Flying to Arlington, VA

[O. Sami Saydjari]

I am going to need to travel to Arlington, VA (Ballston area) on
business fairly often. Does anyone have any tips on the best and
nearest general aviation airport to fly into. I am looking for
something that is as close as possible. Reagan would be ideal, but I
expect that they have either prohibitted General Avaiation flights
there, or have landing fees that are not affordable (if i am wrong on
this, please advise). Other likely airports seem to be Manassas,
Gaithersburg, and College Park.

-Sami
N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III

[DaveSproul]

>I am going to need to travel to Arlington, VA (Ballston area) on
>business fairly often. Does anyone have any tips on the best and
>nearest general aviation airport to fly into

You'll probably want to go to Gaithersburg (where I fly) or Manassas. From what
my instructor told me, you would need to have written permission and a lot of
red tape to fly to National within the "free zone".

GAI is a little closer to a Metro subway stop if that makes any difference, and
Ballston is on the Metro (after a transfer from one line to another downtown).

Dave Sproul, Bethesda, MD

[Michelle P]

Sami,
Your best choices are Manassas or Leesburg.
Manassas is closer and has Rail service to downtown DC. You can then
take the Metro back out to Arlington.
http://www.vre.org
Either Jet Services or Dulles Aviation is ok. Their service is pretty
much the same.
Leesburg is easier to get to however you will have to rent a car.
Manassas may be cheaper parking.
Dulles is an option all be it an expensive one. Landing and parking is
over $20 for the day and I work there!

Michelle

O. Sami Saydjari wrote:

> I am going to need to travel to Arlington, VA (Ballston area) on
> business fairly often. Does anyone have any tips on the best and
> nearest general aviation airport to fly into. I am looking for
> something that is as close as possible. Reagan would be ideal, but I
> expect that they have either prohibitted General Avaiation flights
> there, or have landing fees that are not affordable (if i am wrong on
> this, please advise). Other likely airports seem to be Manassas,
> Gaithersburg, and College Park.
>
> -Sami
> N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

[Rick Glasser]

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:47:09 +0000, Michelle P wrote:

> Sami,
> Your best choices are Manassas or Leesburg. Manassas is closer and has
> Rail service to downtown DC. You can then take the Metro back out to
> Arlington. http://www.vre.org
> Either Jet Services or Dulles Aviation is ok. Their service is pretty much
> the same.
> Leesburg is easier to get to however you will have to rent a car. Manassas
> may be cheaper parking.
> Dulles is an option all be it an expensive one. Landing and parking is
> over $20 for the day and I work there!
>
> Michelle
>
> O. Sami Saydjari wrote:
>
>> I am going to need to travel to Arlington, VA (Ballston area) on
>> business fairly often. Does anyone have any tips on the best and
>> nearest general aviation airport to fly into. I am looking for
>> something that is as close as possible. Reagan would be ideal, but I
>> expect that they have either prohibitted General Avaiation flights
>> there, or have landing fees that are not affordable (if i am wrong on
>> this, please advise). Other likely airports seem to be Manassas,
>> Gaithersburg, and College Park.
>>
>> -Sami
>> N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III
>>
I'll agree with Michelle. I fly out of Leesburg and it is a straight-shot
down the Dulles Toll Road ($2.75) to Ballston. Manassas is towered,
Leesburg is not. Leesburg has a AFSS on the field. Piedmont Hawthorne is
the FBO at Leesburg and they will arrange for an rental if you call them:
http://www.piedmonthawthorne.com/jyo/index.asp

GAI is a little closer but on the wrong side of the river -- can be a
factor in rush hour. National, Collage Park, Hyde and Potomac are out for
you because of the Flight Restricted Zone.

Coming into the area, read up on the ADIZ. This is not a big deal if you
follow the rules. It is a HUGE deal if you do not. Feel free to contact
me privately if you want tips from a local.

--
Rick/JYO
PP-ASEL-IA
remove 'nospam' to reply

[SeeAndAvoid]

For Rick and/or Dave,
I'll be going to DC this summer. A friend at work who used to live in
Leesburg suggested Gaithersburg - that it's a nice area, she's not a pilot
though and didn't use any of the GA airports. Which is best for convenience
to get to DC, and nice nearby hotels? I'll be coming in from NYC, then
leaving heading west. Access to the Metro is pretty important, do not want
to get a car.

Is getting into/out of any of these airports easier/harder than the other?

Thanks, Chris

[Rick Glasser]

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 05:14:22 +0000, SeeAndAvoid wrote:

> For Rick and/or Dave,
> I'll be going to DC this summer. A friend at work who used to live in
> Leesburg suggested Gaithersburg - that it's a nice area, she's not a pilot
> though and didn't use any of the GA airports. Which is best for convenience
> to get to DC, and nice nearby hotels? I'll be coming in from NYC, then
> leaving heading west. Access to the Metro is pretty important, do not want
> to get a car.
>
> Is getting into/out of any of these airports easier/harder than the other?
>
> Thanks, Chris

Neither airport is "close" to the city. GAI is closer in. Leesburg is
definitely not near Metro; it is going to require a looong cab ride or a
car. GAI is close to a Metro station, not walking distance. There is a
list of nearby hotels on Airnav; some with shuttle service. GAI is still
out in the suburbs; your best bet may be to arrange for a car to get from
the airport to the hotel and for meals/errands and use Metro for transpo
to/from the city. If you can do that, then you can decide whether GAI or
JYO will put you on a more convenient side of the Potomac River. Plan
then to get a hotel situated closer in to the city and close to a Metro
station.

Accessible for aviation: both equally well. From NYC, you'll actually
probably overfly GAI on your way to JYO. Both are in the ADIZ, both have
IAPs. Neither have an ILS, Dulles is your low ceiling alternate.

Hope this helps.
--
Rick/JYO
PP-ASEL-IA
remove 'nospam' to reply

[Ron Natalie]

"O. Sami Saydjari" > wrote in message ...
> Other likely airports seem to be Manassas,
> Gaithersburg, and College Park.

You will not be able to get into College Park. It's reserved to based pilots
who have gone through the requisite rectal probing by the TSA. DCA is
right out (as you surmised).

Manassas and Gaithersburg are good ideas. They have no fees. You can
get a commuter train from HEF if you are travelling at the right time. GAI is
a cab ride to the Metro. HEF can arrange you rental cars (probably GAI too,
but I've never done it there).

Another option is Dulles (IAD). The landing fee isn't too bad (~$8 for small)
fry. Both FBO's will now ream you for a service charge given the chance (you
should call them and ask what your options are).

Remember that all of these airports are inside the DC ADIZ. This means you must
either come in IFR, or follow the VFR procedures (file flight plan, and obtain a
discrete squawk from Potomac Approach prior to entering the area).

[Dave Butler]

Rick Glasser wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 05:14:22 +0000, SeeAndAvoid wrote:

> Neither airport is "close" to the city. GAI is closer in. Leesburg is
> definitely not near Metro; it is going to require a looong cab ride or a
> car. GAI is close to a Metro station, not walking distance. There is a
> list of nearby hotels on Airnav; some with shuttle service. GAI is still
> out in the suburbs; your best bet may be to arrange for a car to get from
> the airport to the hotel and for meals/errands and use Metro for transpo
> to/from the city.

<snip>

The FBO at GAI can arrange to have a car from Enterprise that you pick up at the
FBO. Enterprise's office is just a couple of blocks away. IIRC the price at the
FBO is lower than if you contact Enterprise directly.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

[Michelle P]

Sami,
Rick has a good point. Do a little more than read up on the ADIZ, give
Leesburg AFSS a call directly and ask about the operations into and out
of the ADIZ. Their direct phone number is 703-777-2856 .I also have a
toll free number but I am not sure if it will work from your area.
866-228-7410

If you bust it you WILL loose your license. The marshalist TSA has
mandated that any pilot who violates the ADIZ must loose their license.
I know of two pilots who have had to start over because they
un-intentional wandered into the ADIZ without following the procedures.
Make sure you ask about entry points from the west. There are common
points that the controllers expect.

Michelle

Rick Glasser wrote:

>On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:47:09 +0000, Michelle P wrote:
>
>
>
>>Sami,
>>Your best choices are Manassas or Leesburg. Manassas is closer and has
>>Rail service to downtown DC. You can then take the Metro back out to
>>Arlington. http://www.vre.org
>>Either Jet Services or Dulles Aviation is ok. Their service is pretty much
>>the same.
>>Leesburg is easier to get to however you will have to rent a car. Manassas
>>may be cheaper parking.
>>Dulles is an option all be it an expensive one. Landing and parking is
>>over $20 for the day and I work there!
>>
>>Michelle
>>
>>O. Sami Saydjari wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I am going to need to travel to Arlington, VA (Ballston area) on
>>>business fairly often. Does anyone have any tips on the best and
>>>nearest general aviation airport to fly into. I am looking for
>>>something that is as close as possible. Reagan would be ideal, but I
>>>expect that they have either prohibitted General Avaiation flights
>>>there, or have landing fees that are not affordable (if i am wrong on
>>>this, please advise). Other likely airports seem to be Manassas,
>>>Gaithersburg, and College Park.
>>>
>>>-Sami
>>>N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III
>>>
>>>
>>>
>I'll agree with Michelle. I fly out of Leesburg and it is a straight-shot
>down the Dulles Toll Road ($2.75) to Ballston. Manassas is towered,
>Leesburg is not. Leesburg has a AFSS on the field. Piedmont Hawthorne is
>the FBO at Leesburg and they will arrange for an rental if you call them:
>http://www.piedmonthawthorne.com/jyo/index.asp
>
>GAI is a little closer but on the wrong side of the river -- can be a
>factor in rush hour. National, Collage Park, Hyde and Potomac are out for
>you because of the Flight Restricted Zone.
>
>Coming into the area, read up on the ADIZ. This is not a big deal if you
>follow the rules. It is a HUGE deal if you do not. Feel free to contact
>me privately if you want tips from a local.
>
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

[John Clonts]

"Michelle P" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Sami,
> Rick has a good point. Do a little more than read up on the ADIZ, give
> Leesburg AFSS a call directly and ask about the operations into and out
> of the ADIZ. Their direct phone number is 703-777-2856 .I also have a
> toll free number but I am not sure if it will work from your area.
> 866-228-7410
>
> If you bust it you WILL loose your license. The marshalist TSA has
> mandated that any pilot who violates the ADIZ must loose their license.
> I know of two pilots who have had to start over because they
> un-intentional wandered into the ADIZ without following the procedures.
> Make sure you ask about entry points from the west. There are common
> points that the controllers expect.
>

Hi Michelle,

What do you mean, "...had to start over..."? Did they have their
certificates taken away, but they can some how earn them back? Wow, that IS
nuts!

Cheers,
John Clonts
Temple, Texas
N7NZ

[Michelle P]

John,
Yes, is some instances you can start over.
I believe unless it is criminal, you can start over if you wish.
In one case a flight instructor did not enter the last digit in the
Garmin 327 Transponder since it was already the octet they wanted.
Apparently, the the 327 stops squawking your code while you are entering
it. Makes sense, you do not want to be sending several different codes
while you are changing it. Just make sure you enter all four octets when
changing codes.

Michelle

John Clonts wrote:

>"Michelle P" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
>
>>Sami,
>>Rick has a good point. Do a little more than read up on the ADIZ, give
>>Leesburg AFSS a call directly and ask about the operations into and out
>>of the ADIZ. Their direct phone number is 703-777-2856 .I also have a
>>toll free number but I am not sure if it will work from your area.
>>866-228-7410
>>
>>If you bust it you WILL loose your license. The marshalist TSA has
>>mandated that any pilot who violates the ADIZ must loose their license.
>>I know of two pilots who have had to start over because they
>>un-intentional wandered into the ADIZ without following the procedures.
>>Make sure you ask about entry points from the west. There are common
>>points that the controllers expect.
>>
>>
>>
>
>Hi Michelle,
>
>What do you mean, "...had to start over..."? Did they have their
>certificates taken away, but they can some how earn them back? Wow, that IS
>nuts!
>
>Cheers,
>John Clonts
>Temple, Texas
>N7NZ
>
>
>
>

--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity