FLY777UAL From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4510 posts, RR: 3 Posted (10 years 6 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 673 times:
Quick question-
I have noticed that there are quite a few small airports, as well as many "general aviation" airports (Denver Centennial, Brown Municipal, etc.), and was wondering if it would be possible for commercial flights such as the same type as Lufthansa's BBJ flights, to clear customs there on their way to their US destination (as well as take on additional fuel, if needed--kill two birds with one stone!).
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 2, posted (10 years 6 months 6 days ago) and read 625 times:
While I am sure the FBO's at Brown (KSDM) would be more than happy to have commercial traffic come in to refuel I don't think it is really practical. Most muni airports like Brown just don't have the facilites for the numbers of people that would be transiting.
The procedure at Brown to clear customs is for the pilot to notify customs of an ETA or have the tower call ahead and arrange for an agent to meet the a/c. At shift change times for customs the a/c sometimes have to wait for an hour or so before an agent arrives. (Customs has an office at the airport, but no permanent staff there. They must come from a border crossing about 5 miles away.)
While Brown can handle the largest of A/C (it has hosted Concorde and the AN-224 in the distant past...) it is still a small airport with limited parking facilities for large jets.
To sum up I think that the cost of improvements to small airports just to handle a limited number of a/c that are only transiting through would be prohibitive.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11142 posts, RR: 61 Reply 3, posted (10 years 6 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 601 times:
Only if the airport is certified to recieve scheduled air service. Denver Centennial is a General Aviation airport with a 75,000lb. weight limit and is not certified for scheduled air service. Only in emergency situtations, a scheduled flight can make a landing there.
Also, since it has a 75,000lb. weight limit. You can't have a fully loaded BBJ land there.
Regards
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
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From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4510 posts, 
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