PlasticPilot website banner

Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries Random Aviation Photo from PlasticPilot-net's galleries

Readers Poll: how do you like your airports ?

There are many ways to classify airports: controlled or uncontrolled (for US readers, towered or non-towered ;-) ), with grass or concrete runway, with or without commercial or airline traffic. I learned to fly on the grass runway of a controlled airport with international traffic (read Geneva, Switzerland, LSGG) and I sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable when I fly to an airport without ATC. This runway is rather short, but well maintained, so soft and short field operations are no issues to me.

Readers Poll !

As always, my questions for this month are simple: how do you like your airports ? Small, remote grass strips or large concrete runway with lot of jet traffic ? With or without air traffic control ? Or something in between ?

ForeFlight Checklist Ad

4 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. Brad

    I’m a student pilot training in Minnesota, which is in the north-central US, and I prefer my fields to be plowed clear of snow.

    I’m flying out of what would be a grass field but for the season, and we couldn’t get the mains off the ground because of the drag caused by plowing them through the snow. We needed to go back and forth over the runway a few times so that our wheels would hit a rut long enough for us to lift off.

    Beyond that I like small-to-medium fields, towered or untowered, paved or unpaved. So long as there’s a decent restaurant on the field.

  2. My comfort zone?

    Controlled, Asphalt runway, can be busy but just with similar sized GA aircraft.

    I haven’t really flown into much else than the above description, but when I do I am sure that will change.

  3. Pablo Pissanetzky

    I prefer controlled airports…it always worries me when I approach an uncontrolled airport and find more than one aircraft that is not talking on CTAF.

  4. I highly encourage readers of Plastic Pilot to rate FBO services at our user-friendly and very informative Airport Resource Center. Thanks! And happy flying.

Reply to “Readers Poll: how do you like your airports ?”

Ad for ForeFlight, pre-flight intelligence


Class Cockpit Aviation Ad

Aviation links

Ask a CFI
Paul and his fellow instructors answer all your flying questions

Aviation Chatter
Patrick’s blog, where he shares insights, lessons, and thoughts on the world of flight.

Cleared for Take-Off
Follow JR Walsh on his way to become a Naval Aviator

Fear of Landing
Sylvia’s ramblings about flying (incl. tour of all UK islands)

Golf Hotel Whiskey
The free online magazine and airport guide for pilots

m0a.com- Because a good pilot is always learning
Jason Schappert’s blog on flight instruction

Making time for flying
Julien’s blog about his flying adventures down under

Max Trescott on General Aviation
Max Trescott’s blog – General Aviation Advocacy