The inlaws have moved to Nampa! We've been flying in to the Nampa airport when we go over but Caldwell would be closer to their house. This morning Calwell was reporting solid fog all morning while Nampa was VFR. We opted for Nampa again because I don' want to get stranded if the fog typically covers Caldwell in the morning. Caldwell is also consistantly more busy every time we visit.

So, for the locals, is the weather usually more consistant between the two or am I less likely to be stranded by sticking with Nampa? Also, any insight (good or bad) on the airport in general is welcome. I've had great experiences at Nampa so far.

Thanks,

CW

Is Emmett an option for you? Low key place and unlike Caldwell, the helicopters won't drive you crazy.

offroute wrote:Is Emmett an option for you? Low key place and unlike Caldwell, the helicopters won't drive you crazy.

Thanks for the suggestion. Emmett is quite a bit farther north from our destination though. Their house is near Lake Lowell. It's that northern region of the area that seems to hold the worse weather when I trip plan. Could be because it's closer to the mountains? Or a low spot in the valley? Or some other local anomaly. Or just bad luck.

CW

Weather is usually about the same between them, of course some days one or the other will better than the other, but it's pretty much random. Caldwell definitely has more traffic, but it includes the Helicopter school and more corporate traffic than Nampa and those two groups are usually very well behaved. The cowboys who think they can do whatever they want without a tower seem to be about equally spread between the two airports, IMHO. I have flown out of Caldwell for 26 years, but for transient flying I would suggest whichever one is closest for you and/or who has the best gas price this week. If you are going to fly into Caldwell frequently, see the airport manager and get a card for the gate so you can drive to your plane to load and unload baggage.

I had a hangar at Caldwell many years ago. And received my tailwheel endorsement based for (2) weeks in Nampa.

Caldwell was closed for several hours one day because an Experimental pancaked and closed the runway. I really like the cafe at Nampa (don't known the status now), great view. I like the social "Atmosphere" at Nampa, better. Weather was always the same between both of them (give or take), just my observation. Nampa is a shorter drive to Boise if anybody needs town.

Dale Moul wrote:Weather is usually about the same between them, of course some days one or the other will better than the other, but it's pretty much random. Caldwell definitely has more traffic, but it includes the Helicopter school and more corporate traffic than Nampa and those two groups are usually very well behaved. The cowboys who think they can do whatever they want without a tower seem to be about equally spread between the two airports, IMHO. I have flown out of Caldwell for 26 years, but for transient flying I would suggest whichever one is closest for you and/or who has the best gas price this week. If you are going to fly into Caldwell frequently, see the airport manager and get a card for the gate so you can drive to your plane to load and unload baggage.

Thanks Dale, that's the kind of info I was looking for. In my home region when the fog rolls in there is one airport that is usually open because it's positioned just right and a little higher than the rest. And at my parents home town in south central California the marine layer always seems to cause delays so I usually base inland about five minutes where the fog is no factor but my family has to drive an extra 20 minutes. Thanks for the heads up on the helos as well. As for cowboys...it is idaho

8GCBC, the cafe is going strong at Nampa and they serve an ecellent breakfast!

CW

Glad cafe is still strong at Nampa airport.

Thank you again for this coincidental picture of the me returning from Alaska. I owe you lunch. Amazing you saw me!

Woke up to fog this morning. Boise is reporting VFR. We'll see which airport burns off next:




And this was the fog-scape as we rolled into the region yesterday (looking northeast from near Owyhee Reservior):



Happy Thanksgiving to erveryone!!

CW

...Nampa is winning...



CW

Nampa is the winner today!



CW

When I lived in the Treasure Valley I flew out of Nampa but regularly stopped at Caldwell for fuel. As has been said, both are great airports, no difference in weather, and fuel prices are usually pretty close. I like the atmosphere and pilot lounge at Nampa better.

whee wrote:When I lived in the Treasure Valley I flew out of Nampa but regularly stopped at Caldwell for fuel. As has been said, both are great airports, no difference in weather, and fuel prices are usually pretty close. I like the atmosphere and pilot lounge at Nampa better.

Thanks Whee. I found out on this trip that Nampa also has security cameras watching over the GA parking area right next to the FBO. So far Nampa is winning.

CW

8GCBC, Good to see you still have that picture! I always enjoy your adventures.

clippwagon wrote:8GCBC, Good to see you still have that picture! I always enjoy your adventures.

"Adventure" is my middle name. Enjoyed seeing you. Happy Thanksgivings!

In my experience, both Caldwell and Nampa are probably ten times as busy as the towered Pocatello airport, that drives me crazy, but the city fathers HAVE to have the prestige of a tower I suppose. Flying into either is good for me every now and then , as they are the busiest places I usually fly into all year, if I'm having a good flying year. They are so close to each other, I've never noticed ANY difference in the local conditions?

courierguy wrote:In my experience, both Caldwell and Nampa are probably ten times as busy as the towered Pocatello airport, that drives me crazy, but the city fathers HAVE to have the prestige of a tower I suppose. Flying into either is good for me every now and then , as they are the busiest places I usually fly into all year, if I'm having a good flying year. They are so close to each other, I've never noticed ANY difference in the local conditions?

You definately need to have your head on a swivel in that region. Both on the way in and on the way out we had airplanes suddenly "appear" who were not on the radio. Oddly enough both happen to be flights of two! Not a big deal but you don't want to have your head in the panel. It's also a nice drop off point for the back country of idaho! I'm excited to have family there now!

CW