When flying around I will sometimes see other airplanes parked on a beach, a gravel bar, mountain top or some other off airport location. It always makes me wonder whether pilots are more or less likely to land when other airplanes are at an off airport location and whether being in Alaska or Lower 48 makes a difference in this perception. What do you guys think? Any good stories?

Edit: I didn't understand the question because of the way the poll was worded.

Depends.

Unless the plane on the ground is all rolled up in a ball, then I may be LESS likely to land there!

If I'm understanding the question correctly.....just because there are other planes down there doesn't mean I'm going to land. Too easy to get into trouble with the authorities, even if you are doing nothing wrong.

I realize that's probably not what this forum wants to hear....

Eventually, I will land.
Personally, I prefer to have someone else play the roll of the Guinea Pig
My arguement with the Insurance Company will have more "Leg"

When I'm fortunate enough to quit flying proffessionally, I'll accept more risk... after all, that's why we pay for insurance
As it stands, that paycheck buys a bunch of AvGas..

I have certainly been out enjoying the wilderness, wishing to be left alone, when others have dropped in and compromised my solitude. Been hollered at pretty good for dropping in where I wasn't welcome as well. I would have to have a pretty good feeling, considering a number of factors before dropping in on someone.

I'm careful where I land off airport. Like to have walked the strip first or at least talked to someone who's been there before. As far as landing on a private strip I always like to have permission first. If I know the planes on the ground most likely I know who's there and that is not a problem. Be safe and respect the property of others.
HC

Zzz wrote:I'm 100% likely to land.

Ha.. You and me both..

I am inclined to land but I have to be cautious; my 170B doesn't have enough ponies under the hood to depart from interesting places I could safely land.

Last summer we were flying low and slow, dodging houses, when we see this farmer waving at us. We circled and landed in a field next to him, he says I've waved at a lot of planes but you are the first to land. That turned into a few hundred acres to play in.

A couple of weeks ago a cub dropped in on us off airport, although from the same airport we hadn't really met.


The MMV guys picked up a new flying buddy because he stopped to say hi.

I don't always land WHEN I see someone else has landed but will often come back later and land now that I know someone else HAS already landed there.

If its a plane I know, then I definitely land. If its a plane that I don't know, and its on public land, such as a sand bar, I will usually land as its fun to meet new pilots who do what I do. I also like to land and visit with river boaters, and so far they have all thought its pretty fun that a plane can land there. If its a plane I don't know on private land, I won't land unless I know the land owner and have permission.
David

Kind of an odd question, short of it being a private airstrip (which isn't off airport by definition), why the hell wouldn't one land? Frankly, it has never happened to me....just to be flying along and seeing someone parked somewhere at a new off airport site, offair port as in not landed before or hardly ever. But for sure I'd land in a heartbeat and see whatsup, and if they didn't like it (is that a concern? Screw 'em if so) like that was their own little private off airport site and I wasn't invited or something, I'd takeoff and then land again! But I can't see that ever happening! Like I said, an odd question, OF COURSE I'D LAND, it wouldn't be friendly not to!

courierguy wrote:Kind of an odd question, short of it being a private airstrip (which isn't off airport by definition), why the hell wouldn't one land? Frankly, it has never happened to me....just to be flying along and seeing someone parked somewhere at a new off airport site, offair port as in not landed before or hardly ever. But for sure I'd land in a heartbeat and see whatsup, and if they didn't like it (is that a concern? Screw 'em if so) like that was their own little private off airport site and I wasn't invited or something, I'd takeoff and then land again! But I can't see that ever happening! Like I said, an odd question, OF COURSE I'D LAND, it wouldn't be friendly not to!

You might think twice before you try that during moose season up here. Some folks been known to get a bit, er, territorial.

In Alaska, I would not land because it's now a spot belonging to someone else. (Same thing kayaking down the Grand Canyon. First come first gets the camping spot).

But in Ohio, if I see someone off airport, it's one of us and damn right, me too!

Now that I got my airstrip approved I have to put On airport. Kind of disappointed now and feel less worthy on this form. When I do land at other airports I try and stay off the runways! Does that raise my standing a little?

courierguy wrote:Kind of an odd question, short of it being a private airstrip (which isn't off airport by definition), why the hell wouldn't one land? Frankly, it has never happened to me....just to be flying along and seeing someone parked somewhere at a new off airport site, offair port as in not landed before or hardly ever. But for sure I'd land in a heartbeat and see whatsup, and if they didn't like it (is that a concern? Screw 'em if so) like that was their own little private off airport site and I wasn't invited or something, I'd takeoff and then land again! But I can't see that ever happening! Like I said, an odd question, OF COURSE I'D LAND, it wouldn't be friendly not to!

Actually, it's a very good question (of course I would think that - I thought it ).
The poll results show a big difference in the backcountry flying culture in the lower 48 vs Alaska. That's what that question was aimed at.
Now the question is whether it is the difference in the flying culture, or like Denalipilot stated, the hunting culture (which is extremely territorial in Alaska).
If you friendly folks were to land at a remote spot in Alaska in mid September, I guarantee, you would not be welcomed.

A tip: Make your poll question more descriptive. Since the poll comes first in the page, few will read your post text prior, as it comes further down the page.

"Are you more or less likely to land?" I'm 100% likely to land so I can drive home for a beer.

The software layout could stand some improvement, I know.

If I can't reach the plane on the ground over the radio I won't land. Been a couple times when I landed, on actual runways, and was not welcomed by those already there.

Zzz wrote:A tip: Make your poll question more descriptive. Since the poll comes first in the page, few will read your post text prior, as it comes further down the page.

"Are you more or less likely to land?" I'm 100% likely to land so I can drive home for a beer.

The software layout could stand some improvement, I know.

I actually had it more descriptive but running into the 100 characters or less resulted in some loss of content.