Go-Arounds

[MRC01]

Yesterday I flew down to 3S7 Nehalem for an nice scenic hour of flight (each way) and walk the beach after landing. I was on short approach to runway 33 just above the threshold when I saw a family of deer munching the grass right next to the runway (both sides), about 300 feet ahead. I immediately went around. On the initial climb I glanced down to see the deer still there - the noise and airplane didn't scare them away. I flew the pattern and came in again. This time the deer had moved south closer to the approach end of the runway, still right next to it on both sides. This time I added power early to make a noisy low pass and scare them away. On my 3rd approach the deer had moved further S to the approach end of the runway so I flew safely over them and landed in the last half of the runway.

I've done a lot of flying in remote and mountain areas but this was the first time I've had to go around due to animals on the runway. I think I was overdue. It was a reminder to stay alert especially on final approach, look for reasons to go around, and practice them once in a while.

 

[Cap'n Ron]

I once had to land and stop short of three kangaroos in the middle of a 3000x300 grass strip at Caboolture, Queensland. The big male just stared at me. I think he said, "G'day, mate. We were here 30,000 years before you humans so you can bloody well go around me." I taxied around them and they went back to lunch. Somewhere we've got a picture of them out the cockpit window.

 

[Brian]

I didn't know anything about 3S7, so I looked it up.

It looks like a cool airport -- and also an airport that might serve up interesting winds.

 

[MRC01]

I didn't know anything about 3S7, so I looked it up.
It looks like a cool airport -- and also an airport that might serve up interesting winds.

Interesting winds for sure. Prevailing xwinds come from the ocean (perpendicular to the runway) and are stirred up into turbulence as they pass over the treetops next to the runway. Not a big deal so long as one is proficient at xwind landings. This is similar to W04 further north, though that runway is longer. 3S7 is right next to a state park and a 10 minute easy walk to a very long, scenic and sparsely used beach. Bring your lunch and it makes a great picnic flight.

 

[BananAppeal]

Yesterday I flew down to 3S7 Nehalem for an nice scenic hour of flight (each way) and walk the beach after landing. …

Funny, I was just trying to think of the name of that airport (Nehalem) yesterday. Didn’t fly there, but I went mushroom hunting there a couple of years ago and thought it would be a cool place to fly. Don’t think I saw any deer at the time.

 

[Brian]

Funny, I was just trying to think of the name of that airport (Nehalem) yesterday. Didn’t fly there, but I went mushroom hunting there a couple of years ago and thought it would be a cool place to fly. Don’t think I saw any deer at the time.

Were there any mushers there?

 

[Group W]

Nehalem Bay is the only airport I know of with designated camping sites near the runway. It's also a scenic and fun airport to land at. But the wind can be really gusty and tricky at it and the other small airports along the north Oregon coast so be sure you're on your game and ready to go around when you need to. At Nehalem Bay I've seen the windsock, full out, go 360 degrees around in a minute. I landed ok, but it was challenging.

Roy

 

[Brian]

I was expecting that just from seeing those photos.

 

[California Flyer]

Nehalem Bay is the only airport I know of with designated camping sites near the runway.

There are a few that I know of near where I live:

• Oceano (L52) right on the Pacific coast, just north of Pismo Beach
• Columbia (O22), the other airport in my county (Tuolumne County, Calif.)
• Kern Valley (L05) east of Bakersfield, CA

I've been to the first two airports and they are interesting destinations to visit!

 

[Aeromot]

There is an unofficial campground here at Santa Paula, right across the runway from us. In fact, someone flew in yesterday and tented overnight to come to today's First Sunday display day. It's at the south west corner of the airport, right between the runway and the river. The only drawback is that there is no potty in the immediate vicinity (you need to walk halfway down the runway to the Airport office or make friends with one of us who lives in the hangars at this end at the airport) or portable water nearby. It is a nice grassy area for a tent, however.

I have also seen people camp at Bishop Airport.

 

[California Flyer]

That's right, @Aeromot! And I can personally attest to the fact that it was a nice place to camp for the night.

 

[BananAppeal]

There are a few that I know of near where I live:

• Oceano (L52) right on the Pacific coast, just north of Pismo Beach
• Columbia (O22), the other airport in my county (Tuolumne County, Calif.)
• Kern Valley (L05) east of Bakersfield, CA

I've been to the first two airports and they are interesting destinations to visit!

We’ve been to all three. All fun! Isn’t there a recontructed Western town at Columbia?

 

[BananAppeal]

There is an unofficial campground here at Santa Paula, right across the runway from us. In fact, someone flew in yesterday and tented overnight to come to today's First Sunday display day. It's at the south west corner of the airport, right between the runway and the river. The only drawback is that there is no potty in the immediate vicinity (you need to walk halfway down the runway to the Airport office or make friends with one of us who lives in the hangars at this end at the airport) or portable water nearby. It is a nice grassy area for a tent, however.

I have also seen people camp at Bishop Airport.

There are some spigots in the garden, but that water’s not wonderful

 

[California Flyer]

We’ve been to all three. All fun! Isn’t there a recontructed Western town at Columbia?

Columbia State Park is a short (10-15 minute) walk from the airport. It's a restored Gold Rush town, with the old buildings housing both museum exhibits and real stores (mostly) selling the wares that would be sold in the town during the 1850s when the town was in its heyday. There's a Playhouse that has good musicals and dramas, some great restaurants (try Columbia Kate's for excellent tea service), a blacksmith, a Masonic hall exhibit, a hotel, and even stagecoach rides and gold panning for the kids. Because the whole town is a State Historic Park, it will be preserved for many generations. If you do go, plan to spend a little extra time hiking up the hill to the old schoolhouse and the old cemetery. There's a nature trail that starts at the school that explains some of the remnants of the mining operations you will see on the trail loop.

Even before I moved to the county where this town is located, my friends and I used to do fly-outs from the Bay Area (It's under an hour even in a pokey slow plane). The airport is the home of the annual Luscombe Fly-In and the Father's Day Fly-In (open house for the airport), and you can watch CalFire in action during the summer when their base is fully staffed. Keep in mind, if you do fly in when CalFire is working a fire, give them the right-of-way for landing and expect them to land on rwy 35 and depart on 17, regardless of what the winds are doing. Their base is on the northeast side of the main runway.

 

[Palmpilot]

Columbia State Park is a short (10-15 minute) walk from the airport. It's a restored Gold Rush town, with the old buildings housing both museum exhibits and real stores (mostly) selling the wares that would be sold in the town during the 1850s when the town was in its heyday. There's a Playhouse that has good musicals and dramas, some great restaurants (try Columbia Kate's for excellent tea service), a blacksmith, a Masonic hall exhibit, a hotel, and even stagecoach rides and gold panning for the kids. Because the whole town is a State Historic Park, it will be preserved for many generations. If you do go, plan to spend a little extra time hiking up the hill to the old schoolhouse and the old cemetery. There's a nature trail that starts at the school that explains some of the remnants of the mining operations you will see on the trail loop.

Even before I moved to the county where this town is located, my friends and I used to do fly-outs from the Bay Area (It's under an hour even in a pokey slow plane). The airport is the home of the annual Luscombe Fly-In and the Father's Day Fly-In (open house for the airport), and you can watch CalFire in action during the summer when their base is fully staffed. Keep in mind, if you do fly in when CalFire is working a fire, give them the right-of-way for landing and expect them to land on rwy 35 and depart on 17, regardless of what the winds are doing. Their base is on the northeast side of the main runway.

I have walked up to the old schoolhouse many times.

There is also a nature trail that leads from the airport to the current school. That one tends to be muddy after extensive rain.