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Airports to avoid?

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by Gatorrari, Dec 10, 2005.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
    #1 Gatorrari, Dec 10, 2005
    This week's overrun at Midway Airport brings up the question: which commercial U.S. airports are marginal enough that a wise person should seek alternate airports to fly into and out of?

    The ones I avoid include (in no particular order):

    New York La Guardia

    Washington Ronald Reagan National

    Chicago Midway

    Orange County John Wayne

    San Diego Lindbergh

    So far, I've been able to avoid all of these except La Guardia, which I even departed from during a snowstorm on one occasion. I also once had a 727 departure from Buffalo that used a lot of their runway, but I don't consider it too short; the pilot said "we were heavy".

    Anyone else have their favorite airports to avoid?
     
  2. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    Han Solo
    #2 Spasso, Dec 11, 2005
    Not that I was ever PIC , I always thought San Diego didn't leave much room for error. Only one way in and one way out with not much in between. A steep approach in over the city to boot.
     
  3. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
    #3 Gatorrari, Dec 11, 2005
    Overseas, there was always Kai Tak. Spectacular, to be sure, but it's probably a good thing they got out of there. An accident waiting to happen, and it's a good thing a big one never did.

    Also, that over-the-ocean approach to St. Martin is something else!
     
  4. Mario Gonzalez

    Mario Gonzalez Formula 3

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    Out of my mind
    #4 Mario Gonzalez, Dec 27, 2005
    1.Tegusigalpa, Honduras
    2.Quito, Ecuador
    3.La Paz, Bolivia
    4.La Aurora International airport, Guatemala city
    5. Kai tek (old), hong knog
    6. Guantanamo bay, Cuba (runway 10)

    just to name a few. these airports will make any airport in the USA look like a childs play ground.
     
  5. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #5 BMW.SauberF1Team, Jan 17, 2006
    Chicago Midway wasn't that bad imo. I like that it's not so huge and you can get to your gate rather quickly. I didn't like O'Hare that much, but I've only been to that one once.

    However, I went through BWI (Balt-Wash-Int) a couple Sundays ago and it was really empty. Zero traffic when I was dropped off at the departures and the security area was right inside next to my airplane (Southwest airlines). I'd recommend that airport over the others I've been to.
     
  6. expresscat39

    expresscat39 Karting

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    Dennis
    #6 expresscat39, Mar 9, 2006
    Midway is not that bad.

    Fort Lauderdale Exec is a nightmare.
     
  7. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

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    Art
    #7 2000YELLOW360, Mar 9, 2006
    Flew to the Bahamas through there. Not so bad, but I have seen better.

    Art
     
  8. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

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    #8 SWITCHESOFF, Mar 9, 2006
    After lighting up and burning the cowling off of No.2 engine of a B-24 ,the landing on the 2200 foot cross strip at Pinecastle Airbase wasn't really a good arrival. Safe, but I spilled my coffee. When driving past Orlando International several years ago I realized that I was looking at Pinecastle Airbase. But I didn't see any B-24's. But I did.
     
  9. Skyraider

    Skyraider Formula Junior

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    #9 Skyraider, Mar 9, 2006
  10. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

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    #10 SWITCHESOFF, Mar 10, 2006
    Geeze ! Where do you come up with all that stuff so quick. What a load to digest all at once. Not only digging back to the past and the Pinecastle thing but going through all those airplanes that they showed. I either flew on them; B-17, B-24, B-29, or helped to build them: B-50, B-52, KC-97, KC-135. By the way, the photo of a B-50 was shown but identified as a B-29. Never mind , they were all good Boeing airplanes. So many years. Thanks.
    Switches
     
  11. Skyraider

    Skyraider Formula Junior

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    #11 Skyraider, Mar 10, 2006
    Hi Bob,
    I practice alot... heh heh!
    What was your unit? I'll see if I can come up with some info.

    Take your time...they'll be there a while.

    You are quite welcome my friend.

    Charlie
     
  12. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

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    #12 SWITCHESOFF, Mar 10, 2006
    Charlie, you have a PM
     
  13. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
    #13 Gatorrari, Mar 14, 2006
    Back in the '50s, a B-47 intending to fly into Dobbins AFB here in Marietta inadvertently landed at PDK (DeKalb-Peachtree) instead.

    Needless to say, he ran out of runway. In the terminal at PDK are newpaper clippings showing the wrecked B-47 burning profusely. I don't recall how the crew fared.
     
  14. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

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    #14 SWITCHESOFF, Mar 14, 2006
    Never heard about that one but it did remind me of the United DC-8 that one night landed SUCCESSFULLY at Troutdale, Ore. on a runway half the length of the main drag at PDX just to the west.After emptying it of everything removable including most of the fuel they actually flew it out.
     

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