What Makes a Good General Aviation Airfield?
Discussion
Chrisgr31 said:
What makes a good general aviation airfield? If you own/fly a plane what do you want at an airfield?
I am assumming location is relatively important but whats after that? Just price or facilities? What facilities do you want?
Grass runways, and plenty of them.I am assumming location is relatively important but whats after that? Just price or facilities? What facilities do you want?
First rate A/G radio, as opposed to mediocre FISOs who think they're running Gatwick.
Good food, and a great club atmosphere.
The sort of place you'd turn up to even if the weather was absymal, with no chance of flying, for a spot of lunch and a lazy afternoon in front of an open fire in the clubhouse.
Lots of interesting aerobatic kit available.
I think that covers it.
Sorry for not coming back to this before! So why would you want grass runways and lots of them? Whats wrong with a concrete/asphalt runway (other than the fact its b
y expensive to install and upkeep or is that the sole reason!).
Is threre a general rule about what sort of aircraft cant land on grass? Are hangars important? Most small airfields seem to have several but who uses them?
And in case you are wondering I am not planning to build or buy an airfield, just doing a job for a client that owns one, so just trying too increase my airfield knowledge!
y expensive to install and upkeep or is that the sole reason!).Is threre a general rule about what sort of aircraft cant land on grass? Are hangars important? Most small airfields seem to have several but who uses them?
And in case you are wondering I am not planning to build or buy an airfield, just doing a job for a client that owns one, so just trying too increase my airfield knowledge!
Chrisgr31 said:
Sorry for not coming back to this before! So why would you want grass runways and lots of them? Whats wrong with a concrete/asphalt runway (other than the fact its by expensive to install and upkeep or is that the sole reason!).
Is threre a general rule about what sort of aircraft cant land on grass? Are hangars important? Most small airfields seem to have several but who uses them?
And in case you are wondering I am not planning to build or buy an airfield, just doing a job for a client that owns one, so just trying too increase my airfield knowledge!
The more runways you have, the better chance of having one that points into wind.y expensive to install and upkeep or is that the sole reason!).Is threre a general rule about what sort of aircraft cant land on grass? Are hangars important? Most small airfields seem to have several but who uses them?
And in case you are wondering I am not planning to build or buy an airfield, just doing a job for a client that owns one, so just trying too increase my airfield knowledge!
Smooth grass, into wind, is the choice for the more entertaining tailwheel types.
Narrow tarmac runways, with a howling crosswind, are not where you want to be in those types - and in fact, if you could offer the classic "A" shaped set of grass runways - as opposed to a single strip of tarmac - when the wind gets remotely sporting, your options are far better.
There are numerous airfields with a single tarmac runway who regularly have to cancel training sessions or operations in general because of crosswind limits - my club has the classic "A" grass runway arrangement, and doesn't have this problem.
Wooden / fabric aircraft really start to suffer if you leave them outside. Also saves having to tie down aircraft, especially if bad weather is expected, provides some protection against random theft, vandalism etc.
That said being in a hangar is not a guarantee of protection from the weather:
http://www.highglide.co.uk/hangar_collapse.htm
That said being in a hangar is not a guarantee of protection from the weather:
http://www.highglide.co.uk/hangar_collapse.htm
Avgas at 50p/l. Sadly, not practical. However, the typical "landing fee" for a light single engined aircraft is generally in the £10-15 range so a nice FBO in the UK is unlikely to be a practical proposition.
Equally, most GA airfields don't help themselves in that regard - lack of facilities/attractions or at the very least decent food will discourage visitors. I'm a member of the same club as eharding (and own a share in the same aircraft) and they (West London Aero Club at White Waltham) do most things right, food in particular, while maintaining a sensible landing fee for visitors (not holding my breath for cheap avgas though - although a discount for the blatant plug would be nice)
Granted, annual flying membership isn't the cheapest in the country by a long stretch but none of the membership would pay it if they didn't think they were getting their money's worth.
Equally, most GA airfields don't help themselves in that regard - lack of facilities/attractions or at the very least decent food will discourage visitors. I'm a member of the same club as eharding (and own a share in the same aircraft) and they (West London Aero Club at White Waltham) do most things right, food in particular, while maintaining a sensible landing fee for visitors (not holding my breath for cheap avgas though - although a discount for the blatant plug would be nice)
Granted, annual flying membership isn't the cheapest in the country by a long stretch but none of the membership would pay it if they didn't think they were getting their money's worth.
Edited by JW911 on Monday 6th September 14:22
I'd rather not name the airfield, never know who is watching! I know of White Waltham, and it certainly seems to be regarded as a good general aviation airfield. Bit of a shame about that hangar, gues sthe amount of snow was unusual. Like the hardhard, sure it would provide great protection if the rest of the roof collapsed. Mind you as my dad said when told off ofr not wearing a hard hat with huge metal beams swinging on a crane above him "All the hard hat will do is ensure I am hammered into the ground harded if those beams come down, wont protect me at all"!.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff