Backcountry Pilot • Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

Discuss your knowledge of airports and off-airport strips. Help inform other pilots of status, warnings, noise abatement, and closure endangerment. See also: http://www.shortfield.com
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Wed May 25, 2011 11:12 am

Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

The strip is a part of a company town Empire, NV, which is going to be mothballed due to the shutdown of the U.S. Gypsum plant. The shutdown was scheduled for March 1. Employees are told to vacate the housing on June 20. I talked to Michael Christopher, airport manager. He says that since the property is locked down, there will be no public access to the airport, even if it is not formally declared closed.

So, I would like to hear about alternatives in the area. I know that Soldier's Meadow used to be well attended, with vacationers flying in to the ranch hostel at the field. If that business survives, it would be good. It is quite far north though.

Sylphur and Rabbit Hole are two airstrips I am most interested in, since they can be reached easily after refueling at Lovelock. They are just level areas though. I am wondering how safe they are in respect to field debris.

Edit: Refueling at Lovelock (KLOL) is impossible, since the field has no services. Make it Winnemucca (KWMC).
Last edited by zaitcev on Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:09 am

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

Here's a (very long) URL to the Rabbit Hole:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ms ... b3c187a151

The satellite photo seems to indicate that the strip is getting overgrown. I'm going to get there on foot at the beginning of September.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:34 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

zaitcev wrote:
Edit: Refueling at Lovelock (KLOL) is impossible, since the field has no services. Make it Winnemucca (KWMC).


As of July 2nd, Airnav.com http://airnav.com/airport/KLOL is saying that fuel is available :-k Where are you getting your information that there is no services at Lovelock? I know they don't have a mechanic and full service FBO at Lovelock.

I'll be driving from SoCal to Idaho later next week. I'm kind of curious about that Empire area and wouldn't mind checking out those airstrips you mentioned.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:54 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

There's fuel at Lovelock.

Gump
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 2:15 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

Interesting about Empire considering that Burning Man is coming up. I wonder if folks will be allowed to land there? Thats a drop of for some of the air taxis taking people out there.

AKT
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:37 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

58Skylane wrote:
I'll be driving from SoCal to Idaho later next week. I'm kind of curious about that Empire area and wouldn't mind checking out those airstrips you mentioned.


Well, I didn't realize how for west of my route home this area is. I'll see, if I explore this area, I'll take lot's of pictures and write down some notes.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:55 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

If you come through these parts Pat you better drop a dime and say hello. We will burn some fuel!

AKT
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:10 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

aktahoe1 wrote:If you come through these parts Pat you better drop a dime and say hello. We will burn some fuel!

AKT


That might work out, Kevin. I'll contact you in a couple days.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:46 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

Zaitcev, I drove by the Rabbit Hole airstrip this spring, and it looked great. It's also known as the Barrel Springs airstrip. Search this site for both names and you will find a picture and some information on it.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:01 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

kevbert wrote:Zaitcev, I drove by the Rabbit Hole airstrip this spring, and it looked great. It's also known as the Barrel Springs airstrip. Search this site for both names and you will find a picture and some information on it.


http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7125&p=96245&hilit=Barrel+Springs+airstrip#p96245
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:11 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

aktahoe1 wrote:Interesting about Empire considering that Burning Man is coming up. I wonder if folks will be allowed to land there? Thats a drop of for some of the air taxis taking people out there.

This is a good question... Michael may agree to be present at the field. Without him the gates are going to be locked, and ground access to the airport is a criminal trespass against U.S. Gypsum. So, the taxi guys would need to go direct to the BRC airport.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:13 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

58Skylane wrote:Where are you getting your information that there is no services at Lovelock?

From my Klammath Falls sectional. The field icon has no protrusions. I must admit I did not look into my Flight Guide.
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:18 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

58Skylane wrote:
kevbert wrote:Zaitcev, I drove by the Rabbit Hole airstrip this spring, and it looked great. It's also known as the Barrel Springs airstrip. Search this site for both names and you will find a picture and some information on it.


http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7125&p=96245&hilit=Barrel+Springs+airstrip#p96245



Stop correcting me! Image
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:22 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

kevbert wrote:
58Skylane wrote:
kevbert wrote:Zaitcev, I drove by the Rabbit Hole airstrip this spring, and it looked great. It's also known as the Barrel Springs airstrip. Search this site for both names and you will find a picture and some information on it.


http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7125&p=96245&hilit=Barrel+Springs+airstrip#p96245



Stop correcting me! Image


:lol: :lol:

Sorry pal!! I'm just having a loooong and boring weekend. :D
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:25 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

zaitcev wrote:
aktahoe1 wrote:Interesting about Empire considering that Burning Man is coming up. I wonder if folks will be allowed to land there? Thats a drop of for some of the air taxis taking people out there.

This is a good question... Michael may agree to be present at the field. Without him the gates are going to be locked, and ground access to the airport is a criminal trespass against U.S. Gypsum. So, the taxi guys would need to go direct to the BRC airport.


I thought they set up a runway on the dry lake at Burning Man? Are the airports an alternative in case the lake beds are wet?
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:39 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

58Skylane wrote:I thought they set up a runway on the dry lake at Burning Man? Are the airports an alternative in case the lake beds are wet?

The BRC sets up an airfield, which is fairly well attended. If it rains, the clay surface becomes impassable even by a 4x4, but it dries out quickly.

As you may know, the Burning Man is destroying playa's utility. The dust that they kick up forms so-called "desert snakes", which multiply every year. Hitting one of them may be disastrous. I caught one hard enough in a car that my dash popped off its clips (airbags did not go off, however). However, I am sure they make their temporary runway smooth. Just don't attempt to land on the playa anymore.

I took AKT's message about air taxi ops using 1A8 uncritically, because I know pilots may have their reasons. For example, jets aren't going to like the fine dust that's omnipresent in BRC airport.

-- Pete
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Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:56 pm

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

zaitcev wrote:
aktahoe1 wrote:Interesting about Empire considering that Burning Man is coming up. I wonder if folks will be allowed to land there? Thats a drop of for some of the air taxis taking people out there.

This is a good question... Michael may agree to be present at the field. Without him the gates are going to be locked, and ground access to the airport is a criminal trespass against U.S. Gypsum. So, the taxi guys would need to go direct to the BRC airport.


I'm confused about Airnav's information about airport ownership :-?
Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records
Ownership: Publicly-owned
Owner: US GYPSUM COMPANY
PO BOX 130
EMPIRE, NV 89405
Phone 775-557-2341
Manager: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
US GYPSUM COMPANY, PO BOX 130
EMPIRE, NV 89405
Phone 775-557-2341


It's publicly owned, but privately operated?
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Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:44 am

Re: Empire (alternatives) - 1A8 - Empire, NV

I think AIRNAV is confused. The land on which the airport sits and all structures on that land are owned by U.S. Gypsum, but the airport is not "private" in that a prior permission is not required for landing. At least this is what I gather from talking to the airport manager.
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