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Flying to Detroit...Tips??

Mark Dickens

Mark Dickens

Well Known Member
Patron
I'm planning a trip to Detroit on the 24th to attend a trade show at Ford Field and staying at the Greektown Casino/Hotel, so KDET seems to be the obvious choice. The FBO at KDET has great ratings on Airnav. Since I'd be flying the -8 in, I thought I'd check in with local RVers for tips, local gouge, etc. Any thoughts or info appreciated!
 
Greek Town

If you're staying at the Casino be sure to venture out to the Greek Town main street. The restaurant to find is The Phoenix. Excellent lamb dishes and stuffed grape leaves. And order the flaming cheese appetizer. If you have the time and some form of ground transportation, visit The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn (just a very short drive). Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . . . Wonderful place.

Also, the Detroit Institute of Arts is surprisingly one of the worlds great art museums. When Detroit was on top they bought a lot of top notch art. A really nice place to visit. It is nearby Ford Field and Greek Town, so is easy to get there if you have a car.
 
I wish I had time to explore, but this is going to be a fast trip. Fly in, check in, set up for the show, train a sales rep, do the show and get out of town. What I was hoping for was any tips or info about flying into KDET. Do this, don't do that, watch out for this...kind of stuff.
 
I would probably stay at 1D2 rather than KDET.

Just my preference, mostly because that's where I learned to fly when I lived in metro Detroit for four years back in the 80's.
 
from a KDET veteran

I learned to fly there. I got my PSEL and Instrument ratings there. I kept my Moni, my C-150 and my RV-7A there. I built the 7A there. I only, finally, gave up on KDET a couple of years ago.

But for a visit to the downtown area it is the logical choice. I think there is still a car rental place right inside the terminal. The FBO fuel price is high but sometimes the self serve fuel is working (near the west end, south side of Rwy 25).

Any other airport is a long way from downtown (Ford Field, etc.) The closest lodgings are downtown, walking distance from GreekTown which is fun and the best restaurants anyhow. There is nothing near KDET itself. I can recommend a very nice little deli for lunch and maybe breakfast, just south of GreekTown. There are many fast food options in the lower level of RenCen, just south of Jefferson. GreekTown is north of Jefferson.

The good news is that the IFR runway is long enough, there is a tower, etc. Even the short runway is plenty long enough for an RV.

If you want to go into detail, PM me for a phone number.
 
I Have flown into KDET several times for weekends with my daughter.
Avflight has a $10 overnight fee and decent fuel prices. Disadvantage is the tie down area is not close to the FBO and you need to bring you own ropes.
Easy in and out and very close to downtown. Friendly people will take care of you.

John Morgan
 
Flying in

Mark Dickens said:
I wish I had time to explore, but this is going to be a fast trip. Fly in, check in, set up for the show, train a sales rep, do the show and get out of town. What I was hoping for was any tips or info about flying into KDET. Do this, don't do that, watch out for this...kind of stuff.
Click to expand...

It's under the Class Bravo for KDTW and very near the Canadian border. Get yourself the TCA chart for sure. Make sure to check for a TFR for Ford Field, Tiger Stadium, etc.

Depending on where you are coming from, the most direct route might be through Canadian airspace but a huge chunk of the peninsula that is Essex County, Ontario is controlled by ATC. You need, of course, special procedures to do that but you don't need to clear customs. I assume you have Mode C. You will need it. If you are equipped and rated, file IFR. Canada is south of Detroit but you might also have the option to go via KTOL and up the Detroit River, avoiding Canada. The problem with that is the very tight little path because of Canada on one side and KDTW on the other.

Unless the wind is bad, expect 15/33 which is the long, IFR runway and the FBO is at the south end of that runway on the east side.
 
Last edited:
hevansrv7a said:
I learned to fly there. I got my PSEL and Instrument ratings there. I kept my Moni, my C-150 and my RV-7A there. I built the 7A there. I only, finally, gave up on KDET a couple of years ago.

But for a visit to the downtown area it is the logical choice. I think there is still a car rental place right inside the terminal. The FBO fuel price is high but sometimes the self serve fuel is working (near the west end, south side of Rwy 25).

Any other airport is a long way from downtown (Ford Field, etc.) The closest lodgings are downtown, walking distance from GreekTown which is fun and the best restaurants anyhow. There is nothing near KDET itself. I can recommend a very nice little deli for lunch and maybe breakfast, just south of GreekTown. There are many fast food options in the lower level of RenCen, just south of Jefferson. GreekTown is north of Jefferson.

The good news is that the IFR runway is long enough, there is a tower, etc. Even the short runway is plenty long enough for an RV.

If you want to go into detail, PM me for a phone number.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
morganjp said:
I Have flown into KDET several times for weekends with my daughter.
Avflight has a $10 overnight fee and decent fuel prices. Disadvantage is the tie down area is not close to the FBO and you need to bring you own ropes.
Easy in and out and very close to downtown. Friendly people will take care of you.

John Morgan
Click to expand...

Thanks...exactly what I was looking for. I'll make sure and take ropes.
 
hevansrv7a said:
It's under the Class Bravo for KDTW and very near the Canadian border. Get yourself the TCA chart for sure. Make sure to check for a TFR for Ford Field, Tiger Stadium, etc.

Depending on where you are coming from, the most direct route might be through Canadian airspace but a huge chunk of the peninsula that is Essex County, Ontario is controlled by ATC. You need, of course, special procedures to do that but you don't need to clear customs. I assume you have Mode C. You will need it. If you are equipped and rated, file IFR. Canada is south of Detroit but you might also have the option to go via KTOL and up the Detroit River, avoiding Canada. The problem with that is the very tight little path because of Canada on one side and KDTW on the other.

Unless the wind is bad, expect 15/33 which is the long, IFR runway and the FBO is at the south end of that runway on the east side.
Click to expand...

I'm coming from west TN, so I'll be able to avoid Canada, and I'll file IFR so shouldn't have any issues with airspace intrusion. I just follow ATC's instructions! Thanks for the info on the runway!
 
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