Traveling during a pandemic has proven to be risky and, therefore, undesirable for many. RV travel trends have increased because people are not only transiting in their own vehicle but also staying (eating, sleeping, showering…) in their own house on wheels, with their own stuff. Flying General Aviation (GA) though (especially if you own your own aircraft) is also a great Covid-friendly way to travel, especially for day trips. This blog highlights a few airport lodging options and resources you may want to consider, now and in the future, during overnight trips; however, the list is not exhaustive.
New York’s Drop Inn B&B is not called that for no reason. This cute log house is located at the Shear Airport (63NY). With prior permission from the owners, you can fly into their 3,153-foot grass strip, skydive (get the “drop inn” reference now?), visit the Niagara Falls, and try out wineries among other things. If peace and quiet is what you’re looking for… West Virginia’s Hales Landing Airport (2WV3) has a 3,100-foot grass runway and an Airbnb. Ask the owners for permission to land when booking the stay. During your next trip to Texas’ Big Bend country, you can consider booking one of Casa de Aero’s Airbnb listings in Terlingua. With their permission, you can fly into Fulcher Field (3TE8) with a 3,600-foot gravel runway. The owners can provide you with rental car information for your stay. Or, if you prefer to tent camp, Big Bend Ranch State Park Airport (3T9) lets you fly into their 5,500-foot paved airstrip and camp under your wing/rotor. The state-owned airport offers complimentary transportation to and from their park. Call ahead (432-358-4444, ext. 224) for more information and to let park staff know when you will arrive. Because of its decorations, you may travel all over the world without leaving your Airbnb at the Yucca Valley Airport (L22) in California. This may be my favorite option in this list though it comes at a price. Not only because it is gorgeous and because it has great views of the surrounding mountains but also because it is in a central location to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park, and Big Bear, for example. You can find Lake Lawn Airport (C59) and Lake Lawn Resort due south from Oshkosh, WI. Runway 18/36 is 4,423 ft long; however, look for trees, powerlines, and fences on both ends and keep in mind the asphalt may have cracks with vegetation growing with it. The resort is across the street from the airport. Swimming, golfing, boating, kayaking or paddle boarding are all Covid-friendly activities you can embark on while there; however, you will face more interaction with other guests and staff while inside the hotel. Similarly, flying into the Nemacolin Airport (PA88) in Pennsylvania and staying at their Nemacolin Resort is, without a doubt, the most luxurious option on this list. Obtain prior permission to fly in (recommend at least a 48-hour lead-time) and go pamper yourself! On the other corner of Pennsylvania and much more outdoorsy, though still romantic, is an Airbnb at the Cherry Ridge Airport (N30). Though this is a privately-owned airport, it is publicly used. It has a 2,986-foot asphalt runway and you can park your aircraft immediately in front of the house. If you're willing and able or looking to spend a month away, Summerland Key Cove Airport (FD51) in the Florida Keys is a great option. It's one my husband Jared and I experienced a few years back and blogged about. Runway 12/30 is decently long (2,550 ft but with two displaced thresholds) but quite narrow (20 ft) as compared to most runways. There are a few rental options onsite but this VRBO is the one we stayed at and highly recommend. Remember to get permission to land when you book and pay attention to the restricted area just NW of the field. Do your due diligence as a PIC before each flight. For example, keep in mind most of these airports/airstrips do not offer fuel and may not have lights for night flying. The blog "Friendly Airports and Helipads in the Central Southwest Region" also has an Excel listing of friendly airports and helipads with on-site camping, on-site restaurants, on-site museums, bike lanes nearby, and places to watch aircraft come and go in the Central Southwest area of the country. You may also want to join the fairly new Facebook group called “Pilot friend Airbnb” for additional offerings. Fly safe and fly often!
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BLOGS ON THIS PAGE- Solar Eclipses: See Them, Experience Them!
- Cool Things to See from the Air - Airport Lodging - Aviation Survival and Egress Training: Training I Hope I Never Need to Use but Glad I Experienced - NASA's Physiological Training - Other Interesting Blogs - Relationship between Holidays and Flying - Helicopter Add-On: Transition Training From Fixed-Wing to Rotary-Wing - Flying to National Parks - Aviation Vocabulary and Phrases in Spanish - Friendly Airports and Helipads in the Central Southwest Region - What to Do with Your Pilot Certificate AuthorYasmina Platt. Archives
October 2023
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