Niagara Falls - MacDill & return

Author Message   Roger Johnson Advanced Member Username: Rwjohn6 Post Number: 251 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 64.12.116.208 Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - 02:37 pm:    Yes there is civilian airport sharing the same runway.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5521 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - 02:29 pm:    Is Niagara ARS colocated with a civilian airport? I am thinking of amenities such as rental car offices, etc.   Joe Reele Member Username: Pippo Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 72.88.59.135 Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - 02:20 pm:    Hi Guys, I was also on the flight to MacDill and have been flying with NF units for years. They are really special people. The crews have always been top notch and assist in many ways that are not required. I also volunteer at the RAO on base. We usually have the flight info for the month on the first week of the month. The RAO number is 716 236 2389   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1447 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 64.237.195.232 Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 12:36 pm:    Karen, Excellent report. I agree with you; Niagara Falls ARS is a very friendly place. People at the terminal are very helpful and always willing to assist in whatever they can. Happy travels!   Dan B-McC Member Username: Bensonmd Post Number: 15 Registered: 04-2009 Posted From: 164.214.1.54 Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 03:55 pm:    Karen, Good post! Niagara is a great (almost) secret. I stop by to say hi to the friendly folks at Flight Ops when I get the chance (during visists). Wonder how it's going to change when the Army Reserve station from the other side of the Runway merges with the Base (BRAC mandate). I keep trying to monitor Andrews - Niagara and return. Hasn't worked out yet, but I keep watching. John, Got you beat. I was born at Niagara Memorial, raised in Town of Niagara/N.T., went to NW and actually worked at the O'Club as a teen ('course we won't discuss how long ago THAT was! LOL)   Roger Johnson Advanced Member Username: Rwjohn6 Post Number: 242 Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 64.12.116.208 Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 10:10 am:    There are 2 units at Niagara. The 914th and the 107th which I was a member for 30 years. The 107th ow has C130s as well and will have space a as well. They also can be contacted at the ops building. Check their website for numbers and recording for space a. Roger in Fl   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 281 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 76.180.24.113 Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 - 08:38 pm:    There are reasons that I cannot make that commitment. For anyone who has interest in Niagara Falls, it's best to just call their Base Ops. However, I would be glad to assist anyone if they ever contact me offline, as far as advice about what to do in the area, helping them out if they're stranded to get them to a rental car agency, etc.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6247 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 - 07:56 pm:    Karen, If you plan on being there for a while,perhaps you might like to become the poster for flights from Niagara Falls ARS(IAG) for the board.If so you may send your request to dinotars@tampabay.rr.com   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2205 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 79.206.5.247 Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 - 06:56 pm:    Karen: Great report. thanks for writing it up and posting it for us. Got to make it back up to the Buffalo area one of these days (born at Mercy Hospital, raised in Ebenezer and Lockport!). Sounds like the NFARS is a real gem along with the folks who serve there! Happy Travels, John   Karen Yan Advanced Member Username: Karenyan Post Number: 280 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 76.180.24.113 Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009 - 06:29 pm:    Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (914th Airlift Wing) has completed their conversion to C-130's. I called Base Ops & learned that there was a weekend trip this past weekend to MacDill, leaving Friday, and returning Sunday. There were 25 seats available. Showtime was 1200 for a 1400 scheduled takeoff. I am a Category 6, and MacDill was my last duty station. This would be a great opportunity for us to see husband (still there until he retires from the Tampa Police Dept. soon), as well as other visits. I took my 2 daughters out of school for a day and drove the 25 minutes to Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. I showed up early, at 1100, and they had me sign the manifest list. We were the first ones to sign up. Then we went to their small BX for a while. We returned and there were a total of 11 people signed for the trip, (including us). One of the crew took down all of our phone numbers in case there were any changes to the return trip. After a 1-hour maintenance delay, we were airborne. It was a pleasant flight, and we shouldn't have even brought our winter coats as it wasn't cold in the plane. Before landing the loadmaster came and grabbed my 2 daughters and brought them into the cockpit. I didn't see them again until the plane was shut off and we were ready to head to the bus. They loved it. Before we all went our own ways, one of the crewmembers told us Sunday showtime was at 1000 for a 1200 takeoff, and that if there was any change, he'd call us & let us know. The crew was awesome. My husband was in in the terminal, and we enjoyed a weekend using our last day on our Disney Pass at Epcot, and I also was able to take a nostalgic morning brisk walk with some forever friends. Sunday, upon checkin, it was announced that departure was delayed due to weather in Niagara Falls. They said to standby for further info. We were either going to divert to Wright Patterson for the night or delay departure until tomorrow. After an hour it was decided that we would return to Niagara Falls. We boarded the aircraft. After a while, we heard the noise shut off. There was a generator problem. Departure delayed until the next day. No one was dissapointed about this because the weather was beautiful & everyone was enjoying Florida. (and everyone was retired, so no angry bosses) The crewmember told us he'd call/text us all with updated showtime soon. He did and showtime was 0700 the next day. We enjoyed visiting some more, fitting one more friend in. Next day, we took off at 1000 and landed a few hours ago at 1308. It was a great group of fellow passengers. All were retired. Many were very familiar with the Pepperd board, but not regular posters. Most fellow travelers were very space-a Savvy, knowing to be prepared and very helpful to everyone else. Other details: Niagara Falls is a Space-A friendly place. They post their schedules monthly. They'll tell you over the phone where they are going, but won't tell you the exact dates until it's closer to the departure date. However, you can always stop in Base Ops in person & see the schedule & dates. I observed people renting from Enterprise at MacDill after duty hours. It was very easy for them. They made reservations over the phone, the Enterprise employee told them where the keys would be left, and the Pax rep took the keys from them before we departed and kept them in a box. When the flight was delayed a day, the Pax rep just pulled out the box of keys and handed them back to everyone. Some people who called lodging in advance were told there were no rooms. Sure enough, when people showed up at MacDill Inn in person, a room was available. (we arrived after 1800, when reservations without credit cards are automatically canceled) Off topic: Re: Disney, Magic Kingdom is just too small a park to handle the crowds. People come from all over the world. If you must go to this park, go in early, have a plan to see what you want to see, and then get the heck out & go to Epcot, which is bigger & never seems overly crowded. Also, before entering the park, get a foot-long $5 sub at Subway on Highway 192 to bring it in the park. We did & it's allowed. In the Magic Kingdom there were 1-hour lines to buy expensive mediocre food. We're looking forward to many more trips out of Niagara Falls. In fact, I'd take next weekend's trip if the girls didn't miss 2 days of school instead of 1 on this trip.