Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Busiest Uncontrolled Field?

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
F

Flyeys

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Posts
96
Having trouble finding which uncontrolled field is the busiest. I need to know for a paper I am writing. Any suggestions would help a lot!
 
I think I heard there is a very busy untowered airport in Provo, Utah. Don't remember the name though, sorry.
 
Yes, I was just about to post Provo Muni (KPVU.) I think that a tower has been built but is not in operation yet, but it's been a little while since I've been back so I can't be sure. I got my private through CFI at that airport. It wasn't really that busy when I was doing my private--in fact, I was the only person in the pattern for my first solo. But by the time I was working on my CFI, it had become unreasonably busy, and you had to just say "screw it" and go to Spanish Fork if you wanted to get anything done. My CFI checkride was on the first day of right traffic on 13 (the "preferred" runway). If that wasn't mayhem I don't know what was! Passed though.

I think a big part of the problem at Provo, at least when I was around, was improper radio technique. These east coast CTAF freqs are every bit as crowded as Provo's, if not more, (especially when there are so many airports with the same CTAF frequency) but it works if you keep it brief and use proper phraseology.

-Goose
 
Last edited:
You may wanna check out Glaveston, TX (GLS). Numerous GA and 135 helicopter ops working together. Makes for some interesting patterns and entries. Better hurry though, the new tower will be in operation in the next couple weeks.

glenn
 
I'm sure not the busiest, but X47 (Flagler) and DED (Deland) are pretty bad here in east central Florida, with Riddle, DCA, and various other flight schools around.
 
Just for the record: Flagler(X47)- 520 Aircraft Ops/day
Deland(KDED)- 213/day
Galveston(GLS)- 184/day
And for comparison: Atlanta-Hartsfield(KATL)- 2642

Thanks for the replies. And for the record, AirNav.com is a great website for airport info.
 
DED and OCF

I would vote for Deland, FL and Ocala, Fl....where 152s and GV's share the pattern on the weekends.
 
Lantana, FL can be a zoo. Used to live and work in Palm Beach County and having moved there from Ohio and a nice cozy towered field with the most laid back controllers there ever were...it took some getting used to.
 
Goose Egg said:
Yes, I was just about to post Provo Muni (KPVU.) I think that a tower has been built but is not in operation yet, but it's been a little while since I've been back so I can't be sure. I got my private through CFI at that airport. It wasn't really that busy when I was doing my private--in fact, I was the only person in the pattern for my first solo. But by the time I was working on my CFI, it had become unreasonably busy, and you had to just say "screw it" and go to Spanish Fork if you wanted to get anything done. My CFI checkride was on the first day of right traffic on 13 (the "preferred" runway). If that wasn't mayhem I don't know what was! Passed though.

I think a big part of the problem at Provo, at least when I was around, was improper radio technique. These east coast CTAF freqs are every bit as crowded as Provo's, if not more, (especially when there are so many airports with the same CTAF frequency) but it works if you keep it brief and use proper phraseology.

-Goose
Click to expand...

Provo tower is up and running....
 
Gaithersburg, Md can get pretty busy. GAI. Average Daily operation as reported by Airnav is 287/day.
 
i dunno about busiest in the US, but i have to think that KLOT is the busiest uncontrolled airport in the Chicago area due to Lewis Univ ops and now with the longer runways, growing corporate and GA traffic. just checked airnav and it says 285 ops/day
 
Flyeys said:
Just for the record: Flagler(X47)- 520 Aircraft Ops/day
Deland(KDED)- 213/day
Galveston(GLS)- 184/day
And for comparison: Atlanta-Hartsfield(KATL)- 2642

Thanks for the replies. And for the record, AirNav.com is a great website for airport info.
Click to expand...

Interesting numbers, I used toavoid DED and OMN as an instructor, and had noproblem sending my students to X47. EVB has always been very busy (has a tower now, so does OMN), but that used to be a mad house.
 
That can't be the correct number for Deland. Maybe without the skydive ops, or maybe just the skydive ops, but I'd say easy double of that number. As far as dangerous uncontrolled fields, MYAM.
 
Flechas said:
Interesting numbers, I used toavoid DED and OMN as an instructor, and had noproblem sending my students to X47. EVB has always been very busy (has a tower now, so does OMN), but that used to be a mad house.
Click to expand...
Still is. People still show up in the pattern thinking its a CTAF...
 
I wonder how the calculate operations at a non-towered field. With that being said, I wonder how they calculate operations at a towered field after the tower closes. Are operations after the Tower closes calculated, or only those during the Tower operating hours?
 
airmedplt said:
You may wanna check out Glaveston, TX (GLS). Numerous GA and 135 helicopter ops working together. Makes for some interesting patterns and entries. Better hurry though, the new tower will be in operation in the next couple weeks.

glenn
Click to expand...

It was always a joy to fly in, out, and around GLS. Probably one of the more "scenic" approaches into an airport that I have flown to date in GA aircraft. The best part is that some great seafood could be had within short walking distance from the airport, ahhhhh... those were the days. When did they start construction on the new tower?.
 
Weiser Airpark (EYQ) on any given weekend. Taught there over 3 years...very busy. 3400 ft x 35ft and a crosswind 350 days out of the year. Airnav clocked it at 409/per day. Pretty busy for a small uncontrolled field with no taxiways.
 
Busiest uncontrolled airport during summer----------Hinckley Airport!
1. it's a 2500ft grass strip
2. jump airplanes
3. GA
4. gliders
5. tow airplanes
6. falling people
7. student pilots practicing short/soft fld. TOs and Landings
8. and its right on a final approach for runway 9 for ARR.
 
Tailwheelman said:
Weiser Airpark (EYQ) on any given weekend. Airnav clocked it at 409/per day. Pretty busy for a small uncontrolled field with no taxiways.
Click to expand...
Yep, it's a fact. On my days off I go out to Weiser, sit on the porch and mark down all t/o's and landings with a Crayon on a big sheet of pink construction paper. I don't count the bounces... or should I? The numbers don't lie, it's pretty busy.

Ifleyelearz said:
BTW, anybody else can't stop gazing @ Superpilot92's avatar? I'm mezmorized!
Click to expand...
Yes indeed, she's quite hot. Her legs go all the way up... plus, she's the new hangar rat/fueler chick at Weiser; Cecil hired to her drum up more bidness. Or so I hear...
 
cezzna said:
I'd have to vote for belmar new jersey, KBLM, that place sucks!
Click to expand...
I learned to fly there. It can get a little intense in the summer, with the banner planes. But its not bad at all compared to some places.
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top Bottom