Flying into Dallas/Love?

juan valdez

juan valdez

Well-Known Member
Bad idea for GA or not so bad?
By this I mean I don't want to be "that guy" in a 172 messing up the flow. Based on airnav it says 634 operations/day which is double my homefield of EFD. EFD is like 300 and doens't seem like much.
DFW is said to have over 1800/day as a comparison for Love.
Basically I am heading to Dallas for a x country flight for my commercial and want to meet up with a buddy. Meachem is on the wrong side to make this not a PITA to meet up, but if it comes down to it I would rather just go there and not meet up and avoid a hassle for all involved.

Fuel seems to be pretty pricey at Love, which from what I understand is usually a way that airports try to keep GA activity limited. That said which FBO would be the way to go if I end up there?
 
For what it's worth....took a 172RG into Denver Intl. $40 landing fee. Ouch! I completely understand though, we held up about 3 737's just flying on final and landing halfway down the runway and then taxiing.
 
juan valdez said:
Bad idea for GA or not so bad?
By this I mean I don't want to be "that guy" in a 172 messing up the flow. Based on airnav it says 634 operations/day which is double my homefield of EFD. EFD is like 300 and doens't seem like much.
DFW is said to have over 1800/day as a comparison for Love.
Basically I am heading to Dallas for a x country flight for my commercial and want to meet up with a buddy. Meachem is on the wrong side to make this not a PITA to meet up, but if it comes down to it I would rather just go there and not meet up and avoid a hassle for all involved.

Fuel seems to be pretty pricey at Love, which from what I understand is usually a way that airports try to keep GA activity limited. That said which FBO would be the way to go if I end up there?
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Its an airport built for airplanes. Tax dollars support the airport.
If you want to do what you can, don't slow down way far out. Keep it as fast as you can as long as you can and keep up on the radio. A 172 can do an 110 knot approach with no flaps, with a hard slip to bleed off airspeed (yes, you'll float). Its all good.
As far as gas being pricey, I don't think its to keep GA away. I think its to wring as much money from people that can afford to fly big twins/jets/tp's.
Go with the FBO that has the fewest fees/cheapest gas.
 
Used to fly from DWH to DAL all the time in the late 80's/early 90's. At least once a week to pick up parts at Aviall for some airplane or another in our rental fleet. Usually would take off around 9:30 - 10:00 PM so by the time I got to love it was generally pretty calm - that, plus Texas in the summer is much more fun to fly at night when low and non air conditioned.
 
juan valdez said:
Bad idea for GA or not so bad?
By this I mean I don't want to be "that guy" in a 172 messing up the flow. Based on airnav it says 634 operations/day which is double my homefield of EFD. EFD is like 300 and doens't seem like much.
DFW is said to have over 1800/day as a comparison for Love.
Basically I am heading to Dallas for a x country flight for my commercial and want to meet up with a buddy. Meachem is on the wrong side to make this not a PITA to meet up, but if it comes down to it I would rather just go there and not meet up and avoid a hassle for all involved.

Fuel seems to be pretty pricey at Love, which from what I understand is usually a way that airports try to keep GA activity limited. That said which FBO would be the way to go if I end up there?
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If you are worried why not fly into one of the many airports within 10 miles or so of Love? ADS just to the north, RBD just to the south, F69, GKY, TKY, ect. TONS of choices that will be easier to get in and out of also. And your right, fuel and fees wil be much cheaper elswhere.
 
DAL is a piece of cake. I've probably been there 8 or 10 times in 172s and DA42s and never had a problem (well, except when the student wasn't quite ready for the hustle and bustle). Just be on top of your radio calls, call the field in sight the second you see it, and be ready to cooperate with ATC, but don't let them do the flying for you-if something won't work, it won't work. Generally though when you show up as "C172/G" on their radar screen they have a pretty good idea of what you're capable of and will do a good job of working you in, especially when you can take a tight visual.

As far as fuel, it is what it is and you gotta deal with it. FWIW I usually stopped at Landmark, since we never bought fuel and they were good about waiving the ramp fee if all we needed to do was sit until an hour after sunset.
 
I used to fly in there at night 4 times a week. You seem to be concerned that you'll be the only GA among airliners. When i flew in there I was amazed at how many different FBOs and corporate hangars were there. The airline terminal is only a small portion of the airport. I parked at Jet Direct on the north end and they were very receptive to props and freight guys in pistons.
 
I fly in there all the time. Piece of cake. You will end up on 13L/31R which is where a couple of the fbos are located. I usually use biz jet center.
 
Flew into DAL a few weeks ago, I've done it several times.

I was once number 3 in line behind Shamu, a new livery Southwest jet, and number 4 was an old livery. Shamu was rolling onto the runway and taking off, the jet in front of me was holding short and there I was...in my mighty Cessna 150.

The looks on the faces of the PAX on the Southwest jets was something I'll never forget. It was absolutely priceless.

Flying into DAL is a piece of cake.
 
juan valdez said:
Bad idea for GA or not so bad?
By this I mean I don't want to be "that guy" in a 172 messing up the flow.

Fuel seems to be pretty pricey at Love, which from what I understand is usually a way that airports try to keep GA activity limited. That said which FBO would be the way to go if I end up there?
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I've flown into Love several times in a variety of airplanes. If you can handle EFD, you'll be fine.

Just plan on NOT doing a stabilized 60 kt 3 mile final. Keep your speed up to about 1/2 mile and you've got tons of runway to float. If you need a progressive taxi, feel free to ask.

Buisness Jet center is really nice, and not prejudiced against avgas burners. Ask for 13L if you can.

I avoid Signature FBOs everywhere if its anyway possible.
 
USMCmech said:
I've flown into Love several times in a variety of airplanes. If you can handle EFD, you'll be fine.

Just plan on NOT doing a stabilized 60 kt 3 mile final. Keep your speed up to about 1/2 mile and you've got tons of runway to float. If you need a progressive taxi, feel free to ask.

Buisness Jet center is really nice, and not prejudiced against avgas burners. Ask for 13L if you can.

I avoid Signature FBOs everywhere if its anyway possible.
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Yeah I am pretty proficient at keeping speeds up. Anytime tower here assigns rwy 4 for landing instead of 17/35 we keep the speed up and float down the rwy pretty far in order to avoid a long ground taxi.

Thanks for all the replies guys.
Not so much taht I can't handle the radios or anything, I just don't want to hold up traffic. I will look into those airports that wjmiller listed. I pretty much am figuring that there is a decent amount of GA there, I think airnav had it pretty much almsot even with GA vs Commercial.
No sense in making my day any harder than need be as well as those around me. :)
Also I thought I had a DFW sectional but I don't and I was too lazy to look at all the airports around online so I figured I would see what ya'll had to offer.
 
Go to KADS. Landmark aviation, give them your ETA and reserve a car. KADS would be a lot more convenient.
 
I'll second (or third) those that said to head to ADS. Nice airport, gets a bit busy but the entire airspace is busy around there... and TONS of restaurants to eat at just down the road if you dont know the area already.
 
Here's my stupid question. Won't the floating down the runway (and missing a few taxiway turnoffs along the way) hold up the Boeings just as much as flying a stabilized approach? I guess if I flew a 110knot approach and dumped in the flaps and gear on short final would be ok, but to float down the runway after a speedy approach seems like I might pass up the taxiway turn offs and be just as much a hold-up.

But if the FBO is at the other end of the field floating down to be closer to them makes sense.

What about a crosswind runway with a LAHSO (provided it can accomidate your proficiency, the weather conditions, etc.) ?
 
jonnydwolf said:
Here's my stupid question. Won't the floating down the runway (and missing a few taxiway turnoffs along the way) hold up the Boeings just as much as flying a stabilized approach? I guess if I flew a 110knot approach and dumped in the flaps and gear on short final would be ok, but to float down the runway after a speedy approach seems like I might pass up the taxiway turn offs and be just as much a hold-up.

But if the FBO is at the other end of the field floating down to be closer to them makes sense.

What about a crosswind runway with a LAHSO (provided it can accomidate your proficiency, the weather conditions, etc.) ?
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It depends. When I used to fly cargo into PHX Sky Harbor, I'd get put into the midfield downwind and held there for the straight-in airline traffic, but not for long. The tower knew that our callsigns would turn right for the midfield of the runway once cleared to land and make that a base leg, turning final on whats essentially the last 60% of a 10,000' runway, touching down 3 taxiway exits short ouf desired one, and being off at our desired one. Made surge recoveries of our VFR traffic nicely and efficiently sequenced between the heavies, thus keeping all parties happy.
 
Also, if the taxiways you miss are at a 90 degree angle, and the one that you turn off on after floating down the runway is a highspeed, you'll actually SAVE time.


Took a student into Love once. It was busy, and he had a little trouble keeping up, but it wasn't insane.
 
jonnydwolf said:
Here's my stupid question. Won't the floating down the runway (and missing a few taxiway turnoffs along the way) hold up the Boeings just as much as flying a stabilized approach? I guess if I flew a 110knot approach and dumped in the flaps and gear on short final would be ok, but to float down the runway after a speedy approach seems like I might pass up the taxiway turn offs and be just as much a hold-up.

But if the FBO is at the other end of the field floating down to be closer to them makes sense.

What about a crosswind runway with a LAHSO (provided it can accomidate your proficiency, the weather conditions, etc.) ?
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I would disagree though I have only practiced it with no one behind me. For example if a jet is coming in on 17 and winds allow tower will put us on 4 and floating is no problem. But I would think even if traffic was behind me, if I came in at 110 and floated I would only be floating for a handful of seconds. Versus coming in at 85 on a straight in approach 10 miles out.

popaviator said:
Let me know how it goes....I'm planning on taking a down there. :insane:
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Will do. Should be a fun trip. And I will definitely look into ADS.
 
hack1982 said:
Go to KADS. Landmark aviation, give them your ETA and reserve a car. KADS would be a lot more convenient.
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FlyingPoke said:
I'll second (or third) those that said to head to ADS. Nice airport, gets a bit busy but the entire airspace is busy around there... and TONS of restaurants to eat at just down the road if you dont know the area already.
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ADS is definitely a good option. You can get almost anywhere from there reasonably for a cab fare, too, and there are plenty of places to meet/eat, even within walking distance, on the north, east and south sides of ADS.

If you're coming in from the south, Regional Approach will GENERALLY (not always) swing you out to the east and then bring you back in to ADS over Garland/Richardson, about 15 south of TKI. At least, that's been my experience.
 
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