X-C Mi to Dal Tx

[Wayne Braden]

Planning trip to DAL area the first week of Oct, which airport is the best for fuel prices and overnight. I will be picking up my wife from her sons in DAL, he will have surgery on his shoulder the end of Aug. Flying my 180 with limited IFR capability.If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

[N3322G]

Wayne,

I know most of the airports around DFW - do you have a particular area you are trying to be close to?

[Wayne Braden]

Our kids live close LOVE but I think they don't like the little guy! Their prices are awful high on AirNav. I think the big guys don't want to deal with GA, Corperations have the big bucks!
What has happened that the price of our use has put most flying to the curb? I have done all types of flying in aviation and I wonder how we will survive!

[N3322G]

Wayne,

The closest GA friendly airport with reasonable gas is going to be KHQZ, Mesquite. airnav shows 5.05 on SS. KRBD is closer but gas is 0.50 higher.

KGPM is about the same distance from Love but by the time you run around the DFW Class B, you'd be just as well served at HQZ - unless the family lives closer to Grand Prairie. Trade-offs on flight vs ground time.

HQZ is non-controlled so keep a sharp eye for traffic and self-announce at 10nm, 5 nm and in the pattern.

We've been flying around here for 30 years now and Center and Approach have always been nice to us. Even if it is VFR, I suggest either an IFR flight plan or flight following to keep life easier for you.

If the son is having surgery in the Dallas medical district, you might consider asking for an east facing room so he and his visitors can watch Southwest traffic coming in and out of Love Field. The hospital where we spent 80 days with my father-in-law and several weeks with my pilot Mom and, and ... no longer has general med/surg rooms or I could tell exactly which ones have the best view. BTW both Mom and father-in-law (surprisingly) made it out of the hospital and have since died but the aircraft viewing made hard times a bit easier.

[Wayne Braden]

I believe Khqz is the place for me, our son says the construction maybe an issue to the airport, down to one lane!

Thanks Pat

[N3322G]

Wayne,

Glad to help. Hope the trip (and the surgery) goes well.

WRT construction - weather has been dry so construction in many, many, many, many areas around metroplex is proceeding rapidly.