On the Ground

[[email protected]]

After I land at an unfamiliar airport, I feel like a homeless person.
This summer I planned a long cross-country from Missouri to California
and back, and I wondered if I could fly into small airports and be
assured of finding food and lodging. What I learned may be of interest
to others. Here is what I encountered after landing.

Start: KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO I was able to stay in the snooze room
overnight so I could get an early start. Coffee, popcorn, hot water for
chocolate, provided, and before they closed I could have taken the
courtesy car into town for food, although it was not provided
overnight.

2F1 Shamrock, TX. Totally deserted, 3.5 miles from town, but with self
serve fuel. The week before I had called the airport. The phone number
had rolled over to someone in town who assured me there was NO taxi
service, and the FBO would not help. I called my first choice hotel for
someone to pick me up, but, "Sir, we do not provide that service." The
next choice was a hotel run -- if the accent was any indication -- by a
family from India. "Yes, Mike will come for you." And a week later
after I landed, he was there within a few minutes following my cell
phone call to the hotel. The next morning his nephew delivered me back
to N8526J, my Cessna 150.

KPEQ Pecos, TX. The FBO had free chips and salsa, cookies, ice cream,
soft drinks, and bottled water. The hotel was only a quarter mile away,
but the FBO gave me a courtesy car overnight in case I wanted to drive
elsewhere to eat.

KAVQ Marana, AZ. Earlier in the day, during a fuel stop, I had called
to find out the hotel situation. Everything was five to eight miles
away, but the Marana FBO offered an overnight crew car. When I arrived,
they met the plane in a golf cart, helped me carry my luggage to the
FBO office and gave me the courtesy car, which turned out to be a nice,
reasonably new, passenger van.

KOKB Oceanside, CA. Earlier at a fuel stop I had picked up a photo
chart that showed how to land at Oceanside to avoid over flight of
noise sensitive areas. At Oceanside, a hotel and several restaurants
were within a reasonable walk and the next day a bicycle path (about
three miles, paved, no highway crossings, very pleasant) took me to the
beach where I spent the day.

KPGA Page, AZ. The FBO and most of the hotels have free shuttle
service, both to and from the airport. However, after the first ride, I
realized everything is within easy walking distance. For my three days
in Page, I walked between hotel and airport and used the airport as a
staging point for flights over the Grand Canyon, to Sedona, and around
Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater, and along Lake Powell.

KCNY Canyonlands, Moab UT. From Page to Moab, the land was the most
rugged I have ever seen. It is essentially an endless array of vertical
rock formations and devoid of good landing sites. Flying higher doesn't
gain any better emergency landing sites so I decided to fly lower, find
Rainbow Bridge, and enjoy the scenery. Canyonlands airport would be a
tough one for transportation. It is eighteen miles from Moab. However,
almost as soon as I walked into the FBO office a pilot was going into
town and offered a ride. I spent two days in Moab and enjoyed the
pedestrian path that runs throughout town. It was easy walking on a
wide shaded path to an interesting park and restaurants. But how to get
back to the airport? On the evening of the second day I called the FBO
office before it closed. The young man said he drove to work at six
o'clock in the morning and would come by the hotel for me. In the small
world category, it turned out that Paul Miller, the same CFI that had
given me the flight review shortly before my trip, gave the multiengine
rating he received in February at St. Charles Flying Service near St.
Louis, Missouri.

TCCC Tucumcari, NM. A ninety minute courtesy car is available for going
into town to eat, but the car is not available for overnight use.
However, two hotels have free shuttle service, and the FBO would have
allowed me to spend the night in the FBO office. I enjoy staying
overnight in deserted landing fields, especially older ones because it
feels almost like I'm time traveling. However, because of the summer
heat, a shower was a welcome treat so I took the shuttle to hotel.

KXNA Northwest Arkansas Regional, AR. A true jet center, and my 150 was
so unusual that the line boss had one of his men fuel the 150 because
the fellow had never fueled anything but jets. Not a single GA aircraft
is based on the field. But they gave me a Lincoln courtesy car and
pointed me to a hotel that had a special rate for pilots that included
both evening and morning meals.

KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO. Back to where I started.

A total of 52 hours in the 150, landed at 24 airports with overnight
stays at those described above. Everyplace I landed I felt welcome.

Does anyone have experience going northeast? Am I likely to find FBOs
that are as accommodating?

[Aluckyguess[_1_]]

Wow that was quite a trip. That was a great story.
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> After I land at an unfamiliar airport, I feel like a homeless person.
> This summer I planned a long cross-country from Missouri to California
> and back, and I wondered if I could fly into small airports and be
> assured of finding food and lodging. What I learned may be of interest
> to others. Here is what I encountered after landing.
>
> Start: KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO I was able to stay in the snooze room
> overnight so I could get an early start. Coffee, popcorn, hot water for
> chocolate, provided, and before they closed I could have taken the
> courtesy car into town for food, although it was not provided
> overnight.
>
> 2F1 Shamrock, TX. Totally deserted, 3.5 miles from town, but with self
> serve fuel. The week before I had called the airport. The phone number
> had rolled over to someone in town who assured me there was NO taxi
> service, and the FBO would not help. I called my first choice hotel for
> someone to pick me up, but, "Sir, we do not provide that service." The
> next choice was a hotel run -- if the accent was any indication -- by a
> family from India. "Yes, Mike will come for you." And a week later
> after I landed, he was there within a few minutes following my cell
> phone call to the hotel. The next morning his nephew delivered me back
> to N8526J, my Cessna 150.
>
> KPEQ Pecos, TX. The FBO had free chips and salsa, cookies, ice cream,
> soft drinks, and bottled water. The hotel was only a quarter mile away,
> but the FBO gave me a courtesy car overnight in case I wanted to drive
> elsewhere to eat.
>
> KAVQ Marana, AZ. Earlier in the day, during a fuel stop, I had called
> to find out the hotel situation. Everything was five to eight miles
> away, but the Marana FBO offered an overnight crew car. When I arrived,
> they met the plane in a golf cart, helped me carry my luggage to the
> FBO office and gave me the courtesy car, which turned out to be a nice,
> reasonably new, passenger van.
>
> KOKB Oceanside, CA. Earlier at a fuel stop I had picked up a photo
> chart that showed how to land at Oceanside to avoid over flight of
> noise sensitive areas. At Oceanside, a hotel and several restaurants
> were within a reasonable walk and the next day a bicycle path (about
> three miles, paved, no highway crossings, very pleasant) took me to the
> beach where I spent the day.
>
> KPGA Page, AZ. The FBO and most of the hotels have free shuttle
> service, both to and from the airport. However, after the first ride, I
> realized everything is within easy walking distance. For my three days
> in Page, I walked between hotel and airport and used the airport as a
> staging point for flights over the Grand Canyon, to Sedona, and around
> Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater, and along Lake Powell.
>
> KCNY Canyonlands, Moab UT. From Page to Moab, the land was the most
> rugged I have ever seen. It is essentially an endless array of vertical
> rock formations and devoid of good landing sites. Flying higher doesn't
> gain any better emergency landing sites so I decided to fly lower, find
> Rainbow Bridge, and enjoy the scenery. Canyonlands airport would be a
> tough one for transportation. It is eighteen miles from Moab. However,
> almost as soon as I walked into the FBO office a pilot was going into
> town and offered a ride. I spent two days in Moab and enjoyed the
> pedestrian path that runs throughout town. It was easy walking on a
> wide shaded path to an interesting park and restaurants. But how to get
> back to the airport? On the evening of the second day I called the FBO
> office before it closed. The young man said he drove to work at six
> o'clock in the morning and would come by the hotel for me. In the small
> world category, it turned out that Paul Miller, the same CFI that had
> given me the flight review shortly before my trip, gave the multiengine
> rating he received in February at St. Charles Flying Service near St.
> Louis, Missouri.
>
> TCCC Tucumcari, NM. A ninety minute courtesy car is available for going
> into town to eat, but the car is not available for overnight use.
> However, two hotels have free shuttle service, and the FBO would have
> allowed me to spend the night in the FBO office. I enjoy staying
> overnight in deserted landing fields, especially older ones because it
> feels almost like I'm time traveling. However, because of the summer
> heat, a shower was a welcome treat so I took the shuttle to hotel.
>
> KXNA Northwest Arkansas Regional, AR. A true jet center, and my 150 was
> so unusual that the line boss had one of his men fuel the 150 because
> the fellow had never fueled anything but jets. Not a single GA aircraft
> is based on the field. But they gave me a Lincoln courtesy car and
> pointed me to a hotel that had a special rate for pilots that included
> both evening and morning meals.
>
> KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO. Back to where I started.
>
> A total of 52 hours in the 150, landed at 24 airports with overnight
> stays at those described above. Everyplace I landed I felt welcome.
>
> Does anyone have experience going northeast? Am I likely to find FBOs
> that are as accommodating?
>

[Andrew Sarangan[_1_]]

It would be very useful to pilots if you also post these comments on
the airnav website.

[Larry Dighera]

I enjoyed your report. Thanks for taking the time to post the
information. However, ...

On 23 Jul 2006 20:02:09 -0700, wrote in
. com>::

>Flying higher doesn't gain any better emergency landing sites
>so I decided to fly lower,

While the extra gliding distance provided by flying higher over
badlands may not be too useful, the extra time before impact it
provides might be handy in some situations.

[Cub Driver]

On 23 Jul 2006 20:02:09 -0700, wrote:

>by a
>family from India. "Yes, Mike will come for you." And a week later
>after I landed, he was there within a few minutes following my cell
>phone call to the hotel. The next morning his nephew delivered me back
>to N8526J, my Cessna 150.

Families from India and Pakistan have been the salvation of the
off-brand motel industry in the United States.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[Cub Driver]

Many thanks for the pirep. It's clear that the days of adventure,
flying across the U.S., are not over. I'll think of you on Wednesday,
when I make the journey at 35,000 feet in a cramped seat on United
Airlines.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

[vincent p. norris]

>Does anyone have experience going northeast? Am I likely to find FBOs
>that are as accommodating?

I've found most FBOs in the northeast quarter of the US to be
accommodating. Generally, the smaller the field, the friendlier.
Avoid the large, busy, airports that are accustomed to selling jet
fuel by the thousands of pounds. High landing and parking fees.

vince norris

[Stubby]

I recommend Eagle East Aviation at KLWM. Very nice folks. A&P guy
there most of the time. ILS, VOR, NDB, GPS approaches. Lots of
restaurants near bye. There are hotels not too far away. Talk to Tim
Campbell about the details. http://www.eagle-east.com Lots of pix.


wrote:
> After I land at an unfamiliar airport, I feel like a homeless person.
> This summer I planned a long cross-country from Missouri to California
> and back, and I wondered if I could fly into small airports and be
> assured of finding food and lodging. What I learned may be of interest
> to others. Here is what I encountered after landing.
>
> Start: KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO I was able to stay in the snooze room
> overnight so I could get an early start. Coffee, popcorn, hot water for
> chocolate, provided, and before they closed I could have taken the
> courtesy car into town for food, although it was not provided
> overnight.
>
> 2F1 Shamrock, TX. Totally deserted, 3.5 miles from town, but with self
> serve fuel. The week before I had called the airport. The phone number
> had rolled over to someone in town who assured me there was NO taxi
> service, and the FBO would not help. I called my first choice hotel for
> someone to pick me up, but, "Sir, we do not provide that service." The
> next choice was a hotel run -- if the accent was any indication -- by a
> family from India. "Yes, Mike will come for you." And a week later
> after I landed, he was there within a few minutes following my cell
> phone call to the hotel. The next morning his nephew delivered me back
> to N8526J, my Cessna 150.
>
> KPEQ Pecos, TX. The FBO had free chips and salsa, cookies, ice cream,
> soft drinks, and bottled water. The hotel was only a quarter mile away,
> but the FBO gave me a courtesy car overnight in case I wanted to drive
> elsewhere to eat.
>
> KAVQ Marana, AZ. Earlier in the day, during a fuel stop, I had called
> to find out the hotel situation. Everything was five to eight miles
> away, but the Marana FBO offered an overnight crew car. When I arrived,
> they met the plane in a golf cart, helped me carry my luggage to the
> FBO office and gave me the courtesy car, which turned out to be a nice,
> reasonably new, passenger van.
>
> KOKB Oceanside, CA. Earlier at a fuel stop I had picked up a photo
> chart that showed how to land at Oceanside to avoid over flight of
> noise sensitive areas. At Oceanside, a hotel and several restaurants
> were within a reasonable walk and the next day a bicycle path (about
> three miles, paved, no highway crossings, very pleasant) took me to the
> beach where I spent the day.
>
> KPGA Page, AZ. The FBO and most of the hotels have free shuttle
> service, both to and from the airport. However, after the first ride, I
> realized everything is within easy walking distance. For my three days
> in Page, I walked between hotel and airport and used the airport as a
> staging point for flights over the Grand Canyon, to Sedona, and around
> Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater, and along Lake Powell.
>
> KCNY Canyonlands, Moab UT. From Page to Moab, the land was the most
> rugged I have ever seen. It is essentially an endless array of vertical
> rock formations and devoid of good landing sites. Flying higher doesn't
> gain any better emergency landing sites so I decided to fly lower, find
> Rainbow Bridge, and enjoy the scenery. Canyonlands airport would be a
> tough one for transportation. It is eighteen miles from Moab. However,
> almost as soon as I walked into the FBO office a pilot was going into
> town and offered a ride. I spent two days in Moab and enjoyed the
> pedestrian path that runs throughout town. It was easy walking on a
> wide shaded path to an interesting park and restaurants. But how to get
> back to the airport? On the evening of the second day I called the FBO
> office before it closed. The young man said he drove to work at six
> o'clock in the morning and would come by the hotel for me. In the small
> world category, it turned out that Paul Miller, the same CFI that had
> given me the flight review shortly before my trip, gave the multiengine
> rating he received in February at St. Charles Flying Service near St.
> Louis, Missouri.
>
> TCCC Tucumcari, NM. A ninety minute courtesy car is available for going
> into town to eat, but the car is not available for overnight use.
> However, two hotels have free shuttle service, and the FBO would have
> allowed me to spend the night in the FBO office. I enjoy staying
> overnight in deserted landing fields, especially older ones because it
> feels almost like I'm time traveling. However, because of the summer
> heat, a shower was a welcome treat so I took the shuttle to hotel.
>
> KXNA Northwest Arkansas Regional, AR. A true jet center, and my 150 was
> so unusual that the line boss had one of his men fuel the 150 because
> the fellow had never fueled anything but jets. Not a single GA aircraft
> is based on the field. But they gave me a Lincoln courtesy car and
> pointed me to a hotel that had a special rate for pilots that included
> both evening and morning meals.
>
> KPOF Poplar Bluff, MO. Back to where I started.
>
> A total of 52 hours in the 150, landed at 24 airports with overnight
> stays at those described above. Everyplace I landed I felt welcome.
>
> Does anyone have experience going northeast? Am I likely to find FBOs
> that are as accommodating?
>

[gyoung]

Here's my list, based on my 'cross-the-country' adventure, Virginia to
Oakland {northern route) and return (southern route); 58 hours, 26
stops, 3 weeks.

Virtually everywhere people offered help, from assisting with finding
lodging to providing transportation.

ROA (Roanoke, VA) - provided courtesy car overnight (nearby motel,
downtown for dinner).

PSK (Dublin, VA) - Great assistance in finding lodging; Enterprise car
available by the hour (or day).

RCR (Rochester, IN) - offered/recommended that our airplane be placed in
hangar with impending hail-producing thunderstorm (storm passed without
incident); courtesy car and recommendations for nearby restaurants for
lunch.

6V4 (Wall, SD) - Now This is Hospitality: I called ahead to confirm
services - respondent said he would sell me some of -his- fuel, and -
he'd have his VW bug waiting for us to use. True to his word, he (the
mayor) and his wife met us at the otherwise unattended airport, filled
our tanks and assisted with tie-down, advised us on lodging and
restaurants, then gave us the key to the VW and said "Go wherever!"-we
did: the motel (to which we could have easily walked), supper, and a
drive through the Badlands south of town (we had people all over town
waving to us all evening - they recognized the car).

ENV (Wendover, UT) - Not much at the airport, but call any casino
(across the state line in Nevada) and they will provide transport there
and return.

MRH (Mather, Sacramento, CA) - Courtesy car available for an hour or two
- met in-laws for lunch.

INW (Winslow, AZ) - Been there 3 times in the past 20 years - restaurant
on the field.

LHZ (Louisburg, NC) - Tho' 10 miles form town, they do have a courtesy
car available for an hour or two.

From a trip Virginia-New Mexico two years ago:

35A (Union, SC) - Spent 2 days there with what turned out to be an
alternator problem - airport manager gave us a drive by of the motels so
we could see each, then provided rides to and from motel each day.

AXS (Altus, OK) - Courtesy car overnight, to motel, dinner, etc.

SAR (Spart, IL) - Motel and restaurant adjacent (across the highway)-an
easy walk.

OEL (Oakley, KS) - Restaurant in gas station within walking distance,
courtesy car (airport is unattended, but the usual
Cadilac/Lincoln/Impala/other-big-car has key on the floor).

I too have found FBOs in this part of the country to be quite
accommodating. Let's all keep Airnav up to date (and in business).

george