Airport recommendation near Dallas?

Peter Ha

Peter Ha

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Hi folks,
I’m enroute from MO to CA on my new C150 for first time. Flying a long cross country and uncertain which airports to stop. Can someone recommend “small” airport in Dallas area with courtesy car and motels nearby? And also near El Paso?
 
El Paso is @danhagan territory

for North Texas, KDTO will fit the criteria. Call US Jet Center before you arrive to set up the services you require.
 
One note about Dallas airspace, especially arriving from the northeast...

It can get busy during the day... often quite busy in the middle to late afternoon. Being on Flight Following is highly recommended.

Regional Approach controllers are very friendly, but can reach 25 words a second with gusts to 45 during these busy times. But if you can listen fast and can be on your communication A-game, you will do fine.
 
What's the plan in the El Paso area? The Class C (KELP) has a self serve near the T-Hangars on taxiway GOLF ... only telling you as it isn't easy to see, and the prices are less than my airport (KDNA). If over-night stay, this would be a good plan using Atlantic.

If lunch ONLY. Deming NM (KDMN) has a courtesy car and several restaurants nearby.

ALERT: Van Horn (KVHN) does NOT have commercial fuel available. Flight plan over Pecos (KPEQ) instead and then re-join I-10 near FT Stockton. KELP to KPEQ has a WIDE gas road you can follow (dirt-caliche) and transition back near San Angelo if you want. This route also decreases the turbulence off Guadalupe Peak and the other range near Van Horn as you'll be splitting them.
 
Try SWI or GYI. Sherman, Denison. Smaller towns next to each other cheaper hotels. Not in the Class B. Don't know about GYI but SWI has chain tiedowns' and doesn't charge for parking. Everything is close by and gas is $3.55 a gallon but in a C150 it prob not a driving force. DTO may make a good choice too. Yes, stay away from ADS
 
KFWS has hotels within a couple of hundred yards, no courtesy car needed.
 
I hangar at Addison and agree with Salty — don’t land here. It isn’t GA friendly. The only thing it has going for it is its proximity to my house.

If I was going cross-country anyway, I would look for an airport away from the Bravo airspace — Hotel/motels/fuel will all be cheaper. I’ve personally had more memorable experiences dropping into small towns/airports enroute with the rusty, 80s courtesy car that barely runs, but full of kindly, friendly folks and with a local restaurant that has at least a decent chicken fried steak or a chicken dinner.
 
Peter Ha said:
Hi folks,
I’m enroute from MO to CA on my new C150 for first time. Flying a long cross country and uncertain which airports to stop. Can someone recommend “small” airport in Dallas area with courtesy car and motels nearby? And also near El Paso?
Click to expand...
Welcome to POA and Congrats on your new ride! Have fun on your cross country trip.
 
I stopped at Stephenville TX (KSEP) on the way here... there's a Motel Days Inn Six (or something) a half-mile from the airport, and also a BBQ place, so an easy walk if you're just looking to grab a bite and and crash the night and fuel up in the morning ($4.25 or so?) and move along. Not near the city.
 
As far as El Paso area, I stopped at KDNA, just west of El Paso when passing thru the area. Easy in/out with hotels an easy uber ride away.
 
kath said:
I stopped at Stephenville TX (KSEP) on the way here... there's a Motel Days Inn Six (or something) a half-mile from the airport, and also a BBQ place, so an easy walk if you're just looking to grab a bite and and crash the night and fuel up in the morning ($4.25 or so?) and move along. Not near the city.
Click to expand...
That is the (almost) original Hard 8 BBQ we often talk about. The other locations within the boundaries of the Class Bravo are okay, but not as good as the one in Stephenville.
 
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