GA at KLAS

andybean

andybean

Pre-Flight
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
89
Display Name
Display name:
andybean
Anyone have tips for parking at KLAS. Looks like both Signature and Atlantic are going to run me $100 for the night. $40 waived at Atlantic if you buy gas but at $8.50 a gallon not sure if I gain much there.
Not interested in No LV or Henderson. Anyone have a secret parking area or FBO thats cheaper than the big boys.
 
andybean said:
Anyone have tips for parking at KLAS. Looks like both Signature and Atlantic are going to run me $100 for the night. $40 waived at Atlantic if you buy gas but at $8.50 a gallon not sure if I gain much there.
Not interested in No LV or Henderson. Anyone have a secret parking area or FBO thats cheaper than the big boys.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure they don't want you there! When I had my Citation, we went to North Las Vegas, free shuttle to the hotels, cheap taxi ride back and from what I remember decent fuel prices at least compared to KLAS.:hairraise:
I flew into Henderson one night, but not as handy as North Vegas. ;)
 
andybean said:
Anyone have tips for parking at KLAS. Looks like both Signature and Atlantic are going to run me $100 for the night. $40 waived at Atlantic if you buy gas but at $8.50 a gallon not sure if I gain much there.
Not interested in No LV or Henderson. Anyone have a secret parking area or FBO thats cheaper than the big boys.
Click to expand...

Ok... I give up...... Why not NorthLV or Henderson?:dunno::dunno:
 
VGT is by far, by far easier to deal with and it's not that far away from the strip.
 
Fuel at Clark County GA airports was about $6/gal self serve last weekend.
The two spots you mentioned at McCarran is all there is, unless you know one of the casino or business owners and can get into their hanger. But you'll still pay the high fuel rate.

Not sure why you don't like VGT or HND, nice facilities and HND is new!
If you don't like VGT or HND, then you will not like 0L7 or maybe BVU?
 
I've been into KLAS a few times. My advice: Don't do it.

We got stuck on the ramp FOREVER waiting for clearance delivery to get us out of there. The fuel is expensive, and while it is quite literally RIGHT ON THE STRIP, its also a PITA to get into and out of the airport by car from Atlantic.

You are better of going into KVGT. I've done both KHND and KVGT, and I think KVGT is by far the best and most convenient for Vegas. You get an awesome view on the way in, as the Strip is still right there, and getting from the airport to the Strip is a cakewalk. I bought a 3 day bus pass, which is good for the Deuce as well, which you'll need to be able to traverse the Strip quickly.
 
andybean said:
Anyone have tips for parking at KLAS. Looks like both Signature and Atlantic are going to run me $100 for the night. $40 waived at Atlantic if you buy gas but at $8.50 a gallon not sure if I gain much there.
Not interested in No LV or Henderson. Anyone have a secret parking area or FBO thats cheaper than the big boys.
Click to expand...

Why? KVGT is the preferred field for GA in Las Vegas. Better service, lower tiedown fees, it is geared for GA and no dealing with the carriers. Rental cars are no problem either.
 
As a counter point, I fly into KLAS about 5 times a year in a DA40 and it is my preferred airport. I have been to HND and VGT several times as well. The reason why I prefer it are convenience and safety. KLAS is right on the strip and Atlantic has a free shuttle to take me where I want to go. This offsets the fuel price for me. It takes me fifteen minutes from wheels down to get to my downtown Vegas destination. Also, easy to get back to the airport on short notice.

I also think it is the safest of the three with immense long and wide runways. I've been given a departure out of HND that put me low over really rocky mountains in gusty winds. I've also had to deal with lots of traffic at VGT. The only issue I've ever had at LAS is a 20 minute wait at the hold short line once before being cleared for departure.

Keep in mind though, all my trips are day trips and so I don't pay overnight fees. If I had a trip longer than a day, I would fly into VGT.
 
VGT is an ok airport but the surrounding areas suck. Its in the not so great part of town. HND is much nicer. We go into LAS in the Lear and have no problems there.
 
I had an experience at LAS similar to Nick's. It took me over 20 minutes just to get a word in on the clearance delivery frequency, thereby evaporating any potential time savings over a cab ride to the satellite airports. With 2000+ hours flying and instructing in NYC airspace, I think it's safe to say I'm not radio shy.

LAS will cost you plenty, and there is no way to avoid it. For a day trip or one night it might be worth it. Any longer doesn't make sense. All advantages are theoretical at LAS. You can have delays at every step of the way.

I use Henderson these days and have been very happy with the service there.
Jon
 
Last time I went it wasn't my plane and we went to Signature and they didn't charge us except for expensive fuel. However, they did not have the Low Alt Enroute or plates to get me into Long Beach.

I remember when Hughes was there, had a nice bunk room, but there was also incredible deals on rooms and meals for work pilots. Vegas has changed a lot since Wall Street took over.
 
Fuel at the self serve pumps at VGT, $5.89 tonight.
 
We found KHND to be just fine for Strip access, it's just a relatively inexpensive cab ride away.

Now that we know some folks based at KVGT, we'd probably go there... just 'cause that's home base for some friends...

But either one seems saner than going into KLAS in a spam-can.
 
Just back from my trip. Decided to overnight at VGT.
Had flight following from KSNA. LA center could not make the handoff to Vegas approach. So they dumped me right at the door steps of Class B.
Thank God for the Ipad. I flew circles for 10 minutes trying to get them but they had me on ignore. Funny, there just was not that much radio traffic. So I decide to go under the Class B and find my way over to VGT.
No problem except there are sheer cliffs/mountains which you have to slip by in order to stay under class B. Needles to say it was a very bumpy decent. The controller at VGT was a complete grump. There was no traffic at VGT and you would have thought he was slammed.

Taxi ride to the strip was farely short. Still $30 each way plus tip.
Gas was fare. $5.89 per gal.

On departure I got clearance from VGT tower then transfered to Vegas departure. Once again, a grumpy group.
LAX class B has way more traffic and at least they manage to be civil.

If I had to do it again, I would plan ahead of time to skirt the class B.
It was a complete wake up call after a nice relaxing flight and decent to get dumped at the door.

Anyway, thanks for all the input.
Andy
 
I've never had an issue there, but my routing is different as I arrive from the north. I usually cancel IFR near Beatty (if conditions permit), and drop over Desert Wells and slide North of the hills. This sets you up for a nearly straight in to whichever 12 they are using. We usually rent a car. I would second your impression of the approach controllers there.
 
I had a very nice experience flying into KLAS, in a loaded 172P. We came in from the west after visiting Fleet Week, and got an extended right base to 19R. This let us fly just north of the strip, then basically parallel it for landing. This is an awesome approach at night. We went to Atlantic, got a free crew car to get dinner and cruise the strip for about an hour. When we got back, the plane was topped off, and we topped off with bags of free popcorn. Contacted clearance delivery prior to start-up, and only had to wait about 5 minutes. No problem, since we weren't burning that liquid gold yet. Got a quick intersection takeoff clearance, and were on our way. Based on that experience alone, I wouldn't hesitate returning to KLAS on a GA flight.
 
HighFlyingA380 said:
I had a very nice experience flying into KLAS, in a loaded 172P. We came in from the west after visiting Fleet Week, and got an extended right base to 19R. This let us fly just north of the strip, then basically parallel it for landing. This is an awesome approach at night. We went to Atlantic, got a free crew car to get dinner and cruise the strip for about an hour. When we got back, the plane was topped off, and we topped off with bags of free popcorn. Contacted clearance delivery prior to start-up, and only had to wait about 5 minutes. No problem, since we weren't burning that liquid gold yet. Got a quick intersection takeoff clearance, and were on our way. Based on that experience alone, I wouldn't hesitate returning to KLAS on a GA flight.
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... I stopped over in Vegas last week and again on Sunday. Both times at night. Both times I stopped in at KVGT to save myself a few hundred dollars in fuel, and there is no ramp fee if you buy fuel. Also oxygen service is only $45. Those are the positives.

The negatives are you need a $30 cab ride to the strip. The other negative was coming in at night, both times. The first time was from the the east. I was cleared to land on 25 but I just could not see the runway with all the surrounding lights. I even asked the tower to make sure the lights were turned on, and even they said they were having problems getting them turned on bright. They eventually just cleared me to 12R (and as I turned north to make that runway I finally saw 25 very dimly lit), and got to experience quite an interesting crosswind landing.

While waiting for a cab, I met a pilot from Sweden who had been waiting for a cab for over an hour (not sure why he didn't try to call a different one). My cab came quickly so that helped him out. But heading back both times, my cab driver didn't know where KVGT was and I had to give directions.

I was glad not to be at KHND. They don't have any east/west runways and with the winds I experienced out of the west on Sunday (gusting to 35) that would not have been fun perpendicular to the runway.

Probably next time I will go into KLAS and just accept the extra charges. Especially at night, it is probably a whole lot easier to see. And as noted above, the view with the strip right there must be spectacular at night.

BTW, off topic, the Swedish pilot told me how lucky we are in the US with GA (and we are). He was telling me some of the crippling regulations and fees they get exposed to there. He was basically travelling around the US, renting planes at various cities and having a great time.
 
Inverted said:
VGT is an ok airport but the surrounding areas suck. Its in the not so great part of town. HND is much nicer. We go into LAS in the Lear and have no problems there.
Click to expand...

The want Lears at LAS.
 
Gubbins said:
Hmmm.... I stopped over in Vegas last week and again on Sunday. Both times at night. Both times I stopped in at KVGT to save myself a few hundred dollars in fuel, and there is no ramp fee if you buy fuel. Also oxygen service is only $45. Those are the positives.

The negatives are you need a $30 cab ride to the strip. The other negative was coming in at night, both times. The first time was from the the east. I was cleared to land on 25 but I just could not see the runway with all the surrounding lights. I even asked the tower to make sure the lights were turned on, and even they said they were having problems getting them turned on bright. They eventually just cleared me to 12R (and as I turned north to make that runway I finally saw 25 very dimly lit), and got to experience quite an interesting crosswind landing.

While waiting for a cab, I met a pilot from Sweden who had been waiting for a cab for over an hour (not sure why he didn't try to call a different one). My cab came quickly so that helped him out. But heading back both times, my cab driver didn't know where KVGT was and I had to give directions.

I was glad not to be at KHND. They don't have any east/west runways and with the winds I experienced out of the west on Sunday (gusting to 35) that would not have been fun perpendicular to the runway.

Probably next time I will go into KLAS and just accept the extra charges. Especially at night, it is probably a whole lot easier to see. And as noted above, the view with the strip right there must be spectacular at night.

BTW, off topic, the Swedish pilot told me how lucky we are in the US with GA (and we are). He was telling me some of the crippling regulations and fees they get exposed to there. He was basically travelling around the US, renting planes at various cities and having a great time.
Click to expand...

I was out flying in the valley on Sunday, 20G29. I was home before dark when the big winds came in.

The flight school at VGT get a lot of European pilots that come in, get checked out, and then rent a plane for 2-3 days.
 
andybean said:
Just back from my trip. Decided to overnight at VGT.
Had flight following from KSNA. LA center could not make the handoff to Vegas approach. So they dumped me right at the door steps of Class B.
Thank God for the Ipad. I flew circles for 10 minutes trying to get them but they had me on ignore. Funny, there just was not that much radio traffic. So I decide to go under the Class B and find my way over to VGT.
No problem except there are sheer cliffs/mountains which you have to slip by in order to stay under class B. Needles to say it was a very bumpy decent. The controller at VGT was a complete grump. There was no traffic at VGT and you would have thought he was slammed.

Taxi ride to the strip was farely short. Still $30 each way plus tip.
Gas was fare. $5.89 per gal.

On departure I got clearance from VGT tower then transfered to Vegas departure. Once again, a grumpy group.
LAX class B has way more traffic and at least they manage to be civil.

If I had to do it again, I would plan ahead of time to skirt the class B.
It was a complete wake up call after a nice relaxing flight and decent to get dumped at the door.

Anyway, thanks for all the input.
Andy
Click to expand...

Depending on your VFR altitude coming up from SNA, LA Center does not have radar coverage to provide a radar handoff to LAS TRACON. You'll need to clear the ridge near Mt Potosi before LAS can see you.

LAS TRACON is known for their propensity to not want VFR traffic in their Class B. The southern part is FAA ATC, the northern part is Military controllers. If there is not a "Flag" in town, then the northern class b is easier to get through.

Note the date, time, frequency and file a complaint about lack of Class B service with the FSDO or TRACON Chief. If its dark, I'd be pushing for service away from those hills to the west, and I live here.

I did get a Class B transition clearance last Sunday from HND to VGT. Be prepared for a SW departure and code/freq for TRACON, get cleared into Class B at 5K MSL and direct numbers 25L, hdg 290 north of the runaway to clear any Rwy 19 traffic and then to VGT. Standard restriction to enter VGT Class D at or above 3500.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top