Ocracoke Island, NC

troopernflight

troopernflight

Well-Known Member
Anyone been there by air? It's a little 3k foot strip, but not sure how well maintained it is. Wife and I were looking for an island off of NC to fly to for a 2 day vacation. Ocracoke looks like a good option. Good reviews, not too pricey, and only accessible by air or boat. If anyone has some better suggestions, I'm all ears.
 
It is a nice place, but not much in the way of facilities. In fact I don't think they had fuel, but I could be mistaken.

There is a good deal of restricted and alert airspace all along there. I would suggest that you pick up the radial off of "TAR RIVER" VOR then if you are GPS equipped go to VFR GPS waypoint HULIP, then once you hit water turn direct to W95.

or simple ask Cherry Point for clearance through their restricted 5306-A.

The surface of the runway was good enough that it left no memory of it.

If you have time, the short flight up the OBX is breath taking and FFA (first flight) is fantastic or MQI just next to FFA has fuel and a great facility.

Ultimately, it is a highlight memory of my short flying career.
 
Douglas said:
It is a nice place, but not much in the way of facilities. In fact I don't think they had fuel, but I could be mistaken.

There is a good deal of restricted and alert airspace all along there. I would suggest that you pick up the radial off of "TAR RIVER" VOR then if you are GPS equipped go to VFR GPS waypoint HULIP, then once you hit water turn direct to W95.

or simple ask Cherry Point for clearance through their restricted 5306-A.

The surface of the runway was good enough that it left no memory of it.

If you have time, the short flight up the OBX is breath taking and FFA (first flight) is fantastic or MQI just next to FFA has fuel and a great facility.

Ultimately, it is a highlight memory of my short flying career.
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You weren't kidding about the special use airspace. It's like a maze of restricted and alert areas. What a pain in the arse. I guess I could just file IFR and let ATC worry about it. They'll probably vector me to Bermuda and back before I get there though. Thanks a lot for the response. Helps out a bunch.
 
Douglas said:
or simple ask Cherry Point for clearance through their restricted 5306-A.
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Yeah, good luck with that. I tried to get them to let me in for three days straight to shoot some photos around the town of Oriental. They basically told me there was no damn way.
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
Yeah, good luck with that. I tried to get them to let me in for three days straight to shoot some photos around the town of Oriental. They basically told me there was no damn way.
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Throw a little charm in there next time.
They let me through while they were firing rockets. :cool:
 
I was there last spring, and the runway seemed fine to me. We flew in to first flight, and then down the barrier islands. I must say, it was some nice scenery. As far as I can remember they didn't have any services or anything, but the beach was just a short walk away.
 
When I lived in NC flying to Ocracoke was the only way my wife could get me to the beach. If you go on a weekend, there's normally no trouble getting through the restricted airspace. I second the observations of others -- there are NO services there. Nevertheless, it's one of the coolest aviation experiences I've ever had: I loaded my bikini-clad wife into our plane, made a quick 30 minute flight to the shore, parked in the grass at the runway's end, and walked to the ocean for a day of sun, surf and sand. I was the only plane at the field that day, so I just parked off the pavement at the turn around on the south end. She even posed for a picture on the runway in a pair of Daisy Dukes! Sure beats getting stuck in tourist beach traffic.
 
I've been in there in a PC-12. Parking was kind of tight, but it would probably be easier in a smaller airplane. No fuel or anything else "FBO-like". The hotel came and picked us up. We came and went IFR, so didn't pay much attention to the restricted areas. It was a GREAT place to spend some time, had a fun time walking around, and had a great seafood dinner.
 
Go to Howard's Pub. Call they're frequency up on approach and let them know you're coming in, they'll pick you up in a cool little golf cart and drive you down to the pub. Good food, cool t-shirts and atmosphere!
 
troopernflight said:
You weren't kidding about the special use airspace. It's like a maze of restricted and alert areas. What a pain in the arse. I guess I could just file IFR and let ATC worry about it. They'll probably vector me to Bermuda and back before I get there though. Thanks a lot for the response. Helps out a bunch.
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No problem--just clear it with Cherry Point Approach. Watch out though--periodically they have night ops and UAV's up by EWN.
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
Yeah, good luck with that. I tried to get them to let me in for three days straight to shoot some photos around the town of Oriental. They basically told me there was no damn way.
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What? I am based at EWN--I go over Pamlico County all the time for "photo missions" though recently they had night ops at the air station and that may have stopped you up. Ask for flight following--they may get you in easier.
 
jima7011 said:
What? I am based at EWN--I go over Pamlico County all the time for "photo missions" though recently they had night ops at the air station and that may have stopped you up. Ask for flight following--they may get you in easier.
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This was like 4 years ago. Maybe they're more accommodating now.
 
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