Comments 951 to 1,000 of 5,167
Skybus service
Skybus is adding service from Columbus, OH to IAG beginning on April Fool's Day (seriously), to serve Buffalo, Rochester, and Toronto:
Non-stop Fort Lauderdale to London
Zoom airlines is adding a non-stop flight from FLL to London (presumably Gatwick LGW) -- it will be the first scheduled trans-Atlantic flight route from the airport in over a decade:
International terminal (D) renovations
The international terminal, terminal D, is getting $25M worth of renovations, including moving sidewalks, a new explosives-screening system, additional gates, and new restaurants and shops:
New terminal open
Terminal 3 opened on 9 January 2008. It has 28 gates, including eight designed to handle the Airbus A380:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080109/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_singapore_new_terminal_1
Vickers-Armstrong
This is where Vickers-Armstrong manufactured several of its planes, including the Vickers Viscount (I took my first flights as a baby in Viscounts and Vanguards).
Ryanair coming
Ryanair plans to base a Boeing 737 here and fly additional routes to Malaga, Murcia, Nantes, Palma and Wroclaw:
http://www.uk-airport-news.info/bournemouth-airport-news-090108.htm
VOR/DME 8 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
NDB-A approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
VOR/DME 34 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
VOR/DME 31 approach to be canceled
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2007/071031approaches.html
"Propeller park" planned
Since the FBOs are geared mainly towards turbine traffic now, the airport has plans for a "propeller park" to serve light piston aircraft:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2007/071107vannuys.html
Park and aviation museum coming
There was a threat that this airport might close, but they reached a compromise with the cities of Cincinnati and Blue Ash, and will build a park, an aviation museum, and some other community facilities near the field:
Building controversy
In 2007, a developer attempted to build an office building higher than allowed, cutting in the the approach path, but was forced to tear off two floors:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2007/071126sunroad.html
Attempt to ban large aircraft
In fall 2007, Santa Monica city council introduced a law to ban large aircraft from the airport:
Home of the New Piper Aircraft
Piper moved here after floods destroyed the original Piper plant in Lock Haven, PA in 1972. There have been some rumours that the company might move to Albuquerque or Oklahoma City:
Development plans very close to airport
There are proposals to allow development as close as 500 ft to one of the runways, despite airport and state objections:
In danger of closing
The city of Biddeford, Maine may hold a referendum on closing this airport in November 2008 or sooner. For details, see
re: Scheduled Commercial flights starting soon??!!
According to the airport's web site, they're planning to renovate Wonderboom to become ZA's third major international airport, but I see no indication of any schedule airline service there yet.
Parking options
There is a very small number of tie-downs (some of which have been commandeered by a flying school) located behind the old fire hall. The only other option is to chock the plane on the apron in front of Mara-Tech. The parking charge is the same either way, and is billed by the airport by mail after your visit. There is an exit-only gate near the tie-downs so that you don't have to go through the terminal, and Mara-Tech will drive its fuel truck over to fuel your plane here.
Nav Canada
Nav Canada uses the old terminal now. The control tower is still located in it, and in addition to offices, there's a Nav Canada pilot kiosk on the ground floor.
Good service, but pricey
This is a high-quality FBO (a bit nicer than the Esso Avitat next door), but also pricey, with lots of fees and expensive gas. If you're meeting customs, you have to make at least a short stop at the Esso or Shell (your choice), but otherwise, if you don't need the shiny FBO, the Ottawa Flying Club on the north field is a less expensive option for fuel and parking.
Expensive
The Esso and Shell on the south field are fairly expensive for fuel and have high parking and ramp fees. Esso used to waive the ramp fee when you were meeting customs there, but I don't know if they still do that. If you don't need the full FBO red carpet service (and aren't arriving late in the evening), the Ottawa Flying Club on the north field is a cheaper option for fuel and parking.
Flight training but not fuel
OAS is the rival flight school to the Ottawa Flying Club across the ramp. OAS is privately-owned, and uses Katanas instead of Cessnas for training. They offer parking, but I think are not allowed to sell fuel to visitors.
Learned to fly here
I learned to fly here, and parked my plane here for a few years before moving to Ottawa/Rockcliffe. It's gotten busier recently, now that the club runs the professional pilot program for Algonquin College.
Five-minute walk from the Ottawa Flying Club
Coffee, sandwiches, doughnuts, etc. Tim Horton's is sort-of like Dunkin Donuts in the U.S., but much, much more popular.
Parking
In addition to the parking at the flying club on the north side of the field, you can park on the south apron by the museum if you are visiting. You need to call Rockcliffe Unicom on 123.5 MHz for taxiing instructions. I think that the parking is free.
re: Saginaw Airport
Thanks for the info, sad as it is. I verified online that the airport is closed, and changed its status. Google maps still shows an on sat photo from before the subdivision.
Fees and alternative airport
I don't remember all the fees and fuel prices from my visit in the summer of 2006 -- they weren't onerous, but they were enough to annoy. On the other hand, it's a well-maintained, all-weather airport with easy access into the town of Gaspé as well as the Gaspesie region. For a less expensive alternative, there's Du Rocher-Percé (Pabok), which is slightly closer to the tourist town of Percé:
Closer to Chandler
This airport is actually closer to Chandler (a much larger community) than to Percé. It's a small rural strip that's not always attended, but doesn't have the landing fees, etc., of the larger Gaspé airport to the north:
World Rally and Precision Flying Championships, July 2008
The 18th World Rally Flying Championship and the 16th World Precision Flying Championship will be held here from 13-26 July 2008. Here's the site, in German:
And here are the rules, in English (PDF):
re: Landing fees
The airport authority is collecting the landing fee, while Nav Canada is/will be collecting the usage fee.
No photo or map
Unfortunately, Google Maps cannot display a location right on the poles, so (as of 2007-12-17) there's no map or satellite picture available for the South Pole Station.
re: Dunolly airstrip
I agree -- I can find no evidence anywhere that this airport exists. It came in some user-supplied data from navaid.com, but I'll probably delete it unless someone has a better source.
re: Operation
According to the Wikipedia article, the airport is in operation, but it's not served by any airlines, so I imagine that the traffic is all general aviation.
re: Needing more info
There's a little hamlet in Illinois called "Grubbs" -- is that what you mean? If so, it looks like the closest airport is Pinckneyville Du Quoin:
Home of Cessna
As the name implies, this is where 172s, 182s, etc. start out their lives. It's only 2 miles from the rival Beech Factory Field (KBEC).
Home of Beechcraft
As the airport name suggests, this is where Bonanzas, Barons, etc. take off from the first time. It's only 2 miles from Cessna's home field (KCEA).
re: north
It's just a bit further south than Alert (CYLT), which is the most northerly permanent airport in the world.
re: EWB Restaurant
I read on a mailing list that a pilot visited the airport today (2007-11-11) and found that the restaurant has been closed permanently.
re: Clear US Customs here going to the USA
I agree with Tony. It's a very nice downtown, good for walking around, with one street closed 5 or 6 blocks for pedestrians only (packed with people on a chilly Sunday afternoon) and the mountains or lake in the background almost any direction you look. Lots of big-name shops for my adolescent kids and restaurants for everyone, and an easy same-day shopping trip from Ottawa or Montreal. It's about a 15-minute drive from the airport into downtown.
Atlantic Aviation parking
At Atlantic Aviation (nice FBO) during November 2007, there was no parking, ramp, or service fee during the day for a piston single, and only $10/night for a tie-down. I didn't ask if the first night was waived with a fillup, since we weren't staying overnight. Gas was just over $5/gallon, including tax, and that was the only fee way paid for a same-day visit. Customs is a very short taxi from the Atlantic apron, just on the other side of the threshold of runway 01.
Car rental - main terminal is much cheapter than FBO
When we visited on 11 November 2007, renting a small car from Enterprise through the Atlantic Aviation FBO cost about $34/day + tax. Renting the same car through Enterprise in the main terminal cost about $19/day + tax. Since we were making a fast day trip with my whole family, I figured that the extra convenience was worth $15 this time, but the main terminal is only a short walk (and would be worth it for a multi-day rental).
Fuel
As of Friday 1 November 2007, 100LL fuel at Pepco (Esso) was CAD 1.344/liter + tax. There is a callout charge between 5pm and 8am, but no extra charges during the day.
Pepco (Esso): (705) 335-0872
No fees
According to the airport manager (by phone, Thursday 1 November 2007) there are no fees for private aircraft, not even for overnight parking.
Airport: (705) 335-2611
re: Lat Long off a bit
I can't make out an airport anywhere near there on the satellite shot. If someone can give more detailed info on the location, I'd be very grateful.
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.
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.
New service from Skybus
🔗 Thu, 10 Jan 2008
— @david at Wilmington Airport, United States
Skybus will begin scheduled flights from Columbus, OH to ILG on 7 March, and from Greensboro, NC to ILG on 13 March 2008:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2008/01/skybus-announce.html