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Chicago area airports
- Thread starter idcairns
- Start date
N4843W
New member
SE MI
- Aircraft Year
- 1977
- Aircraft Type
- 114
- Reg Number
- N4843W
- Serial Number
- 14173
Re: Chicago area airports
Clow (Bolingbrook) is about the same distance as Lewis, depending on where in Lamont. Might be a hair closer over the road. Good restaurant on field. tight runway approaches in and out over houses and a fair amount of ultralight activity on the weekend on the grass runway next to the paved. Pretty good FBO. Fair amount of student training. Lewis is comparatively sleepy, but more space and runways. I would base it on fuel price and who gave me the best parking deal.
Clow (Bolingbrook) is about the same distance as Lewis, depending on where in Lamont. Might be a hair closer over the road. Good restaurant on field. tight runway approaches in and out over houses and a fair amount of ultralight activity on the weekend on the grass runway next to the paved. Pretty good FBO. Fair amount of student training. Lewis is comparatively sleepy, but more space and runways. I would base it on fuel price and who gave me the best parking deal.
MSBradley
New member
Waterford, MI
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 114
- Reg Number
- N4732W
- Serial Number
- 14062
Re: Chicago area airports
Hello Ian,
I've been using KLOT. It has become my favorite airport in Chicago-land.
They have an Avis office on the airport, good facilities and good approches.
Regards,
Hello Ian,
I've been using KLOT. It has become my favorite airport in Chicago-land.
They have an Avis office on the airport, good facilities and good approches.
Regards,
idcairns
New member
New Orleans LA
- Aircraft Type
- Other
Re: Chicago area airports
Thanks guys,
I looked at Google Maps, both airports are about the same distance although KLOT looks like a straight shot to New Ave where the job is. I am only going to be there a couple of hours so convenience may win out.
Thanks guys,
I looked at Google Maps, both airports are about the same distance although KLOT looks like a straight shot to New Ave where the job is. I am only going to be there a couple of hours so convenience may win out.
davec
New member
Lockport, IL
- Aircraft Year
- 1974
- Aircraft Type
- 112/A
- Reg Number
- N1189J
- Serial Number
- 189
Re: Chicago area airports
Hey folks,
Welcome to my neck of the woods (or suburbs)
! If you're working down on New ave in Lemont, KLOT will be a little quicker getting there, but gas is cheaper at 1C5 (Clow).
Clow is more of the "pilot's hangout" sort of place, KLOT has nice long runways and much better night lighting but not much "hanging out".
P.S.Mark my wife had their preschool field trip at KLOT yesterday and saw your commander sitting there.
Hey folks,
Welcome to my neck of the woods (or suburbs)
! If you're working down on New ave in Lemont, KLOT will be a little quicker getting there, but gas is cheaper at 1C5 (Clow). Clow is more of the "pilot's hangout" sort of place, KLOT has nice long runways and much better night lighting but not much "hanging out".
P.S.Mark my wife had their preschool field trip at KLOT yesterday and saw your commander sitting there.
MSBradley
New member
Waterford, MI
- Aircraft Year
- 1976
- Aircraft Type
- 114
- Reg Number
- N4732W
- Serial Number
- 14062
Re: Chicago area airports
Hi Dave,
Sorry I missed you! Deb said that you were just there when I arrived back at the airport.
Regards,
Hi Dave,
Sorry I missed you! Deb said that you were just there when I arrived back at the airport.
Regards,
N4843W
New member
SE MI
- Aircraft Year
- 1977
- Aircraft Type
- 114
- Reg Number
- N4843W
- Serial Number
- 14173
Re: Chicago area airports
Mark, having a lot of family and business in Chicago, plus Wings of Mercy trips, I reckon I have averaged one trip a month over 11 years, well over 100. A couple of IFR tips for anyone coming to Chicago airports from the east.
If you file to KLOT or any of the others in that area, ATC will often give you Goshen-Peotone-Aurora VORs. Big run-around. File to KGYY, Gary. First, they will usually give you Gipper (GIJ), much better.
Then, if you can go VFR from Gary, cancel IFR, go VFR and keep the squawk. Chicago approach virtually always say OK. If you want IFR, when you get about 20 out from KGYY, request change destination to KLOT (or Clow or Schaumburg or Midway or wherever ...) They will almost always send you to CGT (Chicago Heights) then RV (radar vectors) destination. MUCH faster. I have a nephew who works Chicago approach and I asked him if this bugs them, and he says they couldn't care less.
p.s. if you are ever going to Waukegan, UGN, the same method will save you 25 minutes or more. Otherwise they will take all the around by DuPage (DPA) VOR and often into Wisconsin.
Mark, having a lot of family and business in Chicago, plus Wings of Mercy trips, I reckon I have averaged one trip a month over 11 years, well over 100. A couple of IFR tips for anyone coming to Chicago airports from the east.
If you file to KLOT or any of the others in that area, ATC will often give you Goshen-Peotone-Aurora VORs. Big run-around. File to KGYY, Gary. First, they will usually give you Gipper (GIJ), much better.
Then, if you can go VFR from Gary, cancel IFR, go VFR and keep the squawk. Chicago approach virtually always say OK. If you want IFR, when you get about 20 out from KGYY, request change destination to KLOT (or Clow or Schaumburg or Midway or wherever ...) They will almost always send you to CGT (Chicago Heights) then RV (radar vectors) destination. MUCH faster. I have a nephew who works Chicago approach and I asked him if this bugs them, and he says they couldn't care less.
p.s. if you are ever going to Waukegan, UGN, the same method will save you 25 minutes or more. Otherwise they will take all the around by DuPage (DPA) VOR and often into Wisconsin.
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Re: Chicago area airports
I would avoid CLOW. I have in my log book in the remarks, Worst FBO I have ever been to. I used to fly my commander in there for business on a regular basis. The peolple were always very unfriendly, the services were pretty decent just the management.
Clyde
I would avoid CLOW. I have in my log book in the remarks, Worst FBO I have ever been to. I used to fly my commander in there for business on a regular basis. The peolple were always very unfriendly, the services were pretty decent just the management.
Clyde