Non-published non-paved landing areas at airports

[SC3CM]

Most of us have a list of airports we know of where there is grass to land on that isn't published. I'll start a list of ones I know and will add others as people send info. This will all be put into a spreadsheet for easy use. There's possibly a way to load this to a gps too, so I'll even look into that.

Suggestions are welcome!

Here's a sample of the info that will go into the spreadsheet:
State, City, Identifier, Surface Type, guesstimate on landing distance, Notes.
And an example
ME., Sanford, KSFM, Grass, Rwy 14/32 between rwy and adjacent taxiway from rwy 25 intersection to crossing taxiway. Not marked but good condition. Favor the side closest to pavement. >1000' available.

The idea is to have some local info available to those of us visiting or enroute to other areas.



Rene

[courierguy]

I routinely land on the grass or gravel at any non controlled airport I'm visiting at. I'm talking the area usually between the taxiway and the runway, anything but landing on the asphalt if I can at all help it. It makes landing at a real airport (not any challenge at least if the wx is OK) more of an off airport thing. Drainage ditches and lights are the big hazards, another is someone thinking you blew your landing so bad you missed the hard surface.

I have only been admonished for it twicence in Arizona where apparently I taxied across an area in the official passenger loading area, (no people or airliner were there, but when they are that's their place) so it became a Homeland Security type thing, briefly, I was able to somehow convince the agent that I was a dumbass Idaho hick in a homebuilt plane who didn't know any better. The other time was at Sandpoint Idaho, where the very friendly airport manager advised it was forbidden, no problem, I won't do it again there. I think the correct attitude in this is to just do it, don't ask beforehand and put someone on the spot, don't screw up, and don't do it if ever asked not to. Knowing before hand it's OK is great also of course.

[btracy]

It would be a lot easier to list airports that you cant land at. Don't ask, don't tell . 850 landings since I got bush wheels and started keeping track of where I land. 19 of them have been on pavement. Most the time no one is watching that close to notice if you are on the runway or beside it anyway.

[SC3CM]

Well I was looking forward to my first actual contribution to the sc.org community seeing as how I can't add any value on any of the mechanical questions, and you had to go an ruin it. Thanks Bill

Actually, I am on the same page as far as using it if you're comfortable it's clear of anything that can cause problems, just thinking it's nice to know ahead of time if you're going off into new areas. A lot of people on this site live in areas where you can pretty much land anywhere because the terrain is relatively open, flat, or in the case of the Ohio guys just doesn't have a chairlift in the way. Unfortunately other areas are a bit different. My thought was to have people chime in with some local knowledge, where is known to be a good spot to land to AVOID the ditch or other thing that can't easily be seen from above. I've always wanted to put something like this together, so figured now was as good a time as any.

Here's a few off the top of my head.

TURFAVAILABLE.xls

Add yours to the sheet and re-post, PM me, or post in the info in the thread and I'll update the sheet.

[aktango58]

18 Meadows, Haines AK

Also, North east end along the taxi way of the main airport HNS, all they way to the helipad...

Better service at my house though. Should be published in the near future.

[skywagon8a]

Cranland airport, Hanson MA grass on east side of the hard surface is usable full length. There is a drop off on the east side of the grass into a cranberry bog.

[RaisedByWolves]

KFIT, south(left) side of 32, watch out for windsock, grass is good before runway 2, little bumpy after runway 2. I'm also told that the east side of 20 is good, although the grass was kind of tall when i went, i haven't landed there

[RaisedByWolves]

Oh and concord, KCON DO NOT land on the grass. there is some rare butterfly or some BS and they dont like that at all if you land there in the grass. (there used to be a grass runway next to 35)

[fly_cubs]

Burlington, NC- KBUY, to left of 24, 1/3rd of the way up. Nice and smooth ....and none of Tom's butterfly collection running around

[12 Geezer]

Chehalis, Washington - the airport manager threatened to report me to the FAA as "careless and reckless" if I landed on the grass again. Preposterous!

[S2D]

How about while you are making this grass list, add ones that you can land on skis and get reasonably close to a gas pump.

I'll add 1S3 Forsyth MT Ski right up to the pump.
4+ different non published grass runways. The one South of the Main runway, West of intersection will get to the gas pump on skis.

[S2D]

Jordan Montana grass runway north of Main runway
Hysham Montana land long going West or short going East ( approx 1000 yds dirt at end of rwy.)
Broadus Montana land just south of the rwy lights east 2/3rds rwy
Miles City Montana land most places close to rwy lights
Colstrip Montana Land by rwy lights
Hardin Montana Watch the ditch when landing in grass south side of runway

If you can make this alphabetically by state for a quick reference, it might not be too bad

[RaisedByWolves]

Parlin 2b3 has grass to the east of 18-36 and a 12-30 grass runway.

[RaisedByWolves]

And Jaffery, KAFN. Left or right side of 36. I landed on the left side. Way smoother than the paved runway. One word of caution. Use your N number. The owner doest like it when you don't.

[85Mike]

KVUO in Vancouver WA has a good grass strip area on the S. side of Ry 26. They had a temporary control tower set up for about a year due to construction closing 1 ry at PDX, 2.5 miles away. Their only request was to inform them that you were going to use the grass.
In my 11 years of flying BWs on the 12, I've tried to avoid pavement at all times.
On my first cub trip to AK in 2003, approaching Whitehorse I asked the tower if they had any grass available. The tower controller cracked me up with his reply, "I don"t smoke". I had to land the pavement. This year on approach with the 12, they asked if I was on BWs and offered me the gravel alongside 13 right. I related the 2003 incident to the tower controller and HE CRACKED UP!! Obviously not the same controller.
Mike