How do you all find airports and select FBOs when you are planning a trip?
Typically a friend will let me know that they are visiting somewhere within a couple of hundred miles of me and suggest I come over for lunch. (Everybody knows I'm always looking for an excuse to fly somewhere and my family is more indulgent when the flight is for an actual reason).
Here's what I do. I locate the town where the visitor will be on Google Map (http://maps.google.com/) or MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com/). Sometimes I just pull out a sectional and start scanning for airports, but another really cool new tool is Runway Finder (http://www.runwayfinder.com/). It is based on Google map but includes sectionals and even current Metars. Then If it's a big city I'll look at all the smaller airports around the city as well as considering the major airport. I'll check out comments on AirNav (http://www.airnav.com/) and AOPA (http://www.aopa.org/members/airports/) to help pick an FBO and to try to understand the fees. I'll also use these sites to determine if the airports have instrument approaches, nightime operations, etc, if weather and timing dictate those needs. If it's a big city, I'll call the FBO to get a clear picture on the fees. This has led me to avoid Logan in Boston but to go right to Signature at Baltimore-Washington (KBWI), where the fees and service are good.
Am I missing anything? Does anybody have a more systematic way to do this? Are there other web resources?
Typically a friend will let me know that they are visiting somewhere within a couple of hundred miles of me and suggest I come over for lunch. (Everybody knows I'm always looking for an excuse to fly somewhere and my family is more indulgent when the flight is for an actual reason).
Here's what I do. I locate the town where the visitor will be on Google Map (http://maps.google.com/) or MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com/). Sometimes I just pull out a sectional and start scanning for airports, but another really cool new tool is Runway Finder (http://www.runwayfinder.com/). It is based on Google map but includes sectionals and even current Metars. Then If it's a big city I'll look at all the smaller airports around the city as well as considering the major airport. I'll check out comments on AirNav (http://www.airnav.com/) and AOPA (http://www.aopa.org/members/airports/) to help pick an FBO and to try to understand the fees. I'll also use these sites to determine if the airports have instrument approaches, nightime operations, etc, if weather and timing dictate those needs. If it's a big city, I'll call the FBO to get a clear picture on the fees. This has led me to avoid Logan in Boston but to go right to Signature at Baltimore-Washington (KBWI), where the fees and service are good.
Am I missing anything? Does anybody have a more systematic way to do this? Are there other web resources?