Anyone every fly into KATL in their aircraft?

[LGF]

A buddy of mine wants to fly into KATL for the day for some business in my Cessna 182. Trying to get some feelers on better or worse times for arrivel/departure to avoid traffic. For instance, at JFK, there are specific blocks when most aircraft depart and arrive...outside of those times, it's pretty simply for GA to land there. Anything similar for ATL? Any other hot tips?

 

[Jim_CAK]

@Martin Pauly has

 

[Groundpounder]

Why ATL and not PDK or any of the other relievers? Probably be cheaper and you're not being a flying roadblock.

 

[frfly172]

PDK is much more accommodating for GA. If your doing ATL call the FBO they usually have the times that are open for departures.

 

[Kelvin]

The only reason to it land at Hartsville is just because you want to. There are so many other fantastic airports in the Atlanta area to choose from that would be the only reason I could conceive to land there.

That said, let us know how it turns out.

 

[Somedudeintn]

The only reason to it land at Hartsville is just because you want to. There are so many other fantastic airports in the Atlanta area to choose from that would be the only reason I could conceive to land there.

That said, let us know how it turns out.

I’ve thought that if I wanted to visit the delta museum or the Porsche experience that ATL would be a much more convienent option than PDK/FTY.

 

[LGF]

@all - His business to conduct is literally across the street from ATL (he works in building security and is approving a system or something in a new building there). Going to PDK and getting a taxi would actually be out of the way.

 

[CJones]

I've gotten within gliding distance of ATL at 3500 ft, but that's it. Coming into a satellite airport at 2am, the controller cleared me into the Bravo and direct my destination. I got to the point I was on glidepath with the VASI and he said "Well, there's a cargo plane taxiing out now, so I'm going to need you to fly heading 180", so that's as close as I got. I've seen a couple of GA planes on the north ramp, so it CAN be done, but I bet the landing fees, etc. far outweigh the cost of an UBER from PDK, FTY or even CCO (CCO is 30 minutes door-to-door to ATL).

Either way.. If he does it, it'd be interesting to hear about the fees and process for getting a slot.

 

[Martin Pauly]

but I bet the landing fees, etc. far outweigh the cost of an UBER from PDK, FTY or even CCO (CCO is 30 minutes door-to-door to ATL).

Are you sure? My landing fee in the Bonanza was six Dollars, plus a five Dollar infrastructure fee.

Like all big airports, for some it's a fun experience and for others it's outright scary. We all pick our adventures in life.

- Martin

 

[EdFred]

But did you taxi within eyeshot of the FBO so they could charge you the $5,189 handling fee?

 

[CJones]

Are you sure? My landing fee in the Bonanza was six Dollars, plus a five Dollar infrastructure fee.

Like all big airports, for some it's a fun experience and for others it's outright scary. We all pick our adventures in life.

- Martin

I saw that info in your video. That is VERY surprising! I had heard of triple-digit landing and handling fees at one point in the past - an effort to discourage GA'ers from slowing down ops there.

I have no problem with 'big' airports. I did my initial training at a Class C (just east of your home area, btw ), have flown to MDW as well as IFR into New York and Boston areas, so I have no problems dealing with ATC. I do, however, have issues paying exorbitant fees to be somewhere that people don't want me to be in the first place. However, if the fees are still as you experienced, I see no reason NOT to use the airport if it is the most convenient for the purpose.

 

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[EdFred]

That's actually not bad considering.

What's more surprising is that Signature is actually publishing their rates. They used to have them in a hidden div on their website and the only way to see what they were was to use the debug/viewer/inspection mode on your browser.

 

[SkyDog58]

The only reason to it land at Hartsville is just because you want to. There are so many other fantastic airports in the Atlanta area to choose from that would be the only reason I could conceive to land there.

That said, let us know how it turns out.

Yeah, not my thing but apparently a bucket list type thing for some folks.

 

[timwinters]

Like all big airports, for some it's a fun experience and for others it's outright scary.

You forgot another option:

"and for some it's just a matter of courtesy as to not to F*** UP everything at a major airport just so I can pretend I have a BIG D*** and fly with the 'big iron'."

 

[timwinters]

Besides,

Why would anyone find it even remotely "fun" to land on a 10,000' runway, taxi for 45 minutes to parking, and pay outrageous fees, when you can land at one of the reliever airports and likely be at your destination before you even make it to the FBO's ramp at KATL?

(yes, I exaggerate for affect)

 

[EdFred]

The times I've flown into Bravo's in my single-engine plane I was off the Runway and into the FBO parking in less than 5 minutes because they put me on the runway that was right next to the FBO.

And the original poster did say that his buddies meeting place was literally across the street so there is that.

 

[timwinters]

The times I've flown into Bravo's in my single-engine plane I was off the Runway and into the FBO parking in less than 5 minutes because they put me on the runway that was right next to the FBO.

And the original poster did say that his buddies meeting place was literally across the street so there is that.

But there's a big difference between a bravo like KMKC or KSTL (which should probably be Charlies) and KATL or KLAX or KORD.

It's a free country, everyone is free to be as obnoxious and inconsiderate as they want to be...especially these days.

 

[EdFred]

Does also depend what youre flying in. I was told to slow down for 121 traffic in front of me while in the Comanche. Was I inconsiderate for flying too fast?

 

[Somedudeintn]

You forgot another option:

"and for some it's just a matter of courtesy as to not to F*** UP everything at a major airport just so I can pretend I have a BIG D*** and fly with the 'big iron'."

Really? The guy is working across the street. Who said anything about pretending to have a big ****. ATC isn’t going to let a little guy F up all the airline traffic. As far as I know it’s still a public use airport. If he is ok paying the fees then I see no reason for him not to choose the most convenient airport.

 

[wayne]

You forgot another option:

"and for some it's just a matter of courtesy as to not to F*** UP everything at a major airport just so I can pretend I have a BIG D*** and fly with the 'big iron'."

Or it really is closer to the destination.

We flew into Tampa International a several years ago to go to a college football bowl game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stadium. The stadium is next to the airport. It was the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to fly there.

I’ve flown over Atlanta many times, but never landed there; I live in the metro area, so it’s not a good airport for me to use. I missed a good opportunity to do that one time years ago late on a Saturday flying home after an evening Auburn game. Didn’t dawn on me why they were routing me diagonally across the ATL Class B airspace, sure that I’d get an ugly reroute, until too late as I flew over the airport and saw no planes in motion. Doh! Would have been the perfect time to get a landing there. *sigh*

 

[N1120A]

Land where it makes the most sense for you. When I go to Oakland, I'm going much closer to OAK than HWD, so I'm not going to try and save a few bucks and lose time and services. I'm not afraid of talking to ATC or asking them for what I want. Same with anywhere else. I'm not going to GYY when MDW is much closer to the Loop.

That's actually not bad considering.

What's more surprising is that Signature is actually publishing their rates. They used to have them in a hidden div on their website and the only way to see what they were was to use the debug/viewer/inspection mode on your browser.

Signature has gotten a lot friendlier and transparent since AOPA started filing complaints against them everywhere, and got them kicked out if KSNA

Besides,

Why would anyone find it even remotely "fun" to land on a 10,000' runway, taxi for 45 minutes to parking, and pay outrageous fees, when you can land at one of the reliever airports and likely be at your destination before you even make it to the FBO's ramp at KATL?

(yes, I exaggerate for affect)

It is nearly always the case that ATC will vector both IFR and VFR light GA traffic to the runway closest to the FBO at a Class B.

 

[Katamarino]

But there's a big difference between a bravo like KMKC or KSTL (which should probably be Charlies) and KATL or KLAX or KORD.

It's a free country, everyone is free to be as obnoxious and inconsiderate as they want to be...especially these days.

You're clearly entirely clueless about actually flying GA into airports like this.

 

[timwinters]

You're clearly entirely clueless about actually flying GA into airports like this.

ummm...no...I've flown into a few class B airports...sleepy ones...with my 182.

And I've flown into a few busier ones (ORD, ATL, HOU etc.) in "the company plane" back in the late 90's and early 00's. At that time the company plane was a P Baron. And that was disruptive enough. I would never consider it in a slower single.

What I am clueless about is why anyone finds it fun or a challenge. Give me a 1200' grass strip for a challenge any day.

One thing that I don't think has been discussed yet is that it's possible that you'll have to wait queued up in a line for a long time to take off...with jet fumes blowing in your face the entire time...on a hot summer day in Atlanta. Yeah, baby!!! That's my idea of fun!! Experienced that quite a few times in the Baron. Oh, it was great!

 

[donjohnston]

Dropped my wife off and ATL so she could catch a flight, This was in a 182RG. I was IFR in and out.

Landing was uneventful.

IIRC (this was about 8 years ago), I paid about $70 just to stop the engine long enough for her to get out and me to use the bathroom.

Takeoff was brutal. I sat at the hold short line for about 20 minutes before I got cleared onto the runway. And it was HOT.

 

[Katamarino]

ummm...no...I've flown into a few class B airports...sleepy ones...with my 182.

And I've flown into a few busier ones (ORD, ATL, HOU etc.) in "the company plane" back in the late 90's and early 00's. At that time the company plane was a P Baron. And that was disruptive enough. I would never consider it in a slower single.

What I am clueless about is why anyone finds it fun or a challenge. Give me a 1200' grass strip for a challenge any day.

One thing that I don't think has been discussed yet is that it's possible that you'll have to wait queued up in a line for a long time to take off...with jet fumes blowing in your face the entire time...on a hot summer day in Atlanta. Yeah, baby!!! That's my idea of fun!! Experienced that quite a few times in the Baron. Oh, it was great!

I've flown into airports like this probably 100 times or more in the 172 or 182, across the US and internationally, and not once has it caused any disruption. JFK, EWR, BOS, SFO, IAH, IAD, Lagos, Cairo, Cape Town, etc etc. Oddly enough, the controllers do know what they're doing, and aren't going to put a little GA airplane somewhere it'll mess up their main traffic.

The only time it would cause disruption is if the GA pilot isn't up to following ATC's instructions correctly and promptly; and you're right, pilots like that shouldn't be flying into these places. Maybe your company pilot was a bit behind things or out of practice, and ended up getting in the way.

As for departure, 9 times out of 10 they'll send you off a different runway without a wait, or cut you in front of the queue at an intersection, turn you out low level, and you're gone in seconds. If you do your homework about which runways and arrivals and departures are in use, and are ready to ask specifically for what you want and makes sense, you usually get it. Coming across as properly prepared and competent on the radio makes all the difference.