jasmantle's profile

This airport is a gem!!! The staff are Real Friendly, they have both Jet-A and 100LL, the airport grounds are immaculate, and the terminal building is complete and neat (my wife approves of the washrooms). The runway is 02/20 so be prepared for crosswinds, and there is a lot of mechanical turbulence when the wind is strong from the west. No landing fees, parking is $6.50+HST per night (waived if you buy gas), and the 100LL price when I visited was $1.70+HST (same price as we are paying at Rockcliffe). This airport is much quieter than Gore Bay.

My wife and I were flying from Rockcliffe CYRO to Manitoulin Island CYEM, but flight planned to stop here first for lunch at the Killarney Mountain Lodge. I also filled up with 100LL here, expecting gas would be more expensive on the Island (it wasn't). Beware the radio/etc towers around the field - maintain proper patterns and altitudes and there will be no problems. The waters of Georgian Bay are a beautiful blue-green from the air, and the people of Killarney are extremely friendly. We phoned the Killarney Mountain Lodge, and they came out and picked us up for lunch, then brought us back to the airport. See the NOTAMs for the phone numbers and hours for gas at the field (things are a bit more slow-paced in God's country). Gas is somewhat expensive, no landing fees, and they have a donation box if you choose (the federal and provincial governments provide no funds to this airport). Very good tie down area.

With the closure of Carp Flying Academy, and the general economic slowdown, this airport has become quite quiet. Which means it is a good place to visit for practicing circuits. Very well maintained, and a fuel pump with credit card card-lock. The Unicom is generally silent - don't expect an airport advisory.

Touch N Go Aviation, a pilot supply retail outlet, is onsite - you can taxi right to the door.

EAA is onsite, as well as a number of hangers. Ottawa Flying Club, according to an article in COPA Flight, is looking to temporarily relocate here while YOW 4-22 is repaved.

Flew here today for their annual fly-in breakfast. It's a gravel strip, with a well-compacted chip surface. In all the years of doing a breakfast, we were told this was only the second time they needed to use R12.

The approach to R12 was challenging, in the that topography on final is quite high. Stay focused on the runway and not the topography under your feet. Manage your speed and use full flaps. Consider a short-field approach profile, just so you're focused on getting the wheels down early. If you decide to reject the landing, make your decision earlier since the departure is also quite "fun".

Departing R12 is not that challenging. Unless you are light, high-powered, or have a STOL a/c, you'll do a normal takeoff but then turn SE (as stated in the CFS) and fly over the town as you gain altitude. Start the departure run on the grass before the R12 runway threshold, so your a/c is moving and there is less chance of sucking up a stone chip into the backside of your prop.

And in-between the landing and the departure, Bancroft is an attractive town with friendly people.

This airport is a paved runway, a windsock, and an apron. No buildings. No fence. No unicom.

On the apron there are several heavy poured concrete blocks which you can move and use to tie-down the tail, and a cable running down the length of the apron to tie-down the wings. Unfortunately, the cable is a bit far from the edge.

There is a notice board at the west end of the apron with a phone number for the golf course - apparently they'll drive over and pick you up (I did not try it). The golf course is at the east end of the airport.

Across highway 2 is Upper Canada Village, it is a short (5-10 minute) walk. Per-adult entrance fee (2011) is $20.95 plus tax, there are also child, senior, student and family rates. There are two restaurants inside UCV, plus a working sawmill, flour mill, blacksmith, and much much more.You can sprint through in 2 hours and see not much, it would be better to think of this as a several-hour destination. I enjoyed it thoroughly.