Airport ID: 1B1
Date: Aug 09, 2017
Day of Week: Wednesday
Time of Day: 17:30-20:00
Flight Rules: VFR
Route: direct (voluntarily east of Hudson River southbound)
ATC Advisories: Yes
ATC facilities used: ALB Approach
Flight Following notes: No advisories issued either leg. On return leg was given “at or above 4,500 ft” altitude restriction (this is above the ceiling of the Class C, but the flight passed directly over KALB with a great view of the a/p). Altitude restriction was removed just before reaching the northern edge of the ALB Class C outer ring. Plenty of time to execute a reasonable descent for 5B2 arrival.
Destination Airport Notes: Richmor FBO closed ~6 pm, before we arrived. Re-entry through gate requires lock code *which was not posted on the apron side of the gate*. We walked down to the maintenance hangar where, luckily, someone was there who could give us the code. However, they offered us a crew car (with gate pass) to use, so the gate code was not needed.
Food/Attractions: Kozel’s restaurant (www.kozelsrestaurant.com) is an enduring roadhouse restaurant (founded 1936) next to the airport (but requires a little walk). At dinner they had 2 menus – ask for the “sandwich menu” if you are not in the mood for a solid dinner. It is off the departure end of r/w 03. However, there is no gate to walk through, so you need to walk ~3/4mi along 9H from the FBO to the restaurant.
Recommendation: Would likely do it again. Call ahead to ensure you have the gate code. Also, fuel is much less expensive, so consider saving the Club some money by refueling there instead of 5B2, if you can. For my trip fuel was $3.90 at 1B1, while it was $5.35 @ 5B2. (I saved over $25 refueling @ 1B1)