Busiest Uncontrolled Field?

[Flyeys]

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!

 

[ePilot22]

I think I heard there is a very busy untowered airport in Provo, Utah. Don't remember the name though, sorry.

 

[Goose Egg]

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

 

[airmedplt]

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

 

[gkrangers]

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.

 

[Flyeys]

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.

 

[CFIcare]

DED and OCF

I would vote for Deland, FL and Ocala, Fl....where 152s and GV's share the pattern on the weekends.

 

[FlyingFisherman]

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.

 

[Superpilot92]

Georgetown, TX Just north of Austin. Very busy uncontrolled.

KGTU

 

[DGdaPilot]

Any uncontrolled airport that has a NIFA competition going on.

 

[dmrogers]

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

Provo tower is up and running....

 

[Goose Egg]

Provo tower is up and running....

That's good to hear! Maybe it's safe to come back now!

-Goose

 

[dkelly]

Gaithersburg, Md can get pretty busy. GAI. Average Daily operation as reported by Airnav is 287/day.

 

[Vicman]

busiest uncontrolled field..!

O-R-D. .hah.ha !

 

[Illini Pilot]

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

 

[Flechas]

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.

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.

 

[Kingairrick]

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.

 

[gkrangers]

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.

Still is. People still show up in the pattern thinking its a CTAF...

 

[Fly_Chick]

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?

 

[blueraider]

...

MBT can be pretty busy at times