Light GA to Austin, TX

iamtheari

iamtheari

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I have to spend a few days in Austin later this month. My plane is currently in Dallas and, if the shop wraps up their work in time, one option would be to fly commercial to Dallas and then buzz down to Austin instead of making two whole round trips to Texas in quick succession. My meeting is downtown. It looks like KAUS is the closest airport by a country mile, but the driving time reported by Google Maps isn't much different to fly to KEDC: 10 miles and 25 minutes vs. 18 miles and 35 minutes. Fuel prices are noticeably different: $9.25 vs. $6.85, give or take. What else should I know before picking an airport?
 
KEDC is pretty easy and they have a nice FBO there. Never landed at KAUS but I'd expect it to be pretty busy with crazy jet traffic.
 
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Llewtrah381 said:
Where in “Austin”? KGTU or even T74 could be options.
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My stuff is all downtown. North bank of the river, Cesar Chavez St and Congress Ave. I’ll probably take a Lyft from wherever I land.
 
I see lots of light singles at Millionair kaus
Just be sure to learn the minimum fuel purchase at any fbo
 
KEDC every time. KAUS will work but more expensive and the security is hassle. KEDC you can show your cert and go do your thing. Nice folks, they used to discount tie down fee with 25gal gas, but that may be gone. Lakeway 3R9 is the cheapest for gas and tie down. Check the Uber cost to your location. I would go 3R9 personally, I visit there regularly.
 
Barrett50 said:
KEDC every time. KAUS will work but more expensive and the security is hassle. KEDC you can show your cert and go do your thing. Nice folks, they used to discount tie down fee with 25gal gas, but that may be gone. Lakeway 3R9 is the cheapest for gas and tie down. Check the Uber cost to your location. I would go 3R9 personally, I visit there regularly.
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Does Lakeway still have the night ops restriction?
 
RyanShort1 said:
Does Lakeway still have the night ops restriction?
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3R9er is closed at night, full stop.

—-

Whenever I have (ok, had) business in Austin and traveling from Dallas, I always use EDC. It’s barely a longer drive, and a heckuva lot less monkey motion arriving and departing.
 
iamtheari said:
I have to spend a few days in Austin later this month. My plane is currently in Dallas and, if the shop wraps up their work in time, one option would be to fly commercial to Dallas and then buzz down to Austin instead of making two whole round trips to Texas in quick succession. My meeting is downtown. It looks like KAUS is the closest airport by a country mile, but the driving time reported by Google Maps isn't much different to fly to KEDC: 10 miles and 25 minutes vs. 18 miles and 35 minutes. Fuel prices are noticeably different: $9.25 vs. $6.85, give or take. What else should I know before picking an airport?
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kaus isn't horrible but at $9.25 i'm looking for an alternative. where are you going after austin? could land @ kaus and just pay the fees, fill up elsewhere. kgtu tends to have super cheap gas
 
The return trip would be home, almost 1,100 nm north. That will require a stop anyhow. I probably wouldn't want to fly just 30 miles from Austin to Georgetown but, if Airnav is to be believed, the self-serve fuel is $4.64. That could save quite a few bucks off the whole trip if I tanker some gas.
 
Cheaper gas at Slylark up near Killeen. Maybe cheapest in the state. I've filled up there. Watch for the Hood area R space.

Edit; Caddo Mills 7F3 $4.10, Center F17 SE of Dallas $4.04.
 
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iamtheari said:
The return trip would be home, almost 1,100 nm north. That will require a stop anyhow. I probably wouldn't want to fly just 30 miles from Austin to Georgetown but, if Airnav is to be believed, the self-serve fuel is $4.64. That could save quite a few bucks off the whole trip if I tanker some gas.
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I used to fly there once a month to visit my child at UT Austin. KEDC Austin Exec was good, but you better call ahead as if there's an event (F1 race, big game), then they only take jets. Parking fee used to be 10 or 20 dollars can't remember ... they used to wave it for fuel also. They have rental cars there and were reasonably priced.

Georgetown I had to use on my final trip there and it was awesome. Great controllers and fuel was lowest in the area, even lower than Llano TX (KAQO) which usually is one of the lowest around. Not sure on car rental availability as I had a ride on that trip.
 
I'm a local and I'd agree with KEDC being the most convenient. It is on the toll road, which would be the quickest way to get to Austin, but not sure what the fees are for a rental. But as others have mentioned, if you're coming in during F1 or SXSW, expect to be turned away. Private airport, caters to the big boys!
 
I won't be renting a car. I'll be more or less confined to a conference room for 3 days this time around. Thanks for the tips about big events. I hadn't thought of SXSW, which ends 4 days before my meeting starts. Close call on hotels and potentially some straggling jets to park amongst.
 
Barrett50 said:
KEDC you can show your cert and go do your thing.
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"Show your cert"? I've flown in/out of EDC a handful of times, and have never had to show anything but money. (I've don't think I've ever been asked to show my cert to anyone but a DPE. Maybe PIC asked for it when I signed up, I don't remember.)
 
Jim_R said:
"Show your cert"? I've flown in/out of EDC a handful of times, and have never had to show anything but money. (I've don't think I've ever been asked to show my cert to anyone but a DPE. Maybe PIC asked for it when I signed up, I don't remember.)
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Either Im a liar or Im not you.
 
texasclouds said:
When I walk up to AUS Exec, they know I’m pylot. Red carpets get rolled out. FBO gals take notice. They check me out and say have a nice day. Totally want me.
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They must have pretty lax standards, because that's pretty much how they treat me as well!
 
Jim_R said:
"Show your cert"? I've flown in/out of EDC a handful of times, and have never had to show anything but money. (I've don't think I've ever been asked to show my cert to anyone but a DPE. Maybe PIC asked for it when I signed up, I don't remember.)
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In over 30 years, I've shown my cert to DPEs and the FAA guy who issued me a waiver. And maybe my son. But I've never been to EDC, so it might be different.
 
Most importantly, Franklins, which is really the only reason to ever go to Austin, is closest to KAUS 8)
 
Barrett50 said:
Either Im a liar or Im not you.
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Didn't say you're a liar. Just thought it was unusual, and I'm still curious. Would you be willing to describe how that interaction played out? (I wasn't really expecting such a defensive response. I thought maybe it'd be something like, "Yeah, I thought it was weird too, but the (line guy / desk clerk / owner / FSDO rep / TSA Agent / ICE team / gaggle of adoring UT coeds) asked me to show it, so I did.")
 
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Jim_R said:
"Show your cert"? I've flown in/out of EDC a handful of times, and have never had to show anything but money. (I've don't think I've ever been asked to show my cert to anyone but a DPE. Maybe PIC asked for it when I signed up, I don't remember.)
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My EDC flies in and out with me. ;)
 
Barrett50 said:
KAUS will work but more expensive and the security is hassle. KEDC you can show your cert and go do your thing.
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Yeah, curious about the AUS comment as well as EDC. I've been to a lot of D's & C's and a couple B's, and I've never had to deal with any kind of security on the GA side. I find that arriving in an airplane tends to convince most FBO employees that you're a pilot. The only documentation I've ever been asked for is the Lifeline itinerary when asking Signature to waive the fees.

The only time I've ever been asked for my certificate was by a local cop & firefighters filling out their reports after I made an emergency landing at SUS.
 
SCCutler said:
I've used EDC more times than I can count, and the only stuff they've asked for is a credit card for fuel, and a driver's license for rental car.
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Same here. Only FBO I can think of that has asked to see my certificate was at Teterboro, Meridian AV. That was to get a ramp pass that was good for our stay.
 
I think it's a nautural pilot Aura, started for me right after getting the PPL haven't been asked in 20 years
 
You guys do it right. I show up at 340 for a 4:00 trip to KPUB skiing. Sliding door to the ramp is locked, security guy asks where Im going, and says he needs to see my cert. Nice enough but I wasnt getting thru the slider without my ppl. He unlocked it, I tossed my bag, quick pre flight and I strapped on the skis about 10 and had a great wknd. Was Mar 2020, and he also wanted to know where my mask was, but I didnt think that was relevent?
 
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Barrett50 said:
You guys do it right. I show up at 340 for a 4:00 trip to KPUB skiing. Sliding door to the ramp is locked, security guy asks where Im going, and says he needs to see my cert. Nice enough but I wasnt getting thru the slider without my ppl. He unlocked it, I tossed my bag, quick pre flight and I strapped on the skis about 10 and had a great wknd. Was Mar 2020, and he also wanted to know where my mask was, but I didnt think that was relavent?
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Ahhh....outside of normal hours. I could see that.
 
Barrett50 said:
You guys do it right. I show up at 340 for a 4:00 trip to KPUB skiing. Sliding door to the ramp is locked, security guy asks where Im going, and says he needs to see my cert. Nice enough but I wasnt getting thru the slider without my ppl. He unlocked it, I tossed my bag, quick pre flight and I strapped on the skis about 10 and had a great wknd. Was Mar 2020, and he also wanted to know where my mask was, but I didnt think that was relevent?
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Interesting. I've never seen security guarding the doors there. But if you mean 0340 hours, then yeah, I've never been there that early, so I don't know what's "normal" then. Thanks for the explanation.
 
iamtheari said:
I have to spend a few days in Austin later this month. My plane is currently in Dallas and, if the shop wraps up their work in time, one option would be to fly commercial to Dallas and then buzz down to Austin instead of making two whole round trips to Texas in quick succession. My meeting is downtown. It looks like KAUS is the closest airport by a country mile, but the driving time reported by Google Maps isn't much different to fly to KEDC: 10 miles and 25 minutes vs. 18 miles and 35 minutes. Fuel prices are noticeably different: $9.25 vs. $6.85, give or take. What else should I know before picking an airport?
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I was at KEDC last week in my Arrow. They charge $8.90/gallon for avgas, and a 30$ per night tiedown fee.
 
Jim_R said:
Interesting. I've never seen security guarding the doors there. But if you mean 0340 hours, then yeah, I've never been there that early, so I don't know what's "normal" then. Thanks for the explanation.
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I mentioned prev that I use Lakeway most of the time. But - as we know, if you gotta get out when dark, gotta use something else. Every time I used EDC it's been show the cert when I want to leave. If it's light out, I'm at Lakeway, it's cheaper and easier for me with no tower.(see above!)
 
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