How receptive are most general aviation airports to you showing up and pitching a tent for one night under your wing or in an out of the way corner?

If you're flying through, get tired, get caught up by weather, or for some reason just don't find the FBO sofa or local motels ideal... does this work?

Or will come cop wake you up at 3AM?

Do you like camping on concrete. That is what most gen aviation airports are.

Tim

I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Zzz wrote:I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Well thay came out of left field...
Haha. Glad to see the master make mistakes sometimes as well!
David

A1Skinner wrote:

Zzz wrote:I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Well thay came out of left field...
Haha. Glad to see the master make mistakes sometimes as well!
David

Zane hitting the ol home brew again......

Don't go to Winchester VA. They will tell you that you can stay in the pilot lounge as long as you want. Or about until midnight. Then you have to leave.

Zzz wrote:I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Think he was reacting to my post about me going with Horton (maybe)

Tim

Contrary to Tim's (qmdv) post most airports have areas off the pavement that work just fine for camping or use the lounge, I have been doing this for years with no problems.

qmdv wrote:

Zzz wrote:I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Think he was reacting to my post about me going with Horton (maybe)

Tim

I'm sure he was, hence my heckling that even the master makes mistakes.

Zzz wrote:I personally would go Sportsman if I had a Cessna, based on the multiple testimonies on this site from people whose opinion and skill sets I trust, having seen them land stuff that actually makes the kit a necessity.

Are you intentionally trolling, or just working too many late nights on the BH?

Mods - I say ban this troll

I wondered where that went... Hahaha. I huffed a little wasp spray earlier.

My experience has been highly variable. I've camped at some GA airports that were very welcoming and even had showers for me the next morning. I've stopped at other GA airports that did not allow any after hours activity for a variety of reasons. The smaller the airport and the sleepier the operation the more welcoming they've been. Larger, regional airports are not a good bet. The challenge is finding an airport that is small enough to be welcoming, but large enough to have useful pilot infrastructure like WiFi and showers. A bit of "what if" planning before your flight would help identify your best options. Personally, this is the kind of information I'd love to see in the AFD.

AOPA used to have an entry for each airport in their airport directory for if that airport allowed camping. Haven't looked in a few years though.
Where to?

I find the most out of the way place, maybe behind the most remote hangar, and hopefully on some grass or dirt. I don't ask, I just assume it's OK. I have been woken up once or twice by local LE, but it's never been a problem once I told them why I was there. Finding a good spot to spend the night at a GA airport that really isn't set up for it is an important part of XC flight, and part of the fun and challenge. Most small strips in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming where I spend most of my time, have unlocked shacks of some sort, (the term "pilot lounge is a little too grand for most of these") usually with a couch and a crapper. At the end of a long day, with maybe rains forecast overnight, and no motels in the area, they look like the Hiton If possible I keep it low profile and don't use the tent.

As I often explore by air, visit faraway places and try to do this on the cheap, I have been camping at small airports for years. I usually travel in self supporting mode though, so courtesy cars and showers are not such a big deal to me. Most rural airports have no issues with a tent under the wing. I don't go to a GA airport to camp as a destination, rather it is typically an overnight stop between legs. I usually end up landing around dusk, setting up a tent, having a beer and some grub, then moving on first thing in the AM. So I've found that I usually arrive after everyone's gone home and depart before they arrive. The sleepier type airports are the ones that I target, but if there is a legitimate backcountry option with fishing, hiking or mountain biking access, I will always choose that. If there is a lot of jet traffic, or a city nearby, I plan to not camp, or not even stop if it can be avoided. A good rule of thumb is: the more people there are around, the more likely it is that someone will come around to give you grief.

One of the greatest things about what we do is that it is uncommon enough that it is still pretty unencumbered by tons of rules. If twenty camping parties showed up every Saturday to camp at most GA airports, things would be quite different.

I have camped under the wing or slept in the Maule many times. I have never been hassled. A few places even let me take the crew car to the motel and bring it back in the morning.

An example of this is my airport in Madras Or. The city re-built the FBO 5 years ago. Beautiful with showers, green grass and shade trees to pitch your tent. They have 2 crew cars. A new 5000' irrigated grass runway being built now. If you use these awesome facilities all they ask is you buy some of the stupid expensive gas.

It never hurts to do some research, you might save yourself some grief.

G'Day

OregonMaule wrote:I have camped under the wing or slept in the Maule many times. I have never been hassled. A few places even let me take the crew car to the motel and bring it back in the morning.

An example of this is my airport in Madras Or. The city re-built the FBO 5 years ago. Beautiful with showers, green grass and shade trees to pitch your tent. They have 2 crew cars. A new 5000' irrigated grass runway being built now. If you use these awesome facilities all they ask is you buy some of the stupid expensive gas.

It never hurts to do some research, you might save yourself some grief.

G'Day

Yeah Madras is great, my instructor and I got stuck in Bend one time and they let us drive the Mercedes all the way to my family's house in Camp Sherman to stay the night, I think I had more fun getting stuck there and getting to drive a Mercedes all over than had we made it home.

Best to plan your route then call the places before hand.

Generally around the world people with tents and sleeping bags do not get the "Red Carpet" treatment. But, out West most airports are pretty friendly (if you look friendly) from my experience. Investigate the Wx and wildlife before hand, there are still bears, wolfs, coyotes, snakes, cougars in some areas. A tornado tore apart Tucumcari during the night in 2010.

Yeah each one is different but in general I've always had good luck with the smaller airports and calling ahead. Most have a grassy area somewhere. It's great for quick overnight trips, works great to order a pizza if you don't want to pack food.

I plan on the smallest airports, and ask for forgiveness later. The biggest complaint I've ever had was cooking close to the planes. Never been kicked off of a field. In fact, I stop at airports to sleep in my car when possible to avoid the cop searchlight roust routine when I feel like some shut eye.