M016576 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 I'm heading down to Nellis AFB for a work conference next weekend, and was wondering what the general consensus is about which airport/FBO is most friendly (wallet and otherwise). I've flown into Henderson before a couple times and like it, but north Vegas is closer to Nellis. Any opinions? Quote
Danb Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 Iv been to Henderson and it's nice and easy to get to the strip from,also the FBO have a great staff... made a mistake yrs ago and went to Mccaren the only problem with Henderson is if the wind is ugly they have Parallel runways and n Vegas has crossing runways.. Quote
FloridaMan Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 I've flown into KVGT a couple years ago. I recall it being an excellent experience. The line guys weren't allowed to accept tips when I arrived. The arrivals and departure were also a lot of fun. There is an altitude window that you have to be between on the SID that I received. Quote
kmyfm20s Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 KVGT is your best bet if you are going to Nellis. KHND is far enough away that a cab ride will kill any cost savings and traffic is so bad that even if you rented a car you are in for a ride. Any way to get a special clearance into Nellis:)? Quote
kerry Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 KVGT is your best bet. VGT and HND are both owned and run by Clark County so all fees and fuel prices are the same. Traffic on the I-15 freeway between Henderson which is in the South going North is hell at times. Driving between North Las Vegas airport and Nellis is much more reasonable. As mentioned before it would be great to special clearance into Nellis. There are hotels with in walking distance of VGT. Quote
MB65E Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 +3 or for on VGT! However, The rental car place is off sight and the cab took 40min last time I was there. -Matt Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 The rental car facility for mccarren is half way between McCarren an Henderson, if you are getting a car fly into Henderson and take a cab to the rent a car center. 1 Quote
Dave Marten Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 The rental car facility for mccarren is half way between McCarren an Henderson, if you are getting a car fly into Henderson and take a cab to the rent a car center. Stale data. KHND has Enterprise and Hertz are ONSITE. http://www.hnd.aero/transportation_rental.aspx Ned Gravel (Mooneyspace pilot) was just at KHND two weeks ago and can provide a pirep. http://mooneyspace.com/user/7155-ned-gravel/ Quote
atn_pilot Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 Yes, but how are on-site prices at HND compared to LAS? Rental cars are usually dirt cheap at LAS. I suspect that they're charging a premium for them at an outlying airport. I'd be interested in knowing for sure, though, because I'll be flying out to Vegas for a week this fall. 1 Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 Yes, you will save way more then the cab ride by going to the LAS rental car facility. From a charter member of the CB club. Quote
M016576 Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Posted April 20, 2015 KVGT is your best bet if you are going to Nellis. KHND is far enough away that a cab ride will kill any cost savings and traffic is so bad that even if you rented a car you are in for a ride. Any way to get a special clearance into Nellis:)? There is a way to get clearance directly to Nellis, but I got my orders too late to set the whole thing up. You have to show proof of insurance to the Base Ops personnel, then get a certain DD form approved up the chain, it should only take a day or two, but it takes about 45 days in practice (got to love the USAF paperwork drill). What I did last time, was fly to HND, rental car out of LAS rental car facility. That worked pretty well, but I'm flying in from the north, so maybe north Vegas would be faster... And save some money. Quote
MB65E Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 I like your thinking. The DD2400 can be done pretty quick depending on your situation. Getting 100LL is another pain at Nellis. That was the only place I have ever gotten bad gas! But then you'd be stuck there filing -175 forms every time you want to leave. Unless they improved the process I'd rather drive by a coffee shop inroute to VGT or HND. -Matt Quote
cliffy Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 We have a plane to make life easy. VGT, get a car there and forget the little extra cost. Enjoy the ride. Live a little. You don't have to be a CB all the time. I once went into VGT in an MU2 on a late Sunday afternoon from the north. Asked for a low pass down the Nellis runway with a right turn direct VGT. GOT IT! Quote
FloridaMan Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 There is a way to get clearance directly to Nellis, but I got my orders too late to set the whole thing up. You have to show proof of insurance to the Base Ops personnel, then get a certain DD form approved up the chain, it should only take a day or two, but it takes about 45 days in practice (got to love the USAF paperwork drill). What I did last time, was fly to HND, rental car out of LAS rental car facility. That worked pretty well, but I'm flying in from the north, so maybe north Vegas would be faster... And save some money. lol...reminds me of this: http://www.duffelblog.com/2014/07/man-charged-stolen-valor-failing-recall-horrors-supply-checkout/ Quote
jax88 Posted April 20, 2015 Report Posted April 20, 2015 We've flown into both, Henderson multiple times, and just from an FBO standpoint I'd choose Henderson without question. In fact, we'll never go back to North Vegas. Only time there we waited at least an hour for the rental car that had been pre-arranged and waited another hour for fuel when we went to depart EVEN THOUGH we asked upon arrival (for a 5 day stay) to have the tanks topped as soon as possible. Nice enough people, but severe lack of attention to detail. Quote
carqwik Posted April 21, 2015 Report Posted April 21, 2015 You could always go to KLAS...oh wait, that was back in the 1980s when small GA was more than welcome there and the costs weren't crazy. Used to go in there all the time from LA area VFR...but those days are long gone. Now it costs a fortune just to park and get gas there....never mind the fact you pretty much have to be IFR in and out. Between HND and VGT, I'd pick HND although it is farther from Nellis. 1 Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Yes I remember when Senic ran the FBO at LAS. No landing fee parking was $5 a day and gas was reasonable. Now they pretty much don't want you there. Quote
Ned Gravel Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 + 1 for Henderson. Great service. Ned Gravel Lucky steward of C-FSWR, a '65 E model at Rockcliffe, Ontario, (CYRO) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
stevesm20b Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Go into North Las Vegas. Rent a car. Last time I took a taxi it cost $40.00 to go from McCarran to Henderson. I got a rental car for $30.00. 1 Quote
cliffy Posted April 25, 2015 Report Posted April 25, 2015 Have been going to LAS since 'Crockett" ran the GA FBO on the west side (late 60s). Scenic was a relative new comer. VGT and rent and car! Quote
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