Going to Queens, NY

[NewMoon]

Flying up to go look at a car in Queens. Looks like Republic (KFRG) is the closest if I rent a car.

Anyone have any insights or live in the area? Expect to be over 1 night. Thx

[Bolter]

When I visited the area in 2012, I used FRG to get to the city and Long Island.  I think for Queens, it is your best bet.  I used the FBO that is now Atlantic, but memory is that they were a local FBO back then.  I do not consider LGA and JFK as practical options for us.  

[TangoTango]

This past summer I flew to HPN and kept the plane with Atlantic (even did the Hudson SFRA on the way up). I was happy with them, ramp was $20/night and Atlantic gave us a ride to the Metro-North station at White Plains. I was going to Manhattan, though... FRG is probably closer for Queens.

Isn't @201er from NYC?

[201er]

1 hour ago, TangoTango said:

This past summer I flew to HPN and kept the plane with Atlantic (even did the Hudson SFRA on the way up). I was happy with them, ramp was $20/night and Atlantic gave us a ride to the Metro-North station at White Plains. I was going to Manhattan, though... FRG is probably closer for Queens.

Isn't @201er from NYC?

Yeah. LGA is right in Queens but realistically FRG is your best bet.

 

 

 

[201er]

 

[NewMoon]

1 hour ago, 201er said:

Yeah. LGA is right in Queens but realistically FRG is your best bet.

 

 

 

Super, appreciate your input

[201er]

3 hours ago, NewMoon said:

Super, appreciate your input

Mind you, FRG can get REALLY busy! Sometimes they're extending downwinds all the way to either end of long island. It may be a D airport, but be sure to bring your A game.

[dzeleski]

42 minutes ago, 201er said:

Mind you, FRG can get REALLY busy! Sometimes they're extending downwinds all the way to either end of long island. It may be a D airport, but be sure to bring your A game.

On top of this don’t be in a rush to leave. Sometimes it’s fine sometimes it’s 45 minutes. Build a buffer into your schedule if you have somewhere to be.

[NewMoon]

11 hours ago, 201er said:

Mind you, FRG can get REALLY busy! Sometimes they're extending downwinds all the way to either end of long island. It may be a D airport, but be sure to bring your A game.

Understand and appreciate the heads up. Will have enough fuel to do some deviations as instructed. 

[midlifeflyer]

FWIW, I’ve done both FRG and ISP. Definitely FRG if heading into Queens or Brooklyn. And yes, it can get busy. Not only because of the airport traffic itself, but its location in JFK’s flight path. Pay very close attention to the ATIS. It’s not just weather and runway.  Example at the very beginning of this video…

 

[NewMoon]

10 hours ago, dzeleski said:

On top of this don’t be in a rush to leave. Sometimes it’s fine sometimes it’s 45 minutes. Build a buffer into your schedule if you have somewhere to be.

Ok, are there better or worse windows to plan for? I always file unless in So Cal and it's easier to just launch VFR and pick it up once airborne. Thoughts on that?

[NewMoon]

2 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

FWIW, I’ve done both FRG and ISP. Definitely FRG if heading into Queens or Brooklyn. And yes, it can get busy. Not only because of the airport traffic itself, but its location in JFK’s flight path. Pay very close attention to the ATIS. It’s not just weather and runway.  Example at the very beginning of this video…

 

Excellent, thx

[NewMoon]

22 minutes ago, NewMoon said:

Excellent, thx

Great video, I got the reference to JFK traffic and I am going to skoot in from the south and hopefully won't need any ground references. Thats some serious local knowledge. 

[midlifeflyer]

15 minutes ago, NewMoon said:

Great video, I got the reference to JFK traffic and I am going to skoot in from the south and hopefully won't need any ground references. Thats some serious local knowledge. 

Thanks. I did two versions of the video. This was the one for my flying club. The other was more for friends and family - more music, less ATC. 

FWIW, inbound from the south about an hour earlier that day involved a slam dunk from downwind /base to the runway. If you are given ground references, advising the Tower you are “unfamiliar” helps.  I didn’t have any local knowledge (I’m based in NC). It was my first time there. I’d use ISP previously. A little further out, but I think it’s a little easier because it’s less constricted from a practical standpoint. 

[midlifeflyer]

54 minutes ago, NewMoon said:

Ok, are there better or worse windows to plan for? I always file unless in So Cal and it's easier to just launch VFR and pick it up once airborne. Thoughts on that?

In that airspace, based in my limited experience (twice), I’d pick it up on the ground unless you are prepared to remain VFR until well clear of the area. 

[NewMoon]

35 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said:

In that airspace, based in my limited experience (twice), I’d pick it up on the ground unless you are prepared to remain VFR until well clear of the area. 

Yeh, sometimes out of Palm Desert we had to wait 30-40 mins to get our clearance, we just got tired of that so we departed VFR and then had to beg for the clearance but at least we were airborne, headed north

[midlifeflyer]

1 hour ago, NewMoon said:

Yeh, sometimes out of Palm Desert we had to wait 30-40 mins to get our clearance, we just got tired of that so we departed VFR and then had to beg for the clearance but at least we were airborne, headed north

I think that's typical. A delay for release means they need time in order to fit you in. The inability to fit you in doesn't disappear with a VFR departure. Purely technique, but I'm also a believer in picking up IFR on the ground in unfamiliar areas. Using FRG as an example, I had my "expected "clearance. It was different by the time I called Clearance Delivery. A clearance easy to copy and load on the ground can be a bear once in the air, especially when there are unfamiliar waypoints.

If you are heading south on departure, you can anticipate vectors in a counterclockwise box, ultimately placing you over the JFK runways.

[Jerry 5TJ]

On 2/13/2026 at 7:59 AM, NewMoon said:

Flying up to go look at a car in Queens.

If you’re interested in getting in and out of Queens and staying just a few hours consider LGA. The parking fee for 8 hours is $55, at least that’s what I paid last fall.  If you stay there longer, the fee is $55 for each 8 hours.  It may be easier and quicker to get in and out of LGA as well; as others have mentioned the ground delays at KFRG can be lengthy because of all the GA traffic.   

[NewMoon]

9 hours ago, Jerry 5TJ said:

If you’re interested in getting in and out of Queens and staying just a few hours consider LGA. The parking fee for 8 hours is $55, at least that’s what I paid last fall.  If you stay there longer, the fee is $55 for each 8 hours.  It may be easier and quicker to get in and out of LGA as well; as others have mentioned the ground delays at KFRG can be lengthy because of all the GA traffic.   

Ok, that sounds interesting and actually fun

[dzeleski]

On 2/14/2026 at 5:57 AM, NewMoon said:

Ok, are there better or worse windows to plan for? I always file unless in So Cal and it's easier to just launch VFR and pick it up once airborne. Thoughts on that?

Its a crap shoot on time ranges. It just depends how many jets and flight schools are lined up.

I cannot recommend you pick up your IFR in the air within or near the NY bravo. They are way too busy and will not enjoy that request on most days. Get it on the ground. Further out east on LI or north of HPN would be fine in the air (generally).

Edit: If you are coming into NY IFR (especially from the West, like over PA) have your note pad and pen ready. You WILL get a full re route.

Edited 21 hours ago by dzeleski