OurAirports: Comments on airports in New Jersey, United States

[KMMU] "I am based at MMU and see more GA then preivous Poster." by pa28151

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:59:09 -0400

The are quite a few Cessna's and Pipers based at Morristown. I fly on a regular basis and while there is a fair amount of jet traffic it's not 6 to 1 more like 1 to 1. I moved my Warrior to Morristown 8 months ago to get more experiance in a tower controlled enviroment. I don't regret the move at all. Services are 1st rate. I'm 60 and got my ticket 3 years ago, so how complex can it be?

[US-KSMQ] "Somerset (George Walker Field) is what small airports are al" by pa28151

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:41:25 -0400

Good people, great conversation, full service fuel. I learned to fly here, so It will always be my home airport. No matter where I am based. If passing by I just can't help but landing there, it feels so comfortable.

[US-N07] "Lincoln Park" by Wayne

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:14:35 -0400

I worked at LP from 1975-1980. Ed always called me "junior". I hated it then but over the years it was fitting. Ed was pretty old then, but he did not lack anything. He was sharp as a tack and if he missed anything Jule would let him know so.

I guess I went to work for him after he had repossed the airport from the Eastern group. I was for the most part an aircraft fueler after school and on weekends, but I wound up doing so much more. Moving planes, cutting grass, cleaning the office and assisting the mechanic when needed. And hung up a lot of what I know now are to be historical pictures in the office.

Ed always asked, every pay day, "do you want half in pay and half in flight time"? I kick my self in the butt today. I could have been trained to fly by the same guy that helped Amelia Earhart fly the Atlantic, wow Ed! And that also would have included instruction by Tony Farrell.

But I at the time liked fast cars and the girls that came with it. I think I kept Ed and the other guys happy with all the teenage girls that showed up to watch me work. But Ed would always come out, "junior we need to get doc's plane out" or something. Meaning she had to go.

Ed loved the airport and always wanted it looking its best. He also gave a lot back, never missing the chance to buy me a lunch at the Pequannock sandwich shop. He kept me stuffed with salt tabs in the summer also. And when the day was slow I would go up to his house and mow the lawn.

Jules and Ed had a nice, cozy log cabin up in the hills. The road getting there was windy and tight. If you think flying in a plane with Ed was fun, you needed to ride in a car on the way to his house. The tree limbs would fly in the open window and slap you in the face if you let it. He was a daredevil in my book.

The first flight I had in an airplane was in his J-3 Cub. I never knew you could look over your shoulder at the runway on final approach. That's how Ed did it all the time! And just prior to the wheel hitting the ground he would snap the tail around and bam you were rolling down the runway.

He came out of the office one day to see me propping an aircraft. I guess I was lucky that the plane fired up and I wasn't injured. But Ed made sure that I got some instruction before doing it again. The first instruction was a lot of ear chewing. But that's how he was, you didn't do it unless you were going to do it right.

We had one guy, Bernie. He owned a Mooney, and every time he flew it was "swift". He was German and the plane was fast. Ed would wait for him to come in for a landing and then the chase was on. Bernie would taxi way to fast for Ed's liking and he would let him know it. Better yet almost every landing Bernie would ding his prop after porposing down the runway, Ed would stop him and say he couldn't fly till it was fixed.

We had only one crash during the time I worked there. The radio shops owner had a bell 47 helicopter, that crashed just short of me while I was cutting the grass. He took off and pulled up too soon causing the clutch to go. He attempted a auto rotation but hit tail first, which caused the chopper to spin and land on its side.

Ed and Jules have since gone and I miss those hot New Jersey days at the airport. I'm glad to see that they have gone down in the history of aviation in NJ, and that they left us with so much. May LP airport continue to prosper.

[US-KCDW] "Fuel Prices at Mac Dan Aviation" by swinger

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:58:50 -0400

Thankfully, Avant Air moved out of their leaded office space at Mac Dan to give appropriate fuel competition! Mac Dan's confidential fuel discounts are rediculous. Some people/companies/flight schools/flying clubs nearly receive 20% discounts on Avgas & Jet A, the data sheets area behind the front desk in the main lobby of Mac Dan.

-That kind of discount can add up to thousands of dollars quite fast!

-Anyone wonder why their fuel trucks are always empty or why a service call for fuel takes up to thirty minutes?

[KACY] "KACY" by Soulie

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:14:59 -0400

For a Class C airport, this place is very GA friendly. If you are new to Class C operations, you could do alot worse that KACY as your first taste.

[US-KCDW] "re: Don't depart IFR on a VFR day!" by david

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:23:59 -0400

I had exactly the same experience at Republic in spring 2004, right down to sitting on the runway (as instructed by tower) and holding everyone else up. Same lesson -- if you can take a VFR departure out of a NY-area airport, do. It's the controller's error putting you on the runway before your clearance is ready, but why invite trouble in the first place?

[US-KCDW] "Don't depart IFR on a VFR day!" by ptomblin

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:54:39 -0400

I must have tied up traffic for 30 minutes of more waiting at the entrance for my IFR clearance. I'd taxied out after being told to, but there were 4 or 5 planes waiting behind me and by the time I suddenly realized that I could depart VFR and pick up a clearance later, the clearance had actually come. I felt like a complete dick.

[US-13N] "First Solo out of Trinca!" by Steve

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:41:42 -0400

My first Solo was out of Trinca about 10 years ago. The airport is a little run down, and a bit behind the times these days. I never thought much of those trees or divits in the grass as a student pilot. A bit of a bump was my launch pad for soft field take offs. All the little "Tricks" you learned flying out of Trinca only made you a better pilot. Avoiding tall trees wasn't something that made it tough, it made you FLY! Something a lot of "pavement" pilots forget how to do I think.

Trinca is one of the last grass strips around in NJ. It is a big part of many pilots fond memories. It is a truly enchanting airport. Look past the rough edges, reach back through time. You can still see and hear all the avid aviation enthusiasts sitting around on the old picnic table bench, chatting the warm summer days away. To this day, I can walk around the hangers, look in the office, sit on that bench, and get that same warm feeling of camaraderie we all shared in our never ending love for aviation.

A 7:45PM trip around the pattern in a J3 Cub, watching the sun set on a warm summer night, I can't think of anything more magical! I love this airport and only hope it will be around for a long time to come, to share with my children. Visit if you can!

S.J.M.

[US-N07] "re: Where it all began- ED GORSKI- Great GUY" by blueskyes

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:24:55 -0400

I was hired to work as a flight instructor in April 1972 by Ed Gorski, minutes after we met.

I had graduated from Embry-Riddle and headed to NJ to pursue my aviation career. No jobs were available at all, except a FEW instructor jobs! Ed Gorski was somewhat gruff, but a real nice person. I had 3 other offers for FI positions, and I ended up taking a job at Linden Airport, NJ for a lot less money ($3/hour) than Ed offered ($15/hour), however, more students and more opportunities at LDJ. I stayed at LDJ for 16 months and moved on to a Cessna 421B job at North Philadelphia, which lasted for about 18 months.

Long Story Short, I ended up getting hired at Lincoln Park in early 1975 by a group of individuals as a Flight Instructor. An Eastern Airlines Crowd of pilots, who hired a puppet manager to follow their directives, hired me. Ed had sold the Captain Jack Faes/George Kershaw, Eastern groupof pilots, the airport, in good faith, and they concentrated their collections of Pitts Aircraft throughout 1975. What a racket these guys had. Maybe I was envious, as I was trying to break into a business that had no opportunities available at the time. This crowd took advantage of everything that they could get their hands on.

I left the job in August 1975 as I had seen enough, and one of the Eastern bunch (Jack Faes) needed a job for his son, who had lost his job at Wien Airlines in Alaska, so I was the junior flight instuctor and had to leave.

What a difference from this BUNCH to Ed Gorski. Well, the Captain Jack Faes and Eastern Airlines' crowd eventually overstayed their agreement with Ed, with the hangars filled with their Pitts Special toys. They never paid their local taxes ($75,000) to Lincoln Park Township while they managed the airport, and good old Ed Gorski was contacted for a default of the real estate taxes due. I guess Ed Gorski had to throw the puppet manager Bill out on his ass, and then the Faes Eastern crowd. Then Ed took possession of his beloved airport, and I assume ran it himself for many more years.

God bless Ed Gorski, he was a straight forward honest guy, not like the low lives that had infiltrated Lincoln Park from 1975-1977. I wish Ed was still around. With respect to Eastern Airlines Captain Jack Faes, he kicked me in the ass in August 1975, and then further attempted to trash my aviation career with unfounded bad references, however, I managed a successful career in corporate aviation as a manager/chief pilot from 1979-1998, operating several Falcon 50s, Gulfstream III/IV, Lear 55, Citation VII for over twenty (20) years, all based in New Jersey. I am now a B747-400 Captain for the last ten (10) years.

I'll never forget my conversations with Ed Gorski. A straight an honest man, who always treated me with respect and kindness. I am delighted that Ed took his airport back from that bunch of Eastern Airlines pilots who had abused their stay and stacked the hangars with their toys, and abused the employees!

Wherever you are Ed, I will always remember you fondly. And as far as that Eastern Airline Bunch, they got their due, eventually, in more ways than one!

[US-N07] "re: Where it all began- ED GORSKI- Great GUY" by blueskyes

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:13:53 -0400

I was hired to work as a flight instructor in April 1972 by Ed Gorski, minutes after we met. I had graduated from Embry-Riddle and headed to NJ to pursue my aviation career. Ed Gorski was somewhat gruff, but a real nice person. I had 3 other offers for FI positions, and I ended up taking a job at Linden Airport, NJ for alot less money than Ed offered, however, more students and more opportunities at LDJ. I stayed at LDJ for 16 months and moved on to a Cessna 421B job at North Philadelphia, which lasted for about 18 months.

Long Story Short, I ended up getting hired at Lincoln Park in early 1975 by a group of individuals as a FI. An Eastern Airlines Crowd of pilots, managed by a pupet manager who followed their directives, hired me. Ed had sold the Captain Jack Faes/George Kershaw, Eastern group, the airport, in good faith, and they concentrated their collections of Pitts Aircraft throughout 1975. What a racket these guys had. Maybe I was envious, as I was trying to break into a business that had no opportuinites available, but this crowd took advantage of everything that they could get their hands on. I left the job in August 1975 as I had seen enough, and one of the Eastern bunch needed a job for his son, who had lost his job at Wein , so I was the junior guy and had to leave. What a difference from this BUNCH to Ed Gorski. Well, the Jack Faes (Larry Faes) Eastern Airlines' crowd eventually overstayed their agreement, with the hangars filled with their toys. They never paid their local taxes to Lincoln Park, and good old ed Gorski was contacted. I guess had to throw the manager out on his ass, and then the Faes crowd. Then Ed took posession of his beloved airport. God bless Ed Gorski, he was a straight forward honest guy, not like the low lives that had infiltrated Lincol Park from 1975-1977. I wish Ed was still around. With respect to Captain Jack Faes kick in my ass in August 1975, and then his attempt to trash my career with bad references, I managed a sucessful career in corporate aviation as a manager/chief pilot operating a Falcon 50, Gulfstream III/IV, Lear 55, Citation VII for over twenty (20) years, all based in New Jersey. I am now a B747-400 Captain for the last ten (10) years.

[KNEL] "Site of Hindenburg crash" by david

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:14:17 -0500

Lakehurst is where the Hindenburg crashed on May 6, 1937 after a trans-Atlantic flight:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LZ_129_Hindenburg#The_disaster

[US-KN40] "Interesting aircraft at Sky Manor" by philippe

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:02:03 -0500

The airport's owner is also the US importer for the Beriev 103, a unique Ukrainian twin engine amphibian. It seats six, floats on its hull and its wing roots, and the two engines are mounted on pods aft of the wing. There is usually one of these on the field.

A self-serve fuel pump with credit card reader is available.

[US-N07] "re: Where it all began" by jimmyfed

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:20:18 -0500

hi and i must know you because bill fedishen is my father please contact me iam james darwin fedishen my email is hime_661@hotmail.com id love chat about my father

[KMMU] "Well maintained, but complex and not esp user friendly for C" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:36:44 -0500

MMU has come a long way in twenty years. Today, seeing a Cessna take off is an odd event...usually preceeded by five or six Citations, a Lear, and a few helicopters. Don't let this deter you, the ATC staff are very friendly and helpful and the airport is very convienent.

[US-K1N4] "Quiet, simple, and easy to find" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:32:54 -0500

Woodbine is a nice airport if you'd like cheap fuel and need an airport closer to the northern end of cape may county. Parking is 5 dollars overnight on the grass. Runways are in decent shape, just watch out for banner towing in the summer...they are crazy crazy people.

[US-13N] "Soft, short, and rough" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:31:01 -0500

Certainly not the most well maintained grass strip in NJ, but very accessible for training. Approaches from the south very tough with huge pine trees on the approach end. Runway undulates badly, so don't feel bad if you float every 3 seconds while bouncing down the turf. Easy to find though...grass very worn.

[US-K12N] "Impressive...and quite short" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:29:37 -0500

Like the other comment, make sure you can stop a plane in less than 1500 ft. The water on both ends will stop your plane for you if you can not... Beautiful airport, esp in the fall. Don't pass this stop up

[US-KCDW] "Work and fly from here" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:26:13 -0500

CDW is indeed tough to spot especially when MMU is only 5 miles away and practically visible from space. The AFD also gives you a super long list of rules and noise abatement procedures that often scare new pilots away. Just ignore them. The airport is surrounded by industrial parks and a golf course. And who cares about golfers right? Runway 9/27 recently renamed 10/28. Lighting at night could be stronger...and don't feel bad when a controller who sounds like a man turns out to be the scariest woman alive...other than that...GREAT AIRPORT.

[US-3N5] "Nice, but not much there" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:23:52 -0500

Newton is a nice little strip, well maintained...and frankly, boring as all heck. You'll miss this spot if you don't look down as it's nestled in thick trees. Also, don't go off the northern approach end...there's a nice lake to cushion any further taxiing you intend to do. Other than that, great spot to practice or take a break from a long trip. No lights, and no fuel.

[US-NJ16] "re: Can't find this airport" by david

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:15:15 -0400

Yes, I don't see anything in the satellite photo either. According to the FAA database, there's supposed to be a private 1,400 foot turf runway there (not listed in the AFD). Does anyone have more information?

[US-NJ16] "Can't find this airport" by Anonymous Flier

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:10:42 -0400

I've checked the coordinates and looked at the satellite image and found nothing at this location.

[US-KAIY] "re: Just had to get this one in while it is still on the map" by david

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:54:24 -0400

Yes, sadly the field closed almost a year ago, on September 30, 2006. According to the Wikipedia article, it was built in 1910, was the first aerodrome to be described as an "air-port" (in 1919), and was the founding location of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol (1941).

[US-KCDW] "FBOs" by david

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:05:31 -0400

This airport has two FBOs:

Mac Dan 130.55 MHz

(973) 227-8339, (888) MACDAN8

http://www.macdan.com/

Caldwell Air Service

(973) 808-9047

I've used both -- as I remember them, Caldwell Air Service is less expensive, but a bit run down and with so-so service. Mac Dan is a bit more expensive, but has a nice facility and much better service. If you need help (e.g. limo bookings, etc.), Mac Dan's probably your best bet; if you just want to park, Caldwell Air Service may be fine.

[US-KCDW] "Hard to find" by david

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:00:14 -0400

For some reason, I always find this airport hard to see from low altitude when I'm a couple of miles away. There are buildings around it and a low hill on one side. When I first visited here I was a fairly new pilot, and I wonder if my not seeing it now is just a throwback to that first visit.

[US-KCDW] "JFK Jr.'s last departure" by david

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:58:47 -0400

This is a nice airport for visiting northern New Jersey (a bit too far for Manhattan) -- I've stopped here a few times to visit a customer almost within walking distance. Unfortunately, the airport is most famous as the one John F. Kennedy Jr. departed from in his Saratogo on his last flight.

[US-N07] "For me too, only further back in time" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:31:45 -0400

Remember riding my bike to LP Airport in 1946. Too young to drive, I had a wad of money earned during the week as an auto mechanic (yes I was doing engine overhauls at that age and being paid the magnificent sum of something like $20.00 a week during summer vacation ).

My thought was to take a ride. When I asked the pilot signing off someone's log book how old you had to be to take lessons I was rocked to my ACE Sneakers when he said "no age limit". "You mean I could take a lesson?" the answer yes, brought the next logical question, "How much?" Think it was something like $14.00 an hour, maybe a half hour, that's what I wound up buying anyway.

"Hold on though" says the FI, "you can't just hop in and start flying" "You have to know all about aeroplanes"

"Oh, I do!" (I spent my nights and weekends building balsa models)

"OK" he smiled "Go over to that yellow plane over there (a J-3) and I'll be over to see what you know"

I passed the test so my first ride in an airplane was my first lesson in piloting.

When we landed he told me I needed a logbook available from the front office. That was when I met Mr. Gorski a fine looking older man whose friendly smile never let you forget that flying was important and serious.

There was another young pilot back than a year or two older who also soloed on his 16th birthday. His name was Breeziano or something like that we all called him Breezy. We became kind of friends but kind of competitors too. He certainly built better models than me, but I think I had the edge on Stick and Rudder.

It would be wonderful if the Gorskis were still alive they were the best of an age before the `white knuckles' took over.

[KTEB] "Great Manhattan Access Point" by Flyin_Dutchman

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:04:25 -0400

Been here many times and first off make sure you print off the VOR A approach if the weather is VFR and you are going in IFR. They give that one all the time to sequence the traffic inbound IFR for visual approaches.

There are many hotels close by but the Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights is literally behind the airport and can be walked too in about 15 minutes (that includes waiting 10 minutes to cross the highway:). There is shuttle service from Atlantic and also crew cars available for short term use.

When I stayed at the Holiday Inn I asked the driver to take me to the bus stop to go into Manhattan. It is also pretty close and is only a 30 minute ride. 6 bucks gives you a round trip bus ticket to downtown and back.

Close to the Holiday inn within 10 mins walking distance are Subway, Starbucks, Fast Food joints (to the west), to the east are a grocery store, mcdonalds, and a liqour store (important stuff for last :).

Lots of traffic so be prepared...IFR make sure you go over the departure procedure in your head many times to make sure you know what your doing once you are unleashed into some of the worlds busiest airspace.

Enjoy.

[US-KBLM] "Nice airport" by ptomblin

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:42:18 -0400

It's a little annoying that the jets get a big canopy to sit under while I had to pre-flight in the pouring rain, but that's par for the course. Clearance Delivery is available on the radio on the ground, which makes it easier to depart IMC since you don't get a clearance void time until you're at the end of the runway with your run-up done.

The FBO was nice and the people friendly and helpful.

[US-K12N] "Andover/Aeroflex" by jerryp

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:27:22 -0400

One of the sleepy little airports that mostly locals use. It's short with water on both ends of the runway, like landing on an aircraft carrier. The airport is hidden by a hill when approached from the east. Being in a valley, the wind sock just does circles. Polish up your short-field technique before going here.

[KEWR] "Only lasted 38 years" by XingR

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:32:23 -0400

Took of from here in the evening of 4 October, 1965 to do a little tour with the USAF. Didn't know it would last 38 years.

[KTEB] "Great Airport for Visiting Manhattan" by Bonnie

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:33:25 -0400

We have flown to Teterboro the past few years on our annual trip to Manhattan. While we feel out of place landing in our four-seat plane surrounded by business jets, it's very convenient to get into NYC.

The staff, from the ground crew to the desk people are universally kind and attentive (even the customs officers were friendly!!!). They make us feel like royalty. My kids love the toiletries in the women's bathroom.

It's only a 30-minute cab/car ride to Manhattan (depending on time of day and where in the city you are headed).

[US-KAIY] "Just had to get this one in while it is still on the map" by XingR

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:52:20 -0400

One of the airports I visited on my solo cross-country training flights. I note thta it is now NOTAMed permanently closed so I guess it will be off the map soon. The approach into runway 29 at night, past the arprtment houses and condos wwas "interesting".

[KTEB] "My Fourth Airport" by XingR

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:49:34 -0400

The forth airport I ever landed an airplane at ... long before I was a licensed pilot but flying with my surrogate father, Eddie Gorski. (too bad we don't have away to add "fallen flags", the airports of our youth now gone forever ... who remembers Towaco and Totowa-Wayne?) Among many other things Eddie was the manager of Teterboro from the mid-30's until WWII forced all General Aviation operations west of the Delaware River. If you zoom in you'll see a large building at the northwest corner of Malcolm and Industrial Ave's ... this is the site of what was in my youth the "Bendix hangar", named for the owner of Teterboro for many years, the Bendix Corp. but originally the site of Tony Fokker's US manufacturing facility. The Borough of Teterbor in which the airport sits in had a population of 25 in the last US census and was known as the Borough of Bendix during the years 1937 through 1943. A fascinating place. If you fly in there take the time to visit the NJ Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame just east of the field.

[US-N07] "Where it all began" by XingR

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:20:52 -0400

As a boy I lived across the street from this airport and it's part of my earliest memories. I "hung out" there nearly every free moment from the time I was 6 years old or so until I left for the USAF in 1965. Got my private there in 1964. Lincoln Park is notable as the long-time business interest of Ed and Jue Gorski (see NJ Aviation Hall of Fame). Other CFI's there who helped shape my life were Johnnie Schump, Charlie Stephan, Lenny Landers, Tony Farrell and William (Wild Bill) Fedishen. Still an active and well-run little operation, close in to the NY Metro area.

[KTEB] "U.S. Customs" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:07:04 -0400

Customs is pretty easy going about arrival times (since they're always on the field), but they'll meet you only at Jet or Atlantic, not at the other FBOs.