse, Watson Lake or Smithers. Jim and Sharon of Pacific Western Helicopters run the only fuel concession at the northeast end of the field. They can help you get a room nearby, too.

deaselakebase@pwh.ca

250-771-5911

ASOS 128.7

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home sweet home

home sweet home

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Gliders

Lots of glider activity here. This airport east of Ottawa is great for diversions and forced approach practises, but only on days when the gliders are not around. The middle of winter is a good time!

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Home airport

Home airport, great FSS people

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Landing Fee

Was charged a landing fee for a short stop when flying a Hope Air mission. It was a very quiet airport, I wonder if the fees were a reason?

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Avoid the Best Western hotel here

I spent a night at the Regina Best Western in Jul 06. Not a pleasant experience, the hotel was hosting a sports tournament and there were children (and adults) running down the hallways all night. The non-smoking rooms and the hallway smelled of smoke, but they had nothing better to offer. There are panhandlers outside the hotel who will follow you if you go outside at night. There were no nice restaurants or stores in the neighbourhood, very rundown area. I requested the shuttle bus for a trip back to the FBO at 0630, but in the morning the shuttle was missing because the driver took it on a personal errand for an hour.

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Abbotsford Airport

Did my training here. Great training airport and excellent tower staff that were very facilitating and patient. Good place for IFR training too.

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Tipitina's

Best food and friendliest service I have ever found at an airport, it is in the 'A' Hangar, 1st hanger north of the terminal. Get the "D" cups!

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Star Encounter

Met the star of Wings Over Canada here. It was a fluke but it was pretty neat

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College

Attended Aviation Flight Management @ Confederation. Many good times spent here!

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Nice Gem

Beautiful airport keep it alive! Received my Multi here.

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Flight Training

Received my MIFR here

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Private & Night

This is where I learnt to fly!

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Geographic Center of Canada

Baker Lake is a small community in Nunavut, Canada. It is close to Rankin Inlet, Chesterfield Inlet, and Whale Cove. Fuel is available here (JET A for sure) and they publish a METAR and TAF for this airport. I have used this airport extensively in the past and the CARS (Community Aerodrome Radio Station) were extremely helpful calling for Cabs, the Fueler and the company that loaded my plane. I am not sure if there is more than one hotel in town but I stayed at the Igloo Inn which is a short cab ride into the community. Close by is the Northern Store, Hospital and High School to gain access to Internet.

There is rising terrain just to the North West of the airport so be careful at night or in poor visibility. Considering it's location it was pretty well suited with services that should take care of most peoples needs if they are just passing through.

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Correct

As David mentioned the breakfast is every Sunday starting around 7am for those early risers...

It's a 5 dollar donation for bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, coffee and orange juice. The great company and conversations are free :)

www.brockvilleflyingclub.com

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Friendly Staff at Porter

I have frequented the Porter (City Center Aviation previously) for the past year and a half and would say that the staff here really make the difference. I know of the cost issue with ramp fees and expensive fuel but go to any major US city (Boston loves to give it to GA) and it is not as bad you might think.

One of the nicest spots to stop into within walking distance to Starbucks, Sushi restaurant, Tim Hortons, Quiznos, Subway and a few hotels. I walk rather quickly so take that with a grain of salt :)

Compared to Pearson or Buttonville this is where I would rather land then no matter were I was going in Toronto.

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golf

Golf course and resort short walk from field. Services and 100ll available

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The Wind

Windy as hell. Make sure to tighten up your ball cap before getting out of the plane or you will loose it. Dress in layers so the wind doesn't blow your shirt tight. Everyone can see your nipples.

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Thumbs Up

The hot chicks are working at the Esso Avitat counter. Try the pilot angle to get a phone number. The blonde one is married.

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Great little strip

Not very many bugs in the summer.

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Holland Landing

Cool little airport perched on the top of a hill.

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Gjoa Haven

Onlt been there in the summer. Nicest FSS crew around.

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Good Flight School

The flight school at Cornwall has two twins (Seminoles) and can help you get your multi and IFR ratings, and has an examiner on staff for efficient, no-nonsense IFR renewals. There are two non-precision approaches to this airport.

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Not all grass - lots of gravel

This airport is listed in the CFS and commonly known as "Westport". I have been here during the week and seen vehicles drive in, wander around and drive out. Perhaps the signs off the road are inadequate? This gets tricky if you are slipping in over the trees to Rwy 07, as I was.

It is a nice walk into the town of Westport for treats or lunch. There is a winter fly-in here, on the lake for skis and at the airstrip if conditions allow.

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PPR and the low spots can be wet

Call first and check the conditions, especially early in the season. Lots of ultralights here, especially Challengers!

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Spectrum Aiways

Great flight school. If you come in early on the weekends, you can get breakfast in the flight school building. That lady makes the best omelets in town!

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Power Lines

A nice grass strip close to Ottawa to practise soft and short field landings. Have a look at photos of this strip before going there, the power lines may not be visible depending on your direction of approach and the angle of the sun. There are low power lines at both ends, with some higher Hydro towers and cellular towers nearby. Watch for hang glider activity nearby too.

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My favourite x/c

This airport is great to fly into at night, beautiful view of the city.

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Prior permission required

Great little airport, watch out for extremely strong crosswinds on some days. Prior permission is required, but is usually given if you have business at either of the two nearby ranches.

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Approach over the Water

I did a Hope Air flight from Montreal to Baie Comeau. We filed IFR and the passengers got a little restless when we flew the DME Arc out over the water to approach from the East. They could see lots of water below us and ahead of us, and the aircraft seemed quite low. After we turned inbound, they saw the runway and relaxed a little. I was just glad they waited until we were on the ground before telling me that the approach over the water made them very nervous.

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Shopping

There is a very large shopping centre (mall) a short taxi ride away. I used to take an aircraft here for an annual inspection and my significant other would take advantage of the time in Montreal for some serious clothes shopping, the kind of shopping that you cannot do in Eastern Ontario. (This sounds wierd, but an ex-Montrealer would understand what I meant.)

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Restaurant

A convenient pit stop if you are flying between Ontario and the Maritimes. A nice airport restaurant, fuel and maintenance services available if required.

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Feet Wet!

Beautiful part of the world if you are willing to make the long overwater flight in a light single. No 100LL available so fill up before you make the trip. Nice little motel with a great pub adjacent to the terminal building. Rental cars also in the terminal if you want to explore the Islands.

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runway

good but subject to crosswinds

also seasonal

variations re dumping of alot of

gravel in may thru july to build base to prevent errosion

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Fall Colours

A very popular fall fly-in destination - the scenary is beautiful. There can be lots of traffic on fly-in days. The approach is over the lake, with terrain rising to the runway - and the runway is narrow, so you might be high the first time you attempt this airport.

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Nice Restaurant

There is a very nice restaurant here - but lots of traffic on the weekend. It gets busy with departures waiting to backtrack, cadets trying to launch gliders, inbound traffic joining the circuit, and lots of radio traffic in both official languages.

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NDB Approach

I flew here several times while doing my IFR rating to practise the NDB approach to runway 35. It is an interesting IFR flight from Ottawa, culminating with the classic "NDB astern of you" approach and missed approach back to the beacon. I think I might actually get to land here one day. :-)