AOPA Pilot Magazine
August 2007 Volume 50 / Number 8
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Smell of the Sea
The South Florida air is heavy and humid, and from the departure end of 9,000-foot-long Runway 9 Left at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, one can easily smell the sea on the light easterly breeze. The Atlantic Ocean is barely a mile to the east.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is an airport in transition. Just as the city of Fort Lauderdale has become the primary jumping-off point for cruises to the Caribbean, the airport has become the departure point for flights to the Caribbean islands — both personal and commercial.
Combined with passengers flying in to board cruises and the fact that low-cost carriers have found the airport a favorable alternative to Miami, airline traffic is booming. That has put the squeeze on general aviation, much of which has moved to other nearby airports. The numbers are dramatic. Airline passenger counts at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International have doubled in the past 10 years, and today general aviation accounts for only 18 percent of operations at the airport.
A lot of piston-engine GA traffic has migrated to North Perry Airport (HWO), also operated by Broward County; Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE), run by the city of Fort Lauderdale; or, further north, Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP). Executive, with 800 based aircraft, "is truly a reliever here in the county," explains Walt Houghton, assistant to the director of aviation for Broward County. The airports in the area operate as a system, he said. "We have a great partnership with all of them."
Despite the increased air carrier operations and other changes, however, transient GA airplanes still come to FLL — for a quick turn and to clear Customs, or for a longer visit.
Once the sun drops below the horizon, the rhythm of operation continues at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The general aviation ramps grow quiet — for the moment. Airliners come and go in a choreographed flow, and general aviation slips into the mix almost unnoticed. Tonight, twilight brings no rush of refugees from the islands, but it's Saturday, after all. Tomorrow will be a different story.
What to do
Fort Lauderdale features a brick promenade, lined with palm trees, that's ideal for walking, jogging, or rollerblading. It passes the Elbo Room, featured in the 1960s movie Where the Boys Are starring Connie Francis and George Hamilton; the bar has stood at Las Olas Boulevard and Route A1A since 1938.
To the north, 3.5-mile-long Pompano Beach is a favorite of families; kids love the playgrounds on the sand. Or head south to the casual atmosphere of Hollywood Beach, where you can walk, run, or bicycle on a 2.5-mile-long oceanfront boardwalk. All told, the area boasts 23 miles of shoreline.
Don't think that Fort Lauderdale is only about the beaches — the area has a lot more to offer. Deep-sea fishing and golf are obvious choices; an airboat tour of the Everglades is not quite so obvious.
The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum preserves the history of the Packard Motor Company, which during World War II built Merlin engines under license from Rolls-Royce for the P-51 Mustang.
If you're a gambler, or just like to watch fast-paced sports, there's Jai-Alai — a centuries-old team game from Spain's Basque region in which players move a small, hard ball at speeds up to 180 mph; Dania Jai-Alai is only a short distance southeast of the airport. An art museum, shopping, and other attractions also are nearby.
Where to eat
Similarly, Fort Lauderdale offers a wide variety of restaurants; seafood is an excellent choice but don't overlook the many delicious Asian, Cuban, Latino, Spanish, and other offerings.
Where to stay
There are numerous hotels and motels in town and the surrounding beach areas. See AOPA's Airport Directory for more information.
Flying in
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International offers a variety of FBOs, including Jetscape Services, National Jets, SheltAir Aviation Services, and Signature Flight Support. If you're making your first flight into FLL, call around to see which facility will best meet your needs. All offer 100LL and jet fuel, crew cars, and other amenities.
SheltAir's distinctive crew cars are Chrysler PT Cruisers, complete with faux surfboards on the roof. SheltAir is right beside the 24-hour U.S. Customs facility and is the closest FBO to the shorter Runway 9R/27L used by most propeller-driven aircraft. When unexpected transient "pop-up" aircraft clearing Customs mix with scheduled traffic, its ramp can go from empty to full in the blink of an eye. That brings Operations Manager Vivian Douglas and customer service staff from the front desk onto the ramp, with chocks, carpets, or batons for marshalling arrivals — whatever is necessary. Arrivals from the Islands can be unpredictable, he explains, but there's often a rush right around sunset as pilots leave the islands — where night VFR flight is prohibited — before dark.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International recently instituted landing fees for all aircraft, to help finance needed runway improvements. The fees are modest, starting at $10 for aircraft landing weights up to 10,000 pounds; a Piper Cheyenne IV, at 11,100 pounds, is $10.77; a Learjet 60, at 19,500 pounds, is $18.92; and a 128,000-pound Boeing Business Jet is $124.16.
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