Best GA Airport for Boston area?

Fearless Tower

Fearless Tower

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Fearless Tower
Planning on doing a family trip to Boston this December. It's been a while since I flew up that way, so looking for the latest info on best GA airport. I am not feeling like paying for the fees and outrageous fuel price for BOS.

I've been to OWD back in my student pilot days and took my Private checkride at BVY, but that was almost 10 years ago now. I'm leaning toward OWD, but wondering if there is a better option?

I'm leaning toward OWD, but would like to avoid having to get a rental car. Can you get reasonably priced cab/car-service from Norwood to downtown Boston?
 
KOWD has T service with the commuter rail, does have rental cars at FBO,on slow days the FBO can sometimes get you to the train. Where are you going in the Boaton Area? Stay clear of KBED.too many fees and requires prop lock. Might be able to help on transportation,if I'm in the area.
 
I've seen this question posed a few times and the answer usually ends up OWD. Makes sense to me, though I haven't tested the theory.
 
frfly172 said:
KOWD has T service with the commuter rail, does have rental cars at FBO,on slow days the FBO can sometimes get you to the train. Where are you going in the Boaton Area? Stay clear of KBED.too many fees and requires prop lock. Might be able to help on transportation,if I'm in the area.
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We'd be going to the Fairmont Copley.

Is BED the only airport that requires prop-locks? I have heard it is not piston GA friendly.
 
scottfromboston said:
I've seen this question posed a few times and the answer usually ends up OWD.
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Kind of what I'm thinking, but a search didn't show anything in the year or two, so wanted to see if anything has changed.

My impression (10 years ago) was that BVY wasn't too bad, but the reviews on Airnav sound a bit ugly.
 
It's a Massport policy so I'd assume ORH and BOS do as well.

BVY is fine but I've never been transient there. FBO on West side of airport may be helpful but I'd advise calling. Enterprise in Beverly center "will pick you up" though at a cost. I feel like it's less traveled than OWD.
 
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It's out in the boonies but if you prefer a small-airport feel 6B6 isn't far from the commuter rail either, and we do have taxi services in the area. Just watch the times, as that particular line (Fitchburg; also close to FIT though quite far from Boston) isn't known for being the most heavily-served (in contrast to OWD).
 
Also, IIRC Fairmont Copley is closer to South Station than North, makes OWD more attractive if you're going to go commuter rail...
 
For ease of transportation and associated fees KOWD will fill your needs. BED is now a mass port airport with landing fees and high gas prices. Travel time from OWD to Boston proper is probably the shortest from OWD. Bed is more of a jet port type airport.
 
Fearless Tower said:
We'd be going to the Fairmont Copley.

Is BED the only airport that requires prop-locks? I have heard it is not piston GA friendly.
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I've flow my Baron into KBED for business many times. Nice airport but a bit busy. Nothing abnormal. Parked at Signiture and while not cheap it certainly wasn't cost prohibitive. Didn't have a prop lock installed either.
 
An innovative and scenic way to do it is to fly to KPVC then take Cape Air to BOS. Really, you could do that to any airport that Cape Air has direct flights from. This is their down season before everything moves south, so sales abound.

KBED isn't that bad. It's easy to get a driver/Uber from the FBOs to Alewife. The prop-lock thing only applies to based aircraft. The FBOs provide locks for transients. I still think OWD is easier, but KBED isn't a boogey-man for GA.
 
hook_dupin said:
An innovative and scenic way to do it is to fly to KPVC then take Cape Air to BOS. Really, you could do that to any airport that Cape Air has direct flights from. This is their down season before everything moves south, so sales abound.

KBED isn't that bad. It's easy to get a driver/Uber from the FBOs to Alewife. The prop-lock thing only applies to based aircraft. The FBOs provide locks for transients. I still think OWD is easier, but KBED isn't a boogey-man for GA.
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If you need to go through security, follow a schedule why not just fly commercial from your home airport?


Norwood is convenient and they drop you off/ pick you up at the train. I'll be there this weekend and will report back if anything changed. Last trip there the service was great. I'll post the total of fees they charge.
 
Mike5250 said:
If you need to go through security, follow a schedule why not just fly commercial from your home airport?


Norwood is convenient and they drop you off/ pick you up at the train. I'll be there this weekend and will report back if anything changed. Last trip there the service was great. I'll post the total of fees they charge.
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Have a good visit gas has gone up a little,some of the smaller airports in the area are cheaper.what are you flying?
 
Norwood is best for your trip.
It is not a MASSPORT airport, so it does not have the ramp security, prop locks and escort requirements. Oh, and it's their prop lock, not yours. Rumor was at one time they would have the prop lock on before they would chock you.

Yes, at one time at BED , Hanscom Field, they would escort you to your own plane when you wanted to leave.

Ground traffic from any airport into Boston can be a PITA.
 
I was based at KBED for 18+ years until I sold my airplane in 2012.

KBED isn't complete terrible for small GA, but why go there when there are better choices (such as KOWD)?
 
frfly172 said:
Have a good visit gas has gone up a little,some of the smaller airports in the area are cheaper.what are you flying?
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Thanks... Mooney c model. I will only be buying the minimum (10 gal) to waive fees and that includes the first night. Are you based there?
 
I flew into KOWD for meetings downtown this summer. It was a $36 UberX ride from there to downtown (non-rush hour times) and took 31 minutes.
 
Mike5250 said:
Thanks... Mooney c model. I will only be buying the minimum (10 gal) to waive fees and that includes the first night. Are you based there?
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Yes for the summer Fla fall and winter.
 
I haven't been into BVY in a decade because my last experience there was so god awful I'm disinclined to go back. Friends who are based there say the FBO really does suck that badly.

I've been into OWD regularly for the past 15 years and it's always been a pleasant and easy experience. I'm not going downtown, I have family in Hull (and usually stay in Braintree or Naskasket Beach).
 
Just to pile on...


OWD is definitely the best choice based on ease of getting into the city.


If you are renting a car from there try to plan not to leave OWD in the AM. The commute during morning rush hour from there is god awful. OWD is a good 20-25 mins from the city without traffic but could easily be a hour and a half during rush hour.

Anytime else is ok as all the traffic is going the other way.

EDIT: Just saw you don't want to rent a car. Best/fastest way from the airport to the city is Uber.
 
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