Tangier Island Airport

at Tangier Island Airport

From Scott Shea on 13-Jun-2008

Flew in to TGI today (June 13th, 2008). Called Pax River App and R-4006 was active. I called up the Unicom/CTAF 10 miles out for advisories-no one answered. I overflew the field and I had a tough time locating the windsock, which is near the parking apron. I landed on rw2, and was expecting the runway to be rough, and it was. It was about as bad as you have heard with grass overgrowing in cracks, bumps everywhere. The runway is not bad when using a soft-field technique. The locals are repaving it for 2009, but I also heard that it would go from 2950' down to 2500' strip. The "FBO" is run out of that gents 5th wheeler. All food and eating establishments are an easy walking distance from the airport, and all restaurants are good their on the island. Getting out of there was actually very easy. I did a short field/soft field combination and took off on runway 20 and I was off the ground before the "hump" and remained in ground effect until VX speed and then climbed out to the East.
 

From Linda Cioffi on 29-May-2008

What a unique experience! Everything is within an easy walking distance. Lorraine's crab cakes were delightful! Fisherman's Corner is an outstanding restaurant! Beach is close and hardly anyone on it. A few shops but we were there on a Sunday when most are closed. We stayed at the Bay View Inn - exceptional! Wouldn't hesitate to stop in again! On take off, if you time the hump just right you can launch and stay in ground effect to build up air speed on Rwy 20. Be aware of other aircraft incorrectly flying a left patter for Rwy 2 - should be right pattern. Friendly people, good food, comfortable lodging - a good stop!
 

From Robert Baker on 25-May-2008

Flew into KTGI today in C-172, landed runway 02 (the end with the "hump"). No problem landing, just kept the nose wheel light. Great experience, wonderful people, and good food at Loraine’s. $7 landing fee seems appropriate. They are working to collect funds for a repaving project in 2009, so go and show your support!
 

From Zsolt Pulai on 27-Jan-2008

We flew there yesterday. Children were playing football on the field, we had to do two low approaches before finally they "taxied clear" the runway. The hump wasn't bad, but I had to keep the nose up for sure! People are very friendly there, offered us free rides on the famous golf carts, but unfortunately no restaurants were open this time, but we got some hot dogs at the local grocery store, they let us warm up the hot dogs in the microwave, so we had fun doing all these. Very nice island, very nice place to visit, if you've never been there, I highly recommend!
 

From Danos Ettrick on 25-Nov-2007

My lady and I took a day trip to Tangier Island yesterday. The airport was interesting. We took RW 02. Kids were playing football on the strip, but they were off of it by the time we got down. The hump wasn't as bad as it was made out to be, but the grass was high. 10$ landing fee. All in all, not a big deal coming or going. No tie downs. The people were incredibly friendly!! We even got invited to a wedding that was going that evening but we had to decline. Went to Loraine's Sandwich Shop. The crab cakes were unreal!! Highly recommend Loraine's! Beautiful scenic flight probably from any direction. Great romantic day trip!
 

From Frank Lee on 26-Oct-2007

Well they got my attention - $10 Landing Fee and $10 Parking Fee PER DAY! OUCH! Jeez Louise! I land at Richmond international and don't get tagged like that!
 

From Wade Walton on 21-Sep-2007

Regarding "The Famous Hump": as long as you're proficient, Don't Worry About It! It's a rustic place, with a rustic runway. As long as you're prepared for that, you'll do fine - it's a delightful island. FYI, some of the restaurants close after the high season, so as long as a quiet experience is ok with you, you'll have a great afternoon. Let us know if they ever got the new FBO built, and... Enjoy!
 

From Marcus Farcus on 18-Sep-2007

Gents- I am planning a trip out to TGI. Where exactly is this legendary hump? I am getting a mix bag from all the comments. I do not anticipate an issue but want to know. Will post my experience after Sunday.
 

From Don Rumberger on 27-Aug-2007

Flew to Tangier on Friday, August 24. A gallon of Round-Up could do wonders for that place. Other than that, the field is just fine for a small plane (C172). A lineman in a golf cart charged me a $5 parking fee. (Hope they invest it in weed killer.) Folks were friendly. Had a nice lunch in town. Cool place to show your friends. We experienced the hump both on landing and takeoff (runway 20). Not a great big deal.
 

From Rob Posey on 04-Aug-2007

Went out to Tangier Island today. Just wanted to go for a ride and thought that would be a great trip. Flew up from the SW out of CPK. Landed on RW 20 in a C-172. Did a short field landing and was stopped before the hump. Then taxied back and took off from 20. Short field again and was off the ground before the hump. The runway is not as bad as I thought it would be from reading on here. It isn't great but it is far from the gravel road with pot holes I was expecting. Will be taking my girlfriend up there next weekend for a day trip and am not at all worried about the runway anymore.
 

From Gary Mascelli on 22-Jun-2007

Finally made the trip to TGI. I read all the reports and I agree the runway is bad. One hump maybe two cracks and weeds growing everywhere. At least we had the heads up about no facilities. I would have paid the landing fee just so they would cut the weeds. The people seemed to be out of a Steven King novel. Mary and I are both pretty happy go lucky people but these folks seemed miserable. Not a hello, get out of the way or anything. We walked back to the plane and headed out, disappointed. We agreed we would not waste our time going back. Maybe a weekday is not a good time to visit?
 

From Robert Brooks on 17-Jun-2007

Visited Tangier today, what a quaint airport. It is a reminder of why I fly; I found the runway to be in marginal yet usable condition. I agree that landing from 02 may be a bit better than 20, but landing 20 today was not bad, hump and all. We landed safely, ate some seafood, walked the island, paid our $5 and were on our way. The pilot of a departing plane refused to pay $5 to the operator, not sure what his beef was but he did upset the operations person, for $5. I will be back my wife loved the island.
 

From Chris Milner on 30-May-2007

Flew into Tangier today. Yes there's a hump in the runway and yes the runway is in poor condition and yes you need to bring your own tie downs and yes the airport is kind of disheveled - but all part of the experience. Nobody there to take my $5 when landing or taking off. Basically walked the entire island and had great crab cakes & soft-shell crabs at Lorraine's, all in 3 hours. Authentic, slow island life, small town, and rich history, not too touristy at all. Interesting tradition of aboveground graves in small family cemeteries in many houses' front yards. Fantastic experience and I definitely will be back.
 

From Brian Link on 30-Apr-2007

Runway in poor condition. Locals friendly and hospitable
 

From Richard Durand on 17-Feb-2007

Flew into Tangier today. Runway was not so bad.... Nice headwind out of the SW, landed runway 20, and then a quick roll to a stop. We did find a tie down, but you may want to bring your own ropes (they have steel cables on the ground to tie to). We ate lunch at Lorraine's sandwich shop, which is all that is open during the winter. Everyone we spoke to on the island was very friendly. They were iced in and no boats were going in or out. Could not find anyone to take the landing fee. A little short field technique on the way out got us airborne before the famed "hump" which was not as bad as I thought it would be. A very nice trip that was part of my "long X-Country" for my IFR training. I will go back.
 

From David Williams on 25-Jan-2007

Runway is in bad disrepair. Pot holes! Don't take an airplane in there that you care about. I was charged the landing fee on a day it was flooded and you could not get into town because of the high water. "It's a LANDING FEE !!" they said.
 

From Nelson Dorronsoro on 19-Nov-2006

We flew from CDW to this lovely peace airpark. No problem with the runway as previously stated; runway is fine to GA aircraft. Although most restaurants already closed for the season. We went to the only sandwich place open and trust me, the crab cakes are OFF THE CHAIN. Nice place to visit for the peace seeker. R4006 are friendly and Dover controls it.
 

From Andy Turner on 14-Nov-2006

We did a November trip, and found the island to be very interesting, but beware that most restaurants are close for the season on October 1. We found one to be open, and sandwich shop sort of place. Landing fee $5, overnight fee $5. No ropes available, make sure to bring your own, the wind blows hard out there. I couldn't detect any bumps in the runway, but then I don't fly much out of those big city airports with smooth pavement either, so I suspect that the criteria for a "bump" depends on your perspective.
 

From Eric Chilton on 17-Sep-2006

Flew in at 1030am on Sunday morning. Nice headwind from the north so landed runway 02 and only needed a few hundred feet. Runway could use some improvement, but really its not terrible. Bring your own tie downs. Met by "Jeff" in a golf cart that pointed to the tie down spot and collected the $5 fee. Took about 5 min to walk to the Main Street of town and was immediately met by a local who gave us a tour of the island by golf cart, again for a $5 fee. Well worth it. Ate the $19 crab cake "family style" lunch at Hilda Crocketts. If you don't eat lunch here, you really didn't take advantage of your flight to the island. Walk south on Main Street, past the post office and it will be about 150 yards down on your left. Out of this world home-style cooking, including all the crab cakes you want (I’m a big dude and only ate 3 with all the other offerings available). Had Pax Approach all the way in and out with no issues at all. Highly recommend this stop. No fuel or services available.
 

From William Reinhold on 14-Sep-2006

We visited Tangier Island for the first time this past weekend. Although we talked with folks there who had visited multiple times and love it, we were a little disappointed. The airfield looks abandoned with lots of clutter and plenty of weeds growing through the asphalt, and the town was kind of disheveled. The food was good at the Fisherman's Corner and the restaurant was packed, but service was pretty slow. Also, be prepared--no cell phone coverage, at least for Verizon, and no public phone at the airfield.
 

From Alan Reichert on 18-Aug-2006

Stopped here on August 5. They still collect the $5 fee. The fellow collecting said they had problems with the contractor who was supposed to build the new FBO building. They still hope to do the runway work this fall.
 

From Rob Thomas on 21-Jul-2006

KTGI's air strip is still there and is still suitable for landing. However the airport building itself was razed about 2 months ago. No more tie down fee, no more landing fee. I have a feeling they are going to let it fall into disrepair.
 

From Andrew McVicker on 04-Jul-2006

Fun day trip (actually a couple of hours should do it). Not a good destination for anyone uncomfortable with unimproved/unmaintained runway ops. The infamous bump (~1/4 way down Rwy 20) is visible from the air, so a low approach to take a look first is not a bad idea if you are worried about it. That said I landed past it on arrival and was airborn before it on departure with no issues. Tangier is a fun place to visit and the crabcakes alone are worth it. Got the 10 minute golf cart island tour, worth it to get some scoop on local lore and happenings.
 

From Richard Smith on 20-Jun-2006

Tangier Island is a great getaway from the fast paced city life. I landed and took off from Rwy 20. Maintain just enough back stick to keep the nosewheel slightly off of the ground and you'll have no problem with the bump. Cross winds can be an issue so be prepared. I had radio contact with Pax River Approach once I reached 500ft AGL. Be certain to ensure the restricted area is not active before you head west. You can probably see and do everything you would want in one day on the island. Great day trip.
 

From Wade Walton on 29-May-2006

Tangier Island is a great day trip -- one of the best $100 crab cake destinations anywhere! Lunch at the Channel Marker restaurant just over the bridge is always fun, friendly and tasty. The runway's fine, just come in with a little power and hold the nose off if you're worried about the cracks. The FBO is missing: the FBO operator that was collecting the $5 landing fee from a golf cart pointed out the building materials for the new FBO to be constructed (some day.)
 

From Matthew Greenlaw on 17-Feb-2006

Visited Tangier Island on Feb 15, 2006. Quite an interesting place. Not really a tourist location in the winter, but a delightful flight and a good lunch. We ate at Loraine's sandwich shop. It was quite good and we talked with the locals about the history of the island a bit. I hate that I forgot my camera because it is a charming little town. We saw the towns only police officer "patrolling" on his bicycle. I'll definitely visit again in the summer and get some fresh seafood. Also, please note that the trailers right next to the non-movement area are not the FBO--they are actually people's homes. I hope I did not disturb them too much by knocking. We stopped by the town hall to talk with the lady there, get some directions and get our VA Ambassador passports stamped. From the departure end of Rwy 20, head SW up the little road about 100 yards and town hall is a white building on the right. They are very helpful and can point you to the places to visit. Have fun!
 

From Jared Max Hendler on 23-Jan-2006

Well worth the trip - even in winter! It is an island lost in time. Transportation is golf carts and bicycles. 3 restaurants, 2 churches and 624 residents. There aren't too many places remaining in the USA like this. Runway is not great - but it is passable.
 

From Robert Lemieux on 03-Oct-2005

Wasn't sure if I should log a soft field landing with all the grass in the cracks! Anyway, surface isn't really that bad. Had lunch at the Chesapeake House and walked away completely satisfied! Fun place to fly to...highly recommend a several hour stay if not overnight.
 

From Mike Bullock on 12-Sep-2005

Went to Tangier on Sept 11, 2005. Landed on runway 2 with a 90 degree crosswind. It is a little bumpy...I did a soft field landing based on what previous posters recommended. This is a fantastic destination. There are bikes to rent on the field for $2/hour. We ended up getting lunch at the Channel Marker (fantastic food and people), biking the town, then going to the beach at the south end of the runway. Everyone who lives on the island is super nice and very willing to help out the obvious tourists.