Normally for Houston I fly into Hobby, but I have to pick up a couple of people arrving at IAH. Never been into DWH, but it looks like the best choice. Arriving Tuesday for two nights. Any Houston people with a pirep on Hooks for me?
Houston DWHooks (DWH)?
- Thread starter Lance F
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Lance:
I can get you all hooked up through Drew Coats, active at the BeecTalk board. He bases at Hooks; also, is very active in the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at HOU. I sent him a PM, will call or PM with added info upon receipt.
Also, I believe that P. J. Gustafson should be a good resource.
Hooks is a good field, from what I hear. I am always at SGR or HOU when I go that way, for family reasons.
I can get you all hooked up through Drew Coats, active at the BeecTalk board. He bases at Hooks; also, is very active in the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at HOU. I sent him a PM, will call or PM with added info upon receipt.
Also, I believe that P. J. Gustafson should be a good resource.
Hooks is a good field, from what I hear. I am always at SGR or HOU when I go that way, for family reasons.
but if he learns I fly a mooney ...
Dave Siciliano
Final Approach
Can really be a busy GA reliever AP at times. I've had them vector me around quite a bit in bad weather; then, slam dunk me in, but what's new?
As Spike saws; good facility. May take awhile to get anywhere from there, especially during rush how which seems to be when ever I'm there <g>.
Sugarland was much more laid back the times I went in there.
Best,
Dave
As Spike saws; good facility. May take awhile to get anywhere from there, especially during rush how which seems to be when ever I'm there <g>.
Sugarland was much more laid back the times I went in there.
Best,
Dave
LearDriver
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Gdriver
Its a really good airport. Why not just go to IAH if thats where the pax are coming from?
wsuffa
Touchdown! Greaser!
I like DWH - used it for a couple of trips to Compaq/HP & other stuff on the north side of Houston.
Don't recall the details not, but IIRC there was something odd about the taxiway-entrance to the long runway (17R, I think) but I can't recall what it was.
Service was good - I was in and out same day.
IIRC, it's privately owned...
Oh, and there is a seaplane runway if you're so inclined :smile:
Don't recall the details not, but IIRC there was something odd about the taxiway-entrance to the long runway (17R, I think) but I can't recall what it was.
Service was good - I was in and out same day.
IIRC, it's privately owned...
Oh, and there is a seaplane runway if you're so inclined :smile:
wabower
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Wayne
Need to stay a couple of nights and get a rental car anyway. When it's your own business and your own money ya gotta watch the costs (or quickly there is no business .
)
Doggtyred
En-Route
Absolutely nothing wrong with Hooks... great airport.. restaurant on field. Towered but the ATC guys are patient, not hard asses... they have lots of student traffic based there.
For future reference though, if you ever have to swoop in/stop and go to pick up someone at IAH, there is a GA side and landing fee was very minimal (may have been a ramp fee, had to leave the plane one night).. I've landed GA at IAH without a problem just have to be on your game and be able to keep your speed up.
t0r0nad0
Pattern Altitude
Lance,
What everyone above has said is correct. DWH is a good, privately owned, GA field. Drew Coats moonlights as the president/curator of the museum (BTW Spike, it was his plane I was climbing into that day you met me at the museum), and he is an aviation lawyer by day with a hangar/law office on the field at DWH. The museum's chief pilot also has a hangar home there. It can be busy with student traffic, but they usually keep them on the smaller 17L/35R runway. There is a water runway there, but in all the times I've been there, I have yet to see it in use. There are two FBO's on the field for transient traffic - Gill Aviation (where the restaurant is located) and Tomball Jet Center. Despite the name, my understanding is that Tomball Jet treats the piston guys with much more respect than Gill does.
FWIW, I would base your decision on an airport to keep your plane at more on where in town you will be working instead of on one trip to IAH to pick up passengers. DWH, while it is a good airport, is much further from the center of town than HOU, DWH, or IWS. IIRC, you've spent most of your time on recent trips on the east side of downtown, have you not? Is that where you will be this time? If so, then I'd recommend you still go to HOU or to SGR or IWS instead - it's a relatively quick and easy drive to IAH to pick up your pax from the downtown area, and you'll have your plane in a place more conveniently, and possibly more affordably, located.
I'd offer to get together for dinner/drinks again, but unfortunately I'm already occupied both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. On a side note, I'm willing to buy you dinner if you'd like to come talk to my class on Tuesday night about flight planning, since you do quite a bit of it!
What everyone above has said is correct. DWH is a good, privately owned, GA field. Drew Coats moonlights as the president/curator of the museum (BTW Spike, it was his plane I was climbing into that day you met me at the museum), and he is an aviation lawyer by day with a hangar/law office on the field at DWH. The museum's chief pilot also has a hangar home there. It can be busy with student traffic, but they usually keep them on the smaller 17L/35R runway. There is a water runway there, but in all the times I've been there, I have yet to see it in use. There are two FBO's on the field for transient traffic - Gill Aviation (where the restaurant is located) and Tomball Jet Center. Despite the name, my understanding is that Tomball Jet treats the piston guys with much more respect than Gill does.
FWIW, I would base your decision on an airport to keep your plane at more on where in town you will be working instead of on one trip to IAH to pick up passengers. DWH, while it is a good airport, is much further from the center of town than HOU, DWH, or IWS. IIRC, you've spent most of your time on recent trips on the east side of downtown, have you not? Is that where you will be this time? If so, then I'd recommend you still go to HOU or to SGR or IWS instead - it's a relatively quick and easy drive to IAH to pick up your pax from the downtown area, and you'll have your plane in a place more conveniently, and possibly more affordably, located.
I'd offer to get together for dinner/drinks again, but unfortunately I'm already occupied both Tuesday and Wednesday nights. On a side note, I'm willing to buy you dinner if you'd like to come talk to my class on Tuesday night about flight planning, since you do quite a bit of it!
bigred177
Cleared for Takeoff
IIRC The jet center charged more for a ramp fee to park there than Gill did. I agree about treatment though. I had to park myself wherever my best guess was and then had to wait a bit to be able to interrupt the conversation between the two folks in the front.
I am kind of committed to DWH (and Gill) at this point. I'll give a pirep when I get back. I do NOT plan to try the water runway.
I'd love to talk to your class, but I'm picking 2 Germans up from the LH Frankfurt flight that afternoon. I have to take care of them, I'm afraid.
I'd love to talk to your class, but I'm picking 2 Germans up from the LH Frankfurt flight that afternoon. I have to take care of them, I'm afraid.
LearDriver
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Gdriver
Need to stay a couple of nights and get a rental car anyway. When it's your own business and your own money ya gotta watch the costs (or quickly there is no business .
I understand that situation. We have gotten to the point that we call ahead of time and work over the FBO's pretty hard to get the best price for all services. Its a real PITA. However, we have been getting 100's of dollars in BS fees knocked off for each stop. Then we have several options on how we buy fuel. We spend more time before we go than once we get to the FBO.
Signature has been the only FBO that won't budge on most of the fees.
We have been using Tomball Jet Center in the past. Next trip through we are going to try Gill though.
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t0r0nad0
Pattern Altitude
No worries. I'll catch you the next time around. Let me know if you need suggestions for places to take them, etc. Have fun!
I landed at DWH last month on the way to Nevada. Its true that you may have to park yourself at Gils. We pulled into the self serve pump, then parked in the row ajacent to Gills with all the other planes. Seemed very laid back, which is exactly what I wanted on my trip. I don't recall any fees.
Gill Aviation worked out ok. Knowing their laid back approach (at least to little piston planes) made it work. They have plenty of line crew, but they seem only interested in their heavy iron customers. I got self serve gas and then taxied to their ramp B where there was a spot. A line guy did come over to help me tie down. If you came in at night and didn't know the drill, it would be a little tough.
My Avis car wasn't there, but a call to the Avis office they use quickly fixed that.
On leaving I was charged $15 for one night's tie down. One night's fee was waived by buying gas. I asked, and they drove my luggage and me out to the plane.
The cookies were good. For where I was going in Houston plus picking up and dropping off two business colleagues at IAH, it worked out pretty well.
My Avis car wasn't there, but a call to the Avis office they use quickly fixed that.
On leaving I was charged $15 for one night's tie down. One night's fee was waived by buying gas. I asked, and they drove my luggage and me out to the plane.
The cookies were good. For where I was going in Houston plus picking up and dropping off two business colleagues at IAH, it worked out pretty well.