Comments 51 to 84 of 84
Good Fuel Stop
Marathon has self-serve fuel and is a convenient place to stop for fuel when flying around the top of Superior. I stopped here travelling both East and West in 2006, didn't see anyone else around. The fuel pump is fussy, you may have to restart it a couple of times before it pumps at a good rate. There is a phone in the terminal for flight planning, but no internet (summer 06).
You May Get Held Up Here By Fog
Flown into, out of and over Marathon several times - there is usually fog in the bay which can move over the airport just after you land. Be prepared to spend several days there if you get fogged in.
Caution - Lots of Fire Fighting Helo Traffic Here in the Sum
Stopped here several times for fuel travelling East or West around the top of Superior. In July and August there can be numerous firefighting fixed wing and helos transitting the area to pickup crews or fuel. Listen closely on 126.7 for updates.
Lots of Cessna Cardinals Here
I bought a Cardinal here in 2000 with the help of Roy Sobchuk. Roy Sobchuk is the designer of speed mods and fairings for the beautiful Cessna 177 Cardinal and other Cessnas. There were 6 other Cardinals in the hangar in Brandon, all very nicely equipped and maintained aircraft. Maple Leaf Aviation at Brandon Airport is a Transport Canada approved manufacturer for replacement parts and modifications for Cessna aircraft. Fiberglass and metal components are manufactured in-house. Maple Leaf Aviation Limited holds over 40 STC’s in Canada (TC) and the United States (FAA). Maple Leaf Aviation Limited also provides services for the importation of aircraft.
Picked Up My First Airplane Here!
Flew to Winnipeg with Paul Williams to pick up my Cardinal in May 2000. Paid my first fuel bill as an owner at the Shell FBO at CYWG. Had a great time (two inexperienced pilots) flying back to Ottawa via Thunder Bay, Wawa and North Bay.
Mountain Flying School at McCall
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".
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!
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.
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.
Expensive Ride into Town
🔗 Sun, 22 Jul 2007
— @Tony at Dryden Regional Airport, Canada
I stayed at the Holiday Inn 22 July 06, however there was NO airport pick up available and the taxi fare was $22 each way! Landing fees too!
There is a COPA discount for fuel, but remember to bring your membership card.