Pilots can clear Canada Customs or US Customs at Eckharts, but for north bound flyers you have to call 1800CANPASS and give 2 hours notice. The grass runway is kept in good condition and there is an 800 ft strip of blacktop that is on quite a steep incline. The wind is generally out of the south, but the best landing, obstical wise is north bound on 33. Use 122.8 for Creston/Port Hill traffic. Remember that because the airport is in the US you will have to check in with US Customs even if you are north bound.
Wonderful camp site - fine views - silent. Long walk into Hot Springs - all services there closed, but somewhat interesting no the less. Wonderful country to SW & SE - very much worth the ride.
I landed here at 8PM for fuel and a place to overnight. The FBO was closed, I could access the terminal but the TSA guy and the cleaners in the terminal had no idea where I could leave the aircraft. I tied down beside a Citation in front of the FBO, grabbed my stuff and used the terminal wifi to find a hotel. The Holiday Inn Express sent a car to pick me up. All of the local hotels advertised shuttle service and offer "corporate" pilot rates. The hotels and chain restaurants are all clustered in one section of town, I had no problems finding a restaurant that still served beer and a burger at 10PM. The hotel also provided a car to take me to the airport in the morning, something that a Holiday Inn Express doesn't normally do.
The next morning, the FBO staff were very friendly and quick. They moved my plane so the Citation could depart, but tied it down again just like I would do. I would go back there again if I return to explore the Snake River Canyon airstrips.
Mid-July 2008, the grass & weeds were high enough in places to get green way up my prop -- which has 18" ground clearance. It's firm and not rough but probably not appropriate for wheel pants or low ground clearance.
All of the locals call this "Donnelly" and none I talked to know why the official name had been changed. Some didn't even know that it had been changed -- don't look at new charts very often, I guess.
Normal landings are to the North across the water.
All takeoffs are to the South across the water.
Fairly high trees on the North end but it's reasonable to land over them. Just make sure you can get down fairly soon beyond them.
Bob Hoff (Idaho Falls Aeromark FBO and Aviat Husky dealer) family farm and private grass strip. If you are invited to visit, ask to see inside the hangar - Bob and his family have an amazing collection of classic aircraft, automobiles and motorcycles stored here. Not a static museum, most of their collection is in flying condition or is being restored to flying condition.
Operating an aircraft in mountain and canyon areas is not a do-it yourself project. This course specifically addresses flight into the heart of the Idaho back country, but the knowledge and techniques you study can be applied to any type of flying that you may do "off the beaten path".
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!!
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.
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.
Idaho, United States
Wikipedia
Latest comments about airports in Idaho, United States
Kenyon
🔗 Sun, 22 Jan 2023
— @TimShamblin at Kenyon Airstrip, United States
Operated by Aero Applications Inc.
High volume agricultural flying during growing season
Runway numbers are changed
🔗 Sun, 07 Feb 2021
— @AirDVM at Sandpoint Airport, United States
Current Runwy number 02-20. Incorrect in database.
Foothills Aviation LLC
🔗 Sat, 20 Apr 2019
— Anonymous Flyer at Buhl Municipal Airport, United States
Ercoupe and Bonanza specialist IA. 2085438999
(no subject)
🔗 Sun, 23 Sep 2018
— @pico.pilot at Idaho Falls Regional Airport, United States
Stayed at a Hilton Home2 property (free shuttle + free laundry + free breakfast: https://home2suites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/idaho/home2-suites-by-hilton-idaho-falls-IDALBHT/index.html) which is next to Stockman's, a really great restaurant: https://stockmansrestaurant.com/.
Would go back just for the eats!
Learned to fly at this airport
🔗 Tue, 10 Jul 2018
— @jbussey at Sandpoint Airport, United States
Granite aviation does such great job and there is always interesting planes and people at this airport.
Second largest airport in Idaho
🔗 Tue, 06 Feb 2018
— Anonymous Flyer at Caldwell Executive Airport, United States
All services available.
Jumping off point for the back country.
Changed to KMAN
🔗 Sun, 27 Sep 2015
— Anonymous Flyer at Nampa Municipal Airport, United States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nampa_Municipal_Airport
This airport has been renamed
Great little town
🔗 Thu, 02 Jul 2015
— @Pilot_1975 at Priest River Municipal Airport, United States
Trees at one end need trimming.
Great little airport and town. Quiet. Courtesy car..
Nice Grass Strip
🔗 Wed, 26 Nov 2014
— @Cpfau182 at Smiley Creek Airport, United States
Nice
M and B with Karen
🔗 Wed, 26 Nov 2014
— @Cpfau182 at Friedman Memorial Airport, United States
Long weekend
Woo Hoo!
🔗 Wed, 11 Sep 2013
— @Pilot_1975 at Johnson Creek Airport, United States
Hot high great camping strip! Look forward to going back!
Runway headings
🔗 Tue, 19 Mar 2013
— Anonymous Flyer at Coeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy Boyington Field, United States
The runways on the Coeur D Alene airport were re-aligned last summer.
The new headings: Runway 02/20 and 06/24.
Customs and Immigration
🔗 Thu, 15 Sep 2011
— Anonymous Flyer at Eckhart International Airport, United States
Pilots can clear Canada Customs or US Customs at Eckharts, but for north bound flyers you have to call 1800CANPASS and give 2 hours notice. The grass runway is kept in good condition and there is an 800 ft strip of blacktop that is on quite a steep incline. The wind is generally out of the south, but the best landing, obstical wise is north bound on 33. Use 122.8 for Creston/Port Hill traffic. Remember that because the airport is in the US you will have to check in with US Customs even if you are north bound.
don't do it
🔗 Sun, 24 Oct 2010
— Anonymous Flyer at Bowman Field, United States
Gail died and the field has a pivot across it as well as overhead power.
Murphy Hot Springs
🔗 Thu, 21 Jan 2010
— Anonymous Flyer at Murphy Hot Springs Airport, United States
Wonderful camp site - fine views - silent. Long walk into Hot Springs - all services there closed, but somewhat interesting no the less. Wonderful country to SW & SE - very much worth the ride.
code ID80
🔗 Wed, 16 Dec 2009
— @rrobledo at West Valley Hospital Heliport, United States
The FAA uses 'ID80' for WEST VALLEY HOSPITAL, Caldwell, IA
Watch out For Traffic!
🔗 Thu, 03 Sep 2009
— @bcrosby at Allen H Tigert Airport, United States
Two airplanes have hit tractor trailers while on short final for RWY 16.
http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001208X08925&ntsbno=SEA97IA217&akey=1
Good overnight stop
🔗 Sat, 29 Aug 2009
— @Tony at Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport, United States
I landed here at 8PM for fuel and a place to overnight. The FBO was closed, I could access the terminal but the TSA guy and the cleaners in the terminal had no idea where I could leave the aircraft. I tied down beside a Citation in front of the FBO, grabbed my stuff and used the terminal wifi to find a hotel. The Holiday Inn Express sent a car to pick me up. All of the local hotels advertised shuttle service and offer "corporate" pilot rates. The hotels and chain restaurants are all clustered in one section of town, I had no problems finding a restaurant that still served beer and a burger at 10PM. The hotel also provided a car to take me to the airport in the morning, something that a Holiday Inn Express doesn't normally do.
The next morning, the FBO staff were very friendly and quick. They moved my plane so the Citation could depart, but tied it down again just like I would do. I would go back there again if I return to explore the Snake River Canyon airstrips.
More about landing
🔗 Fri, 15 Aug 2008
— @airprakken at Donald D. Coski Memorial Airport, United States
Forgot this:
Mid-July 2008, the grass & weeds were high enough in places to get green way up my prop -- which has 18" ground clearance. It's firm and not rough but probably not appropriate for wheel pants or low ground clearance.
Name, landing directions
🔗 Fri, 15 Aug 2008
— @airprakken at Donald D. Coski Memorial Airport, United States
All of the locals call this "Donnelly" and none I talked to know why the official name had been changed. Some didn't even know that it had been changed -- don't look at new charts very often, I guess.
Normal landings are to the North across the water.
All takeoffs are to the South across the water.
Fairly high trees on the North end but it's reasonable to land over them. Just make sure you can get down fairly soon beyond them.
Ski Valley
🔗 Sat, 19 Jul 2008
— @airprakken at Ski Valley Airport, United States
Fairly short and high runway unless you have experience.
Power lines across the valley to the South.
We used 34 to land and 16 to take off.
Great burgers
🔗 Sat, 19 Apr 2008
— @airprakken at Murphy Airport, United States
Less than 100 yards from aircraft parking.
This visit was March 07.
Fuel
🔗 Wed, 25 Jul 2007
— @Desert185 at Council Municipal Airport, United States
Less expensive than McCall, but unreliable. Call first to verify that fuel is available.
Breakfast
🔗 Wed, 25 Jul 2007
— @Desert185 at Sulphur Creek Ranch Airport, United States
Breakfast is back and good. Friendly folks with cabins available.
Hoff Family - Private Airstrip
🔗 Mon, 23 Jul 2007
— @Tony at Rainbow Ranch Airport, United States
Bob Hoff (Idaho Falls Aeromark FBO and Aviat Husky dealer) family farm and private grass strip. If you are invited to visit, ask to see inside the hangar - Bob and his family have an amazing collection of classic aircraft, automobiles and motorcycles stored here. Not a static museum, most of their collection is in flying condition or is being restored to flying condition.
Mountain Flying School at McCall
🔗 Sun, 22 Jul 2007
— @Tony at McCall Municipal Airport, United States
McCall Mountain and Canyon Flying School is at McCall Idaho.
See http://www.mountaincanyonflying.com/index.html
Operating an aircraft in mountain and canyon areas is not a do-it yourself project. This course specifically addresses flight into the heart of the Idaho back country, but the knowledge and techniques you study can be applied to any type of flying that you may do "off the beaten path".
Gosh!
🔗 Sat, 21 Jul 2007
— @Tony at Preston Airport, United States
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
🔗 Sat, 21 Jul 2007
— @Tony at Elk City Airport, United States
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.
Introduction to Mountain Flying
🔗 Sat, 21 Jul 2007
— @Tony at Johnson Creek Airport, United States
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.
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