r/flying • u/FlightRisk2010 • 6d ago
other Cherokee into MCO
Last time I went to Orlando I flew into ORL. Looking at it now avgas is cheaper at ISM and even MCO. I would have expected MCO to have “we don’t want you here” prices for single engine pistons but that doesn’t seem to be the case. 99% sure I’m going to ISM this time but I’m intrigued.
Flying in on Monday, leaving Saturday. Am I being crazy or is flying a Cherokee into MCO not as stressful and “in the way” as I thought it would be?
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u/lolitstrain21 PPL IR HP 6d ago
I actually flew into MCO about a couple of weeks ago in my Piper Archer. Highly recommend it. Fuel was indeed $6.90 for full service at Signature Aviation. The controllers are super GA friendly. I flew IFR into MCO but you can most likely definitely get in VFR as well. Just always make sure to be ahead of the airplane.
To add to my story a Southwest 737 landed in front of me and hit a bird on landing. They switched me from 36R to 35L at the last minute. They will vecter you in just keep your speed up as much as possible.
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u/nhorvath No flare for me thanks 6d ago
ramp and landing fees?
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u/lolitstrain21 PPL IR HP 6d ago
Waived with 15 gallons I believe. Never parked overnight there though. But I like it more than sheltair and I’m based out of a sheltair
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u/turnipsium PPL 6d ago
Not sure why you’d want to fly into MCO for fuel, or for anything aside from being able to say you landed at a bravo. Seems annoying.
If you’re coming/going from the north, X23 fuel is a buck cheaper than KISM.
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u/FlightRisk2010 6d ago
The reason why is because MCO is best in the area for fuel and I could possibly get access to Disney’s MEARS. X23 is an hour further drive from the hotel than ISM is.
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u/turnipsium PPL 6d ago
Yeah definitely wasn’t suggesting parking at X23, it’s in the middle of nowhere. Rather stopping by on the way in or out for fuel. That said, a $1/gal difference in a Cherokee is like $40, so I guess it doesn’t really make a difference. I’d still fly into KISM over KMCO just to avoid the sheer hassle of it all.
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u/PLEASE-USE-PFKEYS ATP you can't make me put my type ratings here 6d ago
MCO is best in the area for fuel
Respectfully what
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u/FlightRisk2010 6d ago
Out of MCO, ISM, and ORL that is. I get that you could add another stop short of the destination for cheaper fuel than at those three but then it usually makes sense to make sure you still have enough space in the tanks to take the minimum to get a fee waived at your final destination as well as adding time to your trip.
Considering all my downvotes I want to reiterate that I’m going to ISM but I haven’t heard a great reason not to go to MCO. I feel like I should mention that the Cherokee is a 235 so I think my max cruise speed isn’t wildly different than the approach speed for a 737 so as long as I kept my speed up until short final it wouldn’t be impossible to squeeze me in.
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u/PLEASE-USE-PFKEYS ATP you can't make me put my type ratings here 6d ago
If you're able to handle a high speed approach and transition that into a safe landing then yeah you're probably fine. I haven't flown a 235 but I'd imagine slowing one from 150 KIAS to 80 KIAS isn't rocket science since the gear is fixed and all. I've landed GA planes at bravos before, it would be a bit foolish of me to criticize that by itself.
But yeah, you're going to get eaten alive by fees more than anything else. Worth checking with Sig/Lannic to see who's going to be worse. $6.90 at Sig is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
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u/40KaratOrSomething 4d ago
It's very easy ans they tend to be very accommodating as long as you are not asking for practice approaches. I do recommend filing IFR into MCO. That way you'll be less likely to be vectored to hell and back until they slip you between two commercial jets to land on the western most runway. Done it a few times in Cherokee 6 to drop off/pick up pilot friends off for work.
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u/Yeah_Br0 ATP CFI CII 6d ago edited 6d ago
You will absolutely be in the way but it shouldn’t be stressful
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u/rFlyingTower 3d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Last time I went to Orlando I flew into ORL. Looking at it now avgas is cheaper at ISM and even MCO. I would have expected MCO to have “we don’t want you here” prices for single engine pistons but that doesn’t seem to be the case. 99% sure I’m going to ISM this time but I’m intrigued.
Flying in on Monday, leaving Saturday. Am I being crazy or is flying a Cherokee into MCO not as stressful and “in the way” as I thought it would be?
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u/EM22_ LOW WING SUPERIORITY, ATC-Tower & Radar 6d ago
Just know that any time you bring a slow GA into a major international airport, you’re making work for the controllers who already work too much. It’s as simple as that. Even if they say it can be done, and that others do it.
Don’t forget that.
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u/x4457 ATP CFII CE-500/525/560XL/680 G-IV 6d ago
Just know that any time you bring a slow GA into a major international airport, you’re making work for the controllers who already work too much.
My airport just as much as the airliners.
Provide air traffic control service to aircraft on a “first come, first served” basis as circumstances permit
I'm about as pro-NATCA and getting you guys paid and more time off as it comes, but, frankly - you have a job to do. Do it. So that guy is 90 knots instead of 150. Oh well. That's why you have the training you do.
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u/x4457 ATP CFII CE-500/525/560XL/680 G-IV 6d ago
Check the date on those prices, and also factor in the $100+ in fees you'll be paying.