Where in the US would you fly?

clayfenderstrat

clayfenderstrat

Well-Known Member
I have a small project I have to do for an aviation class, and would like a little input. We are doing a cost analysis of commercial flights, and we have to choose a flight to analyze. We get to pick our airport, so here is where I need some ideas. What is the most unusual/interesting airport in the continental US? This airport has to get service from the major airlines. I don't know any interesting ones to pick off hand. Suggestions?

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
DCA (Washington D.C.) is pretty interesting and unique with it's approaches and special procedures.

ASE (Aspen, CO) gets some commercial traffic and is deep in the Rockies

JAC (Jackson Hole, WY) is also deep in the mountains and a pretty small runway for the 757s that fly there
 
Definitely ASE. Beautiful airport surrounded by beautiful mountains. Plus you can go snowboarding/skiing! :)

RD
 
Yeah, Aspen CO. and Jackson Hole WY. are way up there on the beautiful scenery scale as well as being rather hazardous. (High altitude, tons of terrain, snow, frequent inclement weather, the occasional prima donna passengers, :) plus if you end up single engine you are going to be really, really paying attention to things. :) ) Sun Valley, Idaho falls into the same category as the aforementioned airports too. SkyWest and Horizon fly into there for Delta and Alaska.

For just the scenery, but not so dangerous, I have always enjoyed flying into San Diego, Seattle, Monterrey CA, (All when the weather is nice of course.) and you can't beat flying into Vegas on a clear night, especially if they make you turn base around the Stratosphere. I have always liked flying into West Yellowstone, Montana too, it has seasonal service for Delta, done by SkyWest. Great views of Yellowstone and Teton National park, plus the air just smells good at that airport. I just fly turboprops so I have only really been able to see the U.S. from Texas and West to the coast.
 
clayfenderstrat said:
What is the most unusual/interesting airport in the continental US? This airport has to get service from the major airlines.
Click to expand...

"Major airlines" can be read in a few different ways including the fact the "s" means served by at least two or more, but I'll take a shot.

Yeager Airport, Charleston, WV because they sawed off the top of a mountain an put an airport on it. It's the only place I've been to that you have to go down the mountain and back up to get from the terminal to the FBO. Not to mention a brake failure in the wrong place earns you an E-ticket ride which surpasses Disney's Matterhorn bobsled ride in excitement.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeager_Airport

Airnav: http://www.airnav.com/airport/KCRW

There are other airports with abrupt drop-offs, but Yeager is the worst I've seen in the USA.
 
SGU is a pretty cool airport. Slightly technical to get into. The west side of the field has some peaking mountains and its fun how the place is set on top of a plateau.
 
I was gonna say SGU as well, most exciting Airline approach I've ever seen. Very fun, passangers were on edge the whole time. Damn shame they're building a new airport. Becuz jetz are lyk totalli commin to St. George yo!

The circle to land 1R/1L approach at SFO is also jaw dropping, but very rare.
 
JordanD said:
I hear North Dakota is a pretty interesting place to fly.
Click to expand...

smiley-violent072.gif
 
clayfenderstrat said:
Thanks guys....I picked SGU. It looked pretty cool. By the way, where in the world did the hanging smilie come from?
Click to expand...

I've always wondered if some guy 40 years ago looked at that mesa where the airport is now located and thought "Hey, you know what would be cool up here? An airport!" No feasibility studies on wind, windshear, cliffs etc. Forget all that, it just looked like a way cool place for an airport. This is just my theory mind you. I came to that conclusion on a very hot and windy day while preparing to land there. :D

Some of the worst crosswinds and turbulence I see are in SGU. A runway with drop offs on three sides, just to add some spice to the crosswinds a mesa on short final about 400 feet higher than the touchdown zone, which may cause down drafts, but you might also get an updraft from the edge of the mesa just before the runway begins. Lots of heat, thermals and rising terrain. Good times. Though I will admit the morning flights are usually really beautiful there.
 
Lee D said:
I've always wondered if some guy 40 years ago looked at that mesa where the airport is now located and thought "Hey, you know what would be cool up here? An airport!" No feasibility studies on wind, windshear, cliffs etc. Forget all that, it just looked like a way cool place for an airport. This is just my theory mind you. I came to that conclusion on a very hot and windy day while preparing to land there. :D

Some of the worst crosswinds and turbulence I see are in SGU. A runway with drop offs on three sides, just to add some spice to the crosswinds a mesa on short final about 400 feet higher than the touchdown zone, which may cause down drafts, but you might also get an updraft from the edge of the mesa just before the runway begins. Lots of heat, thermals and rising terrain. Good times. Though I will admit the morning flights are usually really beautiful there.
Click to expand...
I have never, ever, ever been to SGU and had no updrafts on base, no downdrafts on short final, or a wind that was not blowing one way one second, then another way the next.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top