GA Life near Manhattan

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Question:

I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) next month. Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – usually from the FBO where I did my training. I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of those. I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great!

Response:

I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) next month.

Well… welcome to the Smoggy Northeast … I suppose. Linden is easily accessible from the train. There’s a train you take at Penn Station on 33rd street and you get off at linden station. It’s about 15-20 minutes walk in a really industrial area from the station to the airport, so if you take a cab that’s gonna work better. it’s only 2 minutes with a cab and it shouldn’t be too bad. You can walk it … it’s relatively safe … just not pleasant sight-seeing. Plenty of cabs at the station waiting around so if you get the number of a cabbie you can have him/her wait for you when you are done and need to go back home. The flying club you are referring to is the Paramus Flight Club: http://www.flyingclub.org/ It’s very nice, VERY well maintained planes. I took a ride in their 182 with one of the members and it’s a pleasure to fly. I believe it’s 70 wet on tach + 4k to get in and 100$ a month. You might wanna check the prices though cause I haven’t looked into that in a while. Plenty of people from NY use this club and pretty much do what I just told you: train from penn station to linden, cab from station to airport. They have a 150 hours minimum to get in and you should be ok. You need to be checked in (checkride) before you can fly. Not a problem, since plenty of members are CFIs. If you are really curious here’s a few pics of the 182 they have at linden: http://www.thepilotlounge.com/scripts/forums/index.php?showtopic=554&… and my recount of the flight: http://www.thepilotlounge.com/scripts/forums/index.php?showtopic=561 Good luck with your move! Those are NEVER fun! — Marco Rispoli – NJ, USA / PP-ASEL My on-line aviation community – http://www.thepilotlounge.com

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Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great!

Marty: I did all all my real flight training at CDW. I’ve checked out, and rented, at FBOs at Lincoln Park and Teterboro as well. I’m a member of the club to which you’ve referred at both Caldwell and Linden (The Paramus Flying Club, at <http://flyingclub.org/). Up until almost a year ago, the club was based at Teterboro. The decision was made to base aircraft at both Linden and Caldwell precisely because Linden was more convenient for NYCers w/o cars (while Caldwell is more convenient to most members in NJ). It is possible to get to CDW w/o a car, but it apparently involves some effort. However, as I’m one of those NJ-ers with a car, I cannot speak from personal experience. Why not join us for one of our monthly meetings, and ask there? Alternatively, I can put you in touch with some of the car-less NYC members via email (which may be more immediate, but not as much fun). Depending upon where you are in NYC, you should also consider HPN. There’s a club (Westchester Flying Club, at <http://wtc-hpn.org/ there that appears to be quite nice, and it may be more convenient for you than Linden or Caldwell via mass transit. I know that there’s at least one other club at Linden, but I don’t know the details (or even recall the name right now…"Richmond", perhaps?). Since you posted to homebuilt…if your interests are in that direction, there’s an EAA chapter (501, at <http://eaa501.org/)at Lincoln Park that has a number of people building their own aircraft. Caldwell also has a chapter(73, at <http://eaa73.org/), but I don’t know much about it (even though I do know Larry). For a more general view of aviation in the area, you can also join us for dinner at a MAPA (Mid-Atlantic Pilot’s Association, at <http://midatlanticpilots.com/). Welcome to the area! – Andrew

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I’m looking forward to this thread. Many years ago when I left college to work in Manhatten it quickly became apparent that I was not ready to immerse myself in Manhatten life and forego aviation. My financial situation forced a choice. After living in the city for almost a year, I moved to Essex Co NJ and bought a car. During the week I commuted in, during the weekends I commuted out. CDW was my airplane home, Blairstown my glider home. The problem I had with Manhatten is that a car is a luxury (having one or not having one) but a car is required to fly. Financially, renting actually seems to work better than owning. I’m sure that hasn’t changed. You can’t surf and ski the same day on the right coast, but you can do business in midtown at noon and catch a native (stream bred) trout by 3:00 – or a striper – or rent a plane. Just takes a car.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) next month. Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – usually from the FBO where I did my training. I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of those. I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great!

Response:

Depending upon where you are in NYC, you should also consider HPN. There’s a club (Westchester Flying Club, at <http://wtc-hpn.org/

There’s an old joke, "I don’t care what you say about me, as long as you spell my name right". The URL is http://www.wfc-hpn.org there that appears to be quite nice, and it may be more convenient for you than Linden or Caldwell via mass transit.

Unfortunately, HPN’s no easier to get to via public transportation than CDW is. Get Metro North Railroad to White Plains, then a 10-minute cab ride. The only time I ever tried that, the cabbie doubled me up with another pax at the train station going in the same general direction, then proceeded to get lost trying to find their destination, so it took a lot longer than that Most of our Manhattanites without cars tend to rent a car for the trip. I grew up in Suburban NJ; I can’t imagine not having a car. I live on City Island in The Bronx; it’s 25 minutes to HPN by car with no traffic. Alternatively, I figure I could walk to the Bx29 bus, take that to the 6 train, take that to 125th street, walk a couple of blocks to the Metro North station, get the train to White Plains, then grab a cab to the airport, and be there in well under three hours I suspect which airport is most convenient for you depends on which transit terminal you’re near. Close to Penn Station, go for Linden. Near the Port Authority Bus terminal, it’s Caldwell. Near Grand Central, you’re a White Plains man.

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shared these priceless pearls of wisdom: – -You can’t surf and ski the same day on the right coast, but you can do -business in midtown at noon and catch a native (stream bred) trout by 3:00 – -or a striper – or rent a plane. Just takes a car. You can catch a native stream bred stripper in New York? Oh, pardon me. That’s STRIPER. Sorry for the error. {;-) Jim Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup) VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor

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Depending upon where you are in NYC, you should also consider HPN. There’s a club (Westchester Flying Club, at <http://wtc-hpn.org/ There’s an old joke, "I don’t care what you say about me, as long as you spell my name right". The URL is http://www.wfc-hpn.org

Wups. Brain-o. World-Trade…World-Fi…sorry. [...] I suspect which airport is most convenient for you depends on which transit terminal you’re near.

That’s what I was thinking. – Andrew

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If you are really curious here’s a few pics of the 182 they have at linden:

http://www.thepilotlounge.com/scripts/forums/index.php?showtopic=554&… Just a detail: we’ve a 182Q (straight-leg) and an R182 (retract). To be fair, we rotate these between the two airports every five months. It appears you flew in the 182Q, which is currently at Caldwell. Shane’s your mentor? Good choice! – Andrew

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If you are really curious here’s a few pics of the 182 they have at linden:

Yes, that’s correct. It was the fixed gear 182. Beautiful machine. Quite a monster. — Marco Rispoli – NJ, USA / PP-ASEL My on-line aviation community – http://www.thepilotlounge.com

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learn about possible desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great!

Hi, Marty . . . welcome to New York :-) I live in the NYC ‘burbs . . . Rockland County. I keep my plane at 4N1 (Greenwood Lake, NJ) . . . but I spent 5 years at Caldwell, used to rent from Lincoln Park, and did my IFR at MGJ (Orange County). Been flying in this airspace a LONG time, and here are some great destinations for day trips or weekends . . . Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Montauk, Block Island, Cape Cod, Bar Harbor, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Boston, Philadelphia . . . If you will be renting, I recommend Lincoln Park Aviation at N www.Rosspilot.com

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Yes, that’s correct. It was the fixed gear 182. Beautiful machine. Quite a monster.

No…she’s more of a kitten. She’s the final aircraft on which I checked out in the club, and it wasn’t all that long ago. The retract is quicker and more slippery…but 68N *purrs*. I kid not. It must be the different engine. – Andrew

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Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Montauk, Block Island, Cape Cod, Bar Harbor, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Boston, Philadelphia . . .

To which Ocean City (NJ or MD) do you refer? 26N (Ocean City, NJ) is my favorite "walk on the beach" destination, with the airport just four or five blocks from the beach. But it was only this past weekend that I *finally* got there in "beach season". I expected worse (ie. crowded beach, grass parking, busy pattern, etc.). Nope. There’s traffic there, but not in excess (okay, so there were four of us in the pattern…I was the only non-ultralight {8^). Parking wasn’t a problem, and the beach looked nice. Beach tags are required, so be warned. Also, plan if you need a taxi. My wife and I walked the 1.5 miles to the part of the boardwalk where food starts. We planned to cab back, but only called when we needed it. Mistake! 20 minute wait? We walked back. That’s where I’d go for vacation. Rent a place between beach and airport. Swim, fly, swim, fly… Now if only I actually took vacations <sigh. – Andrew

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Yes, that’s correct. It was the fixed gear 182. Beautiful machine. Quite a monster. No…she’s more of a kitten. She’s the final aircraft on which I checked out in the club, and it wasn’t all that long ago. The retract is quicker and more slippery…but 68N *purrs*. I kid not. It must be the different engine. – Andrew

Well I was coming from the C 172P they have at the school there … so the step up from the beat up ole’ Skyhawks of the school to your 182 was quite a shocker. And in answer to what you said before, yes Shane is a GOOD man! — Marco Rispoli – NJ, USA / PP-ASEL My on-line aviation community – http://www.thepilotlounge.com

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Well I was coming from the C 172P they have at the school there … so the step up from the beat up ole’ Skyhawks of the school to your 182 was quite a shocker.

Whereas I checked out in 68N after having completed a checkout (and complex endorsement) in the retract. <Laugh Perspective is everything, I suppose. And in answer to what you said before, yes Shane is a GOOD man!

Meeting more people like Shane is definitely one of the PFC benefits. – Andrew

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To which Ocean City (NJ or MD) do you refer? 26N (Ocean City, NJ) is my favorite "walk on the beach" destination, with the airport just four or five blocks from the beach.

That’s the one my wife and I go to. We love it . . . short walk to the beach, and the FBO has showers so you can clean the sand and salt from your bod before climbing into the cokpit for the 1 hour flight home. www.Rosspilot.com

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Hee Hee

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You can catch a native stream bred stripper in New York?

Sure. Just takes the right bait. :-) George Patterson In Idaho, tossing a rattlesnake into a crowded room is felony assault. In Tennessee, it’s evangelism.

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Please consider Greenwood Lake Airport, 4N1, NE of Sparta, NJ. Several C172 rentals, nice, small airport, but easy access. This past week, I flew with my buddy in his C182 to do the Hudson River tour… Tappan Zee Bridge to the Statue of Liberty and back. FUN! Then, to Danbury… 4 resturants in EASY 4 block walking distance from Business Aviation FBO (SP?). Then, we went out to Martha’s Vineyard for lunch, landing on the 4000′ grass runway at Katama (SP?), and walked to the beach. So, we were able to do safely what JFK Jr was UNABLE to do… fly to Martha’s Vineyard and "wash up on the beach". :-) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) next month. Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – usually from the FBO where I did my training. I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of those. I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great!

Best regards, Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard — Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer’at’frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/ C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 203 Young Eagles!

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Please consider Greenwood Lake Airport, 4N1, NE of Sparta, NJ.

Yup. My home base. www.Rosspilot.com

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Is the Connie still up there at Greenwood Lake? I was there when it arrived. It was called "Nairobi" Airport at that time due to the theme park next door. Haven’t been there for 20 or so years! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Please consider Greenwood Lake Airport, 4N1, NE of Sparta, NJ. Several C172 rentals, nice, small airport, but easy access. This past week, I flew with my buddy in his C182 to do the Hudson River tour… Tappan Zee Bridge to the Statue of Liberty and back. FUN! Then, to Danbury… 4 resturants in EASY 4 block walking distance from Business Aviation FBO (SP?). Then, we went out to Martha’s Vineyard for lunch, landing on the 4000′ grass runway at Katama (SP?), and walked to the beach. So, we were able to do safely what JFK Jr was UNABLE to do… fly to Martha’s Vineyard and "wash up on the beach". :-) I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) next month. Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – usually from the FBO where I did my training. I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of those. I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around Manhattan would be great! Best regards, Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

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Is the Connie still up there at Greenwood Lake? I was there when it arrived. It was called "Nairobi" Airport at that time due to the theme park next door. Haven’t been there for 20 or so years!

It’s there–the State used it for office space. (It’s HUGE inside). Now it is vacant, but the airport went out to bid . . . changes coming but we don’t know when. www.Rosspilot.com

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Is the Connie still up there at Greenwood Lake? I was there when it arrived. It was called "Nairobi" Airport at that time due to the theme park next door. Haven’t been there for 20 or so years!

Yes. Quite decrept, but it still "looms large". There is to be a new airport manager (soon), who is intent on building hangars. The "wildlife park" has an entrance, but no exotic inhabitants. Best regards, Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard — Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer’at’frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/ C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 203 Young Eagles!

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: I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) : next month. : : Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads : about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – : usually from the FBO where I did my training. : I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. : airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. : : I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, : FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). : In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of : those. : : I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) : airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury : *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible : desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). : : Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around : Manhattan would be great! : You’ll find it’s a pretty area to fly around in when you can find the sky. Lots of overcast days. The GA airports on the NJ side of Manhattan don’t have (as far as I know) public transportation to/from them. NJ has a fairly large number of GA airports, each of which has its charms. Linden (LDJ) and Teterboro (TEB) are closest to the city, but you might have to get a cab to get out there. Good luck. : : : — — Mark "640K Should be enough memory for anybody!" — Bill Gates, 1981

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The GA airports on the NJ side of Manhattan don’t have (as far as I know) public transportation to/from them. NJ has a fairly large number of GA airports, each of which has its charms. Linden (LDJ) and Teterboro (TEB) are closest to the city, but you might have to get a cab to get out there.

TEB is accessible by bus (http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0161.pdf). –Gary

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Teterboro is a snap from upper manhattan – just cross the GW bridge (and there is a bus as noted). Plenty of flying clubs and FBOs – but a very busy towered airport with considerable jet traffic. Linden is a "working-class" airport – untowered, lot of helicopter activity. Very few amenities, however – and if you fly IFR – you could wait a LOOONG time getting cleared since LDJ sits under the approach to RY 4L & 4R at Newark. Not especially hard to get to by car from NYC (on Rt 1)- very easy from Staten Is. I did most of my private training there & found it very convenient – but I work across the street!. I finished up at Morristown (where I belong to a club now). KMMU is a great airport; towered but not overly busy & a friendly tower. If driving from NYC, not too bad by way of Lincoln Tunnel to Rt 78 to Rt 24. Good luck! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I’ll be moving to Manhattan from Los Angeles (does it get any more extreme?) : next month. : : Any advice or relevant anecdotes out there to help me gather some leads : about continuing my flying hobby from there? I’ve been renting (in L.A.) – : usually from the FBO where I did my training. : I’m IFR rated with about 300hrs., and am pretty OK with the (busy) L.A. : airspace and ATC. I haven’t looked at a NY sectional yet. : : I’ve just started to look at airports near to where I will be (using Airnav, : FS2004 and other web tools), and I found "Linden" (LDJ) and "Essex" (CDW). : In fact, there appears to be a flying club that has a presence at both of : those. : : I guess my main concern is easy transportation to/from these (or any other) : airports I might use, as I will be giving up my car (I hear it’s a luxury : *not* to have a car living in Manhattan), and to learn about possible : desitations (nice places to go for a day or a weekend). : : Any leads, tips or general discussion of GA from people living in/around : Manhattan would be great! : You’ll find it’s a pretty area to fly around in when you can find the sky. Lots of overcast days. The GA airports on the NJ side of Manhattan don’t have (as far as I know) public transportation to/from them. NJ has a fairly large number of GA airports, each of which has its charms. Linden (LDJ) and Teterboro (TEB) are closest to the city, but you might have to get a cab to get out there. Good luck. : : : — — Mark "640K Should be enough memory for anybody!" — Bill Gates, 1981