Best / Worst ATP centers to visit on X/C's

[josh9399]

Whats the best and worst of ATP locations?

Best to go to for me was FLL just because of the amount of traffic flying with the big birds in what I thought was a fast plane "Alpha Tango could you keep the speed up for everyone?" and DP's. PNS was cool flying in over the water on final and getting to see ERIC and CJ. Worst was FTY on the ground, in the air that enormous rock was cool and flying over ATL.

[BillH]

My most favorite stop during X/C was in northern Louisiana. Forget the name of the town. A free ride to the motel, free ride to the best restaurant I ever been to in my life, that Express Jet Stewardess that gave me that smile that could only mean one thing, and well, did I mention that nice motel?
Yes, FLL for the D.E. Pinkslip Pinkston.
I hated going to Raleigh N.C. Having to pay for a taxi driven by a retard, to stay in crappy housing. GKY or Go Kill Yourself is a zoo to be sure. Departure control sure didn't try to make things easier with a 10 mile long clearance spoken at 600 words per minute. Never liked CRG for obvious reasons including that grouch in the tower.
Love Dothan Alabama, loved those southern belles working the counter. Loved the free hot chocolate at ATL.

[FD4life]

You don't like craig tower? You have to love a tower that thinks they are more powerful than approach control. Actually was told by jax approach one time we couldn't shoot a practice approach because another plane just did and craig probably wouldn't like it if another one did the same! Crazy! Really though, tower has calmed down a lot since Sterling helicopter went out of business. Those bugs left and things calmed down quite a bit. Go to Meridian, free hot dogs and ice cream. All you can eat. Pensacola can be a fun stop too.

[N826AW]

LGB is pretty cool. I always got stuck in RAL for some reason.

[v1valarob]

GKY sucked ass because they had those dumb beds with only a blanket to cover the sound of others.

JAX sucked because they didnt realize it, but put like 8 guys in an apartment made for 4 max.

VGT was awesome during CFI school because they put us up in the Santa Fe Hotel & Casino.

I would say anywhere you get a hotel is best. The apartments normally suck.

[josh9399]

Yep I agree with the CRG tower dude. My X/C partner and I made the mistake of calling out our turn to final ( last we heard from tower was 15 min. earlier thought he was on a coffee break) he ripped us a new one. Same with the MLB controller hes an ass if you mess up too especially if you dont stay west of 95 prior to final.

[BillH]

Originally Posted by josh9399

Yep I agree with the CRG tower dude. My X/C partner and I made the mistake of calling out our turn to final ( last we heard from tower was 15 min. earlier thought he was on a coffee break) he ripped us a new one. Same with the MLB controller hes an ass if you mess up too especially if you dont stay west of 95 prior to final.

The Jax grouch, I remember one day when approach control was LATE handing off some kids in a seminole, that sob went off on them, made them call this number, had them thinking their career was just flushed down the toilet. He then called up Earnie to have a talk with them. The old boys club of instructors at jax at the time were joking that those two better just go to truck driving school.

[matt152]

I spent a night in the trailer in Jasper, AL.

And it was actually pretty decent. Had my own room!

[terrynabet]

I remember when I toured the CRG location, I was told the controller in the tower was a grouch. How long has that controller been working there, and it seems like he is the only one in that tower based on how many comments I've heard about him.

[BillH]

Originally Posted by terrynabet

I remember when I toured the CRG location, I was told the controller in the tower was a grouch. How long has that controller been working there, and it seems like he is the only one in that tower based on how many comments I've heard about him.

FMY has a controller that is very cranky as well. TMB used to have one until he got promoted... Naples has one guy that is quite the smart ass some times. I don't think Craig is a level 5 facility meaning that those controllers much like Naples are NOT FAA employees, but contractors, most of which are retired FAA and Military.
I will also go to say that the nicest bunch of controllers that I ever met as a whole who are REALLY cool and just awsome, are the guys and gals at Stuart Tower, KSUA. TMB has a few nice controllers, one or two with really sexy voices...

[ftyflyboy]

My vote for best location for an XC is FTY. The blonde girl that works the FBO counter is always a nice face to see after climbing out of the nole'. Plus they have a great snooze/TV room for when dispatch doesn't know where you are going next.

[N826AW]

Lots of class in VGT. Its a very, very classy place.

[Millerspal]

Well, I loved FLL...and the pilot lounge is just sick. Dothan was cool, because I swear the runway is 10 feet higher at the departure end, and there is good BBQ nearby. I flew from Raliegh Durham to Bowling Green and the view was the best ever, and they are nice at Bowling Green. I liked the views at ATL.

But the best is this....
I loved the views of Craig....when I was flying away....lol.

[kfour]

Originally Posted by BillH

The Jax grouch, I remember one day when approach control was LATE handing off some kids in a seminole, that sob went off on them, made them call this number, had them thinking their career was just flushed down the toilet. He then called up Earnie to have a talk with them. The old boys club of instructors at jax at the time were joking that those two better just go to truck driving school.

This happened during my CFI oral with Ernie. I was in the room when he was talking to them. Those two idiots deserved to get violated. They were in a tight left downwind before they even talked to tower. Being on an IFR flight plan doesn't immediately allow you to quit using your brain cells.

Ernie stuck his neck out FOR them, told tower he would handle it then and there and to not push any paperwork through to the FAA. Those two guys owe Ernie.

[Kleigh]

I remember that day as well and KFOUR is on the money. Not only that, but was in the room when Ernie called approach to confirm they were handed off in time and they were. They were handed off while still in JAX class C BEFORE entering CRG class D as most are inbound from the North. The DPE (that people love to hate) saved them, the hated "white shirts" did nothing other than scold and retrain, and the CRG tower let it go knowing a scolding from Ernie beats an FAA Anal Exam any day.

[BillH]

Originally Posted by kfour

This happened during my CFI oral with Ernie. I was in the room when he was talking to them. Those two idiots deserved to get violated. They were in a tight left downwind before they even talked to tower. Being on an IFR flight plan doesn't immediately allow you to quit using your brain cells.

Ernie stuck his neck out FOR them, told tower he would handle it then and there and to not push any paperwork through to the FAA. Those two guys owe Ernie.

How quick you forget the mistakes we made during our X/C Time Building flights... Thank you for showing the "JAX Mentality" for everyone else to see.

[Sled14]

Raleigh-Durham was pretty cool being at a busy airport, same with Ft Lauderdale. Lawrenceville is still pretty new and not too much to do there if you get stuck, but seems like it will be a nice location. Fulton County was cool being close to Atlanta and Hill Aircraft is a pretty nice FBO, but the apartments are in a somewhat bad area from what I've heard. Panama City wasn't a bad place to get stuck, especially with the PT with the fake surfboard on top. Daytona has a pretty big office and new Seminoles, but DAB gets pretty busy at times, which I guess is good experience. Jacksonville didn't seem too bad, never had any of the bad experiences I've heard of there, so far.
My favorite place we overnighted was Jasper. Real small area and airport, but got put in a Days Inn since the trailer was full and got to have the pimp crew car all night.

[v1valarob]

215FW... I have flown that plane!

[cfii2007]

Originally Posted by Sled14

Raleigh-Durham was pretty cool being at a busy airport, same with Ft Lauderdale. Lawrenceville is still pretty new and not too much to do there if you get stuck, but seems like it will be a nice location. Fulton County was cool being close to Atlanta and Hill Aircraft is a pretty nice FBO, but the apartments are in a somewhat bad area from what I've heard. Panama City wasn't a bad place to get stuck, especially with the PT with the fake surfboard on top. Daytona has a pretty big office and new Seminoles, but DAB gets pretty busy at times, which I guess is good experience. Jacksonville didn't seem too bad, never had any of the bad experiences I've heard of there, so far.
My favorite place we overnighted was Jasper. Real small area and airport, but got put in a Days Inn since the trailer was full and got to have the pimp crew car all night.

That thing needs tinted windows and spinners.............

[insidious]

Originally Posted by v1valarob

215FW... I have flown that plane!

me too!


i certainly dont like the idiot in the tower at LZU. he takes forever to say something stupid every time he talks. i loved pensacola cuz my uncle flew for the navy outta there so that was fun to fly over the NAS. i actually ended up in columbia south carolina with a plane that was pissing out oil (2 qts/hr... started with 6 qts on three 1.6 hour flights [RIC to RDU to CAE to FTY] and had about 2.5 left each time, cuz they wouldn't fix it in richmond and we HAD to bring it to FTY) and some random lear 60 captain let us climb aboard and have a peek, and that FBO was pretty nice as well. dunno where would be my favorite overall though. i never spent the night, or even much time, anywhere except atlanta, and that sucked. i'd say atlanta was the worst, just cuz i hate cities and people in numbers.

[N53614]

The only ATP location I overnighted at was Phoenix, it was pretty nice.

I also passed through Salem, OR (formerly ATP); Long Beach, San Luis Obispo and Riverside, CA; and El Paso, TX (idk if there's ATP there or not).

Salem was really chill. There's a great restaurant there (Flight Deck Cafe).

Riverside was ok, us SAC guys go there all the time. The D&D Airport Cafe was legit...there's some ill-tempered controller working RAL tower...

[Gumps]

The Best? Hmmm. I'd say that CRG was tops in my book! The trick was to follow all of the rules and actually use the shutdown/secure check list. Then hightail it the hell off the ATP ramp (bypassing the office) to the FBO across the way and use the lounge and wx computer there. Borrow the crew car and grab a Giant Sub. The Comfort Inn was swank, Howard Johnson was O.K.

If overnighting you gotta tell dispatch that all of the instructors are gone. If you ask for a hotel room and a rental car dispatch will bend over backward to do the opposite. You need make dispatch think that the hotel and car rental is their idea... No instructor= no key to apartment, and no ride to apartment. On the rental car tip, dispatch might fight with you on this point, so it is easier to avoid the conflict and take the initiative on your own and seek reimbursement at the end of your X/C's. All you do for that is fill out the reimbursement form and get an instructor to sign and fax it. At that point dispatch won't remember jack and will refund just about anything. *Individual results may vary, proceed at your own risk!*

Worst? The apartment at RDU was a dungeon, but the FBO and restaurant on field were pretty top of the line.

[AcEofAlabama]

Worst- Arlington. I mean, who likes to sleep in a shower? Basically that's what you get, a small room with a shower curtain for a door.

Best- Jasper. Now doubt, you get a super chill environment, football, drinks, A LIMO!!! put that together with a ghetto trailer, laid back flight instructors, and the coolest examiner, and you get the top of the list destination.

note: learn how to pull up to a gas tank and pump your own gas. it's easy.

[SkyHawg]

Worst was FLL. The apartments were dirty but the FBO is great. The ride to the apartments took a while.

Best was SUA. Great airport with tons of nice planes, taking off over the ocean with a great tower. And it was my home base at ATP. Club Stuart rules.

[matt152]

Originally Posted by Sled14

My favorite place we overnighted was Jasper. Real small area and airport, but got put in a Days Inn since the trailer was full and got to have the pimp crew car all night.

I've driven that crew car! Did it have crushed beer cans in the back?