Dallas to Chicago. Tips?

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

May the force be with you
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Airport recommendation, gotchas, concerns?
 
Where in chicago are you going? City, suburbs?
 
Both Chicago executive (kpwk) and dupage (kdpa)are nice. Kpwk is closer to the city but is on the north side of the bravo. Shouldn't be an issue if you're used to the Dallas bravo though. As for fuel I'd suggest burlington wisconsin (kbuu). Avgas is only $3.99 vs the $4.70-5.00+ you'll pay in Chicago. It's only a 20 minute flight from kpwk.
 
Ha ha ha .... 100LL is WAY more than $5 at PWK
 
dans2992 said:
Ha ha ha .... 100LL is WAY more than $5 at PWK
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I'm aware. Self-service 100ll Is $5.03 at dpa right now. It's worth the 20 minute flight up to buu.
 
If you're going to the burbs and don't mind a lack of IFR approaches, try 06C - just watch that Class B overhang...
 
dans2992 said:
If you're going to the burbs and don't mind a lack of IFR approaches, try 06C - just watch that Class B overhang...
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+1
And stop in to pilot petes. cool restaurant and never had or heard bad things about the food
 
City.
Just going down for the weekend to get out of dodge for a bit.
Never been to Chicago. Grandparents offered to watch the kids for 2 nights so we're taking advantage and doing a long haul Next weekend.
 
If you don't mind the landing fee go MDW. I heard there is a train from GYY to downtown. PWK and DPA...you'll need car service or a car.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Airport recommendation, gotchas, concerns?
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Sell your airplane and get an LSA. Anyone who goes to Chicago willingly isn't in the proper mental state to obtain a medical. ;)

It really depends where you're going and how much you want to get gouged in fees vs. how much time and money you want to spend getting where you're going!

For a nice convenient option, try KCGX. :(
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
City.
Just going down for the weekend to get out of dodge for a bit.
Never been to Chicago. Grandparents offered to watch the kids for 2 nights so we're taking advantage and doing a long haul Next weekend.
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If Daley wasn't such a dumbass you could land at meiggs but oh look that's gone. You're best options are midway, ohare, executive, or gary. Not sure about gary but executive is about 45-1hr away. Midway is in the city. Don't go east though. Englewood is not too far east and you probably don't want to be there. And ohare is f'ing crazy expensive.
 
I just want to have fun.
It is a rarity that I will get out like this and not have kids.
Going on a trip w/ no kids has a lot of built in cost savings so landing fees, etc are fine.

Proximity more important than fees this trip.
I think after a 4 hour flight I am not going to want to spend a lot of time in a car.

I am stopping in KSWI on the way out and getting 82 Gal of 100ll (current price 3.35)
That's a pretty good savings over most fields.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I just want to have fun.
It is a rarity that I will get out like this and not have kids.
Going on a trip w/ no kids has a lot of built in cost savings so landing fees, etc are fine.

Proximity more important than fees this trip.
I think after a 4 hour flight I am not going to want to spend a lot of time in a car.

I am stopping in KSWI on the way out and getting 82 Gal of 100ll (current price 3.35)
That's a pretty good savings over most fields.
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In that case. Midway is your best option. Puts you in the city and you can ask for the vfr flight following from tower for the skyline tour.
 
ok crazy expensive is not ideal.
And before I go, I do need to find out what places I need to avoid.

Man I wish Meigs was open. I grew up playing FS which defaulted there.
I have 1000s of hours in MSFS at that field :(
 
I'm based over at KLOT for the summer. 1C5 is my home drome, but it's out of commission for the summer getting a new runway. KLOT is a nice airport. I live about 10 minutes from there, so if you guys need a ride anywhere or need anything feel free to PM me. There are several Metra rail stations not too far from that airport. I don't think there is an overnight fee at Lewis, and the fuel is decent for the area.

Julie and I would love to meet up with you two!
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
ok crazy expensive is not ideal.
And before I go, I do need to find out what places I need to avoid.

Man I wish Meigs was open. I grew up playing FS which defaulted there.
I have 1000s of hours in MSFS at that field :(
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Stay out of ohare. Not sure of the landing fee at mdw but avgas is $8+ a gallon to give you an idea of price. And if you go into mdw just go north. East is bad. West is boring as chit. And south is bad.
 
ahkahn said:
I'm based over at KLOT for the summer. 1C5 is my home drome, but it's out of commission for the summer getting a new runway. KLOT is a nice airport. I live about 10 minutes from there, so if you guys need a ride anywhere or need anything feel free to PM me. There are several Metra rail stations not too far from that airport. I don't think there is an overnight fee at Lewis, and the fuel is decent for the area.

Julie and I would love to meet up with you two!
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Sure!

Anyone in the area wants to meet up for drinks, we will be having them. :)
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Sure!

Anyone in the area wants to meet up for drinks, we will be having them. :)
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I'd take you up on that if I wasn't 19. And it wouldn't be weird. You seem like a fun guy
 
Pilot Pete's at the Schaumburg is a good dinner place. So is The Flight Deck out in Rochelle. That's a nice dinner flight with sand volleyball, large bar, etc. The bar is great when you fly in. Really takes the edge off for the outbound flight.
 
I'm not sure what catalo is all about. The surrounding area around MDW isn't great, but it's a lot better than it was fifteen years ago. Anyway, it sounds like you want to have a good time with the MRS. I would call signature ORD and MDW and compare their fees. It's expensive, but for a Cirrus overnight check it out. Might be worth it because you will be less than 30 minutes from downtown. Or you can cheapen the ride and take the EL (CTA train) from the airport.

If that's way too much dinero GYY is a train ride to downtown Chicago and the FBO will do pick up and drop off.

Wanna show her a real good time? Palmer House or Drake Hotel. The Executive Bar at the Drake is top notch, and a the hotel is a very short walk to the Michigan Ave shops.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions about other recommendations.
 
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Personally I think PWK is a trap if you are VFR..or IFR for that matter. They tend to lead you down the prim rose path to busting the bravo.... Arrival and departure. Just because you're in contact with tower be very aware you may be close to the B, especially if maneuvering to 34 from 16. On departure, if departing south, just ask for a left turn out the alternative can get nasty, depending upon your speed.
 
I don't believe I've ever heard anyone say "yay! we've got a babysitter so we're going to Chicago!"
 
MarkZ said:
I'm not sure what catalo is all about. The surrounding area around MDW isn't great, but it's a lot better than it was fifteen years ago. Anyway, it sounds like you want to have a good time with the MRS. I would call signature ORD and MDW and compare their fees. It's expensive, but for a Cirrus overnight check it out. Might be worth it because you will be less than 30 minutes from downtown. Or you can cheapen the ride and take the EL (CTA train) from the airport.

If that's way too much dinero GYY is a train ride to downtown Chicago and the FBO will do pick up and drop off.

Wanna show her a real good time? Palmer House or Drake Hotel. The Executive Bar at the Drake is top notch, and a the hotel is a very short walk to the Michigan Ave shops.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions about other recommendations.
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His post said he wants to know the areas to avoid. I was just stating that around midway isn't the greatest place. Not bashing it or anything but not historically a great place to hangout.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I just want to have fun.
It is a rarity that I will get out like this and not have kids.
Going on a trip w/ no kids has a lot of built in cost savings so landing fees, etc are fine.

Proximity more important than fees this trip.
I think after a 4 hour flight I am not going to want to spend a lot of time in a car.

I am stopping in KSWI on the way out and getting 82 Gal of 100ll (current price 3.35)
That's a pretty good savings over most fields.
Click to expand...

Having spent time in Dallas and Chicago, I will tell you to expect traffic like you wouldn't believe in Chicago. There can be a two hour back up for seemingly no reason at all on the interstate approaching downtown. And forget about rush hour.

To downtown Chicago, spring for the landing/fuel fees of midway, and take the Orange Line train to downtown. Have fun.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
ok crazy expensive is not ideal.
And before I go, I do need to find out what places I need to avoid.

Man I wish Meigs was open. I grew up playing FS which defaulted there.
I have 1000s of hours in MSFS at that field :(
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Midway isn't crazy-expensive landing fees. I think it's something like $10.00. It's just the fuel prices. I presume any ramp fee the FBO would tack on would be waived with your significant purchase of fuel for the return flight. And even if not, the ramp fee would really not be that much more than a round trip cab, or parking in downtown should you be foolish enough to rent a car to try to drive and park downtown. I don't recall what I paid to park downtown last time I did it, but I am sure it was somewhere between $75-90 for the day.
 
Midway is your best option. The FBO will take you to the train and you will be downtown in 15 minutes. Take the train back to the airport when you are done. You will spend a few more bucks on ramp fees, but your experience will be much better and you will save on cab fees.

With that said, I would fly somewhere else. Go to Nashville, TN and listen to music on the strip or Gatlinburg, TN and rent a cabin with a hot tub on a mountaintop overlooking the valley.

Chicago has good food, but other than that it is just noise and corruption.
 
toddsanderson said:
Midway is your best option. The FBO will take you to the train and you will be downtown in 15 minutes. Take the train back to the airport when you are done. You will spend a few more bucks on ramp fees, but your experience will be much better and you will save on cab fees.

With that said, I would fly somewhere else. Go to Nashville, TN and listen to music on the strip or Gatlinburg, TN and rent a cabin with a hot tub on a mountaintop overlooking the valley.

Chicago has good food, but other than that it is just noise and corruption.
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Not being a big fan of Chicago myself, I would say this is a too harsh. A trip to downtown Chicago can be fun. Check out Second City, some of the blues clubs, and hit the very fine Chicago restaurants. Don't go to the touristy ones in the Theatre district. They are mediocre and overpriced.
 
There is a guy named Martin Pauly (Pauley, maybe) who has posted some great videos on Youtube flying into OHare and Midway in a Bonanza. Check them out.

I have heard good things about flying into Gary and catching the train into Chicago. Call the FBO and ask about it.

Schaumburg is a neat option too. Cab or Uber to the Metra station should be easy.

Have fun...
 
Call around price shopping. Ask what the min. fuel purchase is to waive certain fees. If your pleasant on the phone, some people will work with you. I got almost 0.75c taken off the fuel bill the other day.
 
Atlantic Aviation at MDW is what you want. You'll pay a city landing fee, a security fee, and for expensive gas (in leiu of a facility fee). I believe the first two were about $20 combined, as of a year ago. I my mind, a small price for convenience on a short weekend getaway.

The 'L' is fine, but if you don't want to deal with public transit, your wife might prefer a cab or Uber---neither is rediculously expensive to downtown.
 
I gotta agree with Kent on this one.
 
Gary Jet Center is a good choice. They will drive you to a train that gets you to downtown. There is a casino close by if you're into that. Train is pretty good from what I hear. or you can rent a car at GYY and drive, but parking is $40 or so in Chicago. Call me 847-962-9311 if you want ideas.
 
Catalo said:
His post said he wants to know the areas to avoid. I was just stating that around midway isn't the greatest place. Not bashing it or anything but not historically a great place to hangout.
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But if he lands there, he can get to downtown fairly quickly
 
People are warning him about bad areas around Midway, but recommending taking trains from Gary? Yikes! I make it a point in life to avoid Gary like the plague. KDPA is out west, but easy peasy to get in and out of from the air. I think I paid $10 to leave the plane there overnight and that was it. You would need a ride downtown though.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
ok crazy expensive is not ideal.
And before I go, I do need to find out what places I need to avoid.

Man I wish Meigs was open. I grew up playing FS which defaulted there.
I have 1000s of hours in MSFS at that field :(
Click to expand...

Me too. A few hundred landings on the Nimitz as well! :lol:
 
I was based out of DuPage for a few years. Great airport. Terrible for getting downtown.

Schaumburg is near a train downtown, but keep an eye on winds (one runway, always seems to be pointed the wrong way) and closures (they shut down frequently for fireworks at the nearby ballpark).

Palwaukee is expensive and busy, but somewhat convenient.

Midway is expensive and very convenient.

Gary is less expensive, but not as convenient.

Given that you're willing to pay a modest premium for convenience, Midway is the hands down winner.

If you need fuel along the way, I just did the trip you are planning last weekend and stopped at 1K8, South Grand Lake Municipal. $3.60 a gallon for only a few minutes out of your direct path.
 
asgcpa said:
But if he lands there, he can get to downtown fairly quickly
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I know. I never said avoid mdw just that if he lands there be aware of the surrounding area
 
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