Cross-Country Possibilities

This is a Class C airport that happens to be just over the limit at 51nm. You need Class C experience anyway, so this counts for multiple pieces of your total required experience. A two-fer, as it were.

This airport is 51nm from Sanford, and is a great opportunity to exercise flight following with Fayetteville. It is a very quiet little airport, but with no self-serve fuel. The fuel facility looks like it should be self-serve, but isn’t. Ensure you can get fuel before launching for this destination.

This is 52nm away, and has the bonus of being a tower-controlled field, though the tower is only active part-time. When the tower is not open the field reverts to an uncontrolled field. Therefore, check the chart supplement information to find out the times the tower is open before assuming you can get some towered-field experience. This destination has an elaborate FBO building, a great self-serve fuel facility, and at times has a crew car available. I’ve not yet explored the eating establishments near this airport, however.

This destination is 52nm away, and is an easy simple flight. Just make sure you don’t get lost and deviate east, as there are restricted areas for the military not far east. While a very nice X/C flight, the self-serve fuel facility is old, and the LCD screen is virtually unreadable. In fact, the last time I flew to RCZ we simply could not manage to use the self-serve fuel because the sun faded LCD could not be interpreted.

This airport is a little further, at 56nm from Sanford.

This airport is also 56nm to the east, and is one of the few old military airports which still has all three of the runways, in a classic triangle-shape pattern, in use. That said, only one runway (3/21) is in particularly good condition.

Another slightly-further airport, again at 56nm. The direct line course there takes you right through KRDU airspace, which would be an excellent opportunity to work with a more busy set of controllers.

This is another nice little country airport 58nm away.

This is slightly further, but a nice flight, at 60nm away.

This is also 60nm away, but takes you into "Western NC BBQ" country, if you like that sort of thing. Backcountry BBQ, 5 minutes from the field has been recommended by some. It is a very simple flight west, with good landmarks on the way and little controlled airspace to work with. They have a crew car they are happy to let pilots use, and along with the very close BBQ place denoted above, there are many other destinations where one can eat. They have full-service as well as self-serve fuel, with a good self-serve facility.

Yet again further, but a nice flight east at 61nm. The FBO is under new management and they aim to please. The last time I flew into this airport there was a "follow me" golf cart deployed to lead us in, and they had both chocks and free cold bottled water in the cart. The fuel truck came right over and fueled us immediately and the crew inside were very welcoming. While I’ve not taken advantage yet, they claim to have two crew cars available for pilots. They do not yet have self-serve fuel, so plan accordingly. But they intend to have a self-serve facility soon.

Another small town airport, directly beyond KFAY from KTTA. At 64nm it is a reasonable X/C flight, and gives the opportunity of working with Fayetteville.

This is a good bit further, at 77nm, but has a restaurant on-field which makes it a fun destination. It also is in the edge of the mountains, which makes for a nice change from the flatland in which we normally fly.

This airport is 98nm away, and is a fairly busy tower-controlled airport. This airspace is a throwback to the older designations used for airspace, and falls outside of the usual Class B/C/D categorization. It is a TRSA, which is a "Terminal Radar Servie Area". Seafood is available just a short taxi/Uber/crew-car drive away, though.

This is a fun destination, but a good bit further afield at 107nm. However, once there a quick taxi/Uber/crew-car ride can take you to any of a number of good places to eat. In addition, flying near the coast is a great change from the flatland fields-of-green we are used to seeing. This airport has a part-time tower, so check the chart supplement for operating hours. It becomes an uncontrolled field when the tower closes.

This takes you to a beautiful part of the coast, but is 111nm from Sanford. The longer flight will allow you to accumulate a good bit of X/C time and would be great navigation practice. The direct line course cuts through KFAY airspace, so would require flight following.

This is a simple 112nm flight to a Class D controlled field which just misses the top of the KCLT airspace. Crosswinds Cafe is in the old terminal building. Just tell the tower you’re there for the restaurant and they will park you in front of the old terminal. You’ll park opposite the museum aircraft. If you need fuel tell them you want the FBO and then you just walk across the road to the restaurant.

This is one of my favorite destinations, but is quite a bit further away at 130nm. That said, all three runways (old style military field converted to civilian use) are in operation and in good shape. The people are friendly, and they have nice crew cars that can be used to drive to the Beaufort waterfront. Highly recommended, but you must be on your toes with respect to planning and working with ATC due to the multiple restricted areas through which you have to thread yourself. Talk with me about this destination before you go.

Another favorite destination, and one that is uniquely accessible to us in small aircraft. BUT, it is 156nm away and getting here is even more tricky than Beaufort due to military airspace. However, there are business on the island who will come pick you up at the airport, and even if you decide to walk in it is an easy mile (or so) walk to the center of the village. A great destination, but talk to me before you go.

Another fantastic coastal destination, with a straight-line distance of 167nm. BUT, you can’t fly a straight-line course due to military restricted airspace. Again, talk to me before you go. That said, it is a gateway to the next must-do destination if you are an NC pilot.

The birthplace of aviation, it is 168nm away from KTTA. Technically you can actually fly a straight-line course to KFFA, but are threading through the same military restricted airspace as you do for KMQI. You should be aware that KFFA has no lights, no fuel, a small ramp, and does not allow overnight parking. That said, it takes you right to the Wright Memorial and it is possible to get a picture of your plane with the Wright Memorial in the background.

This is another must-do destination for NC pilots, and coincidentally enough is also 168nm from KTTA. Asheville is also a Class C destination, though the Class C airspace is not the normal inverted wedding cake. Care must be taken as you get deeper into the mountains, particularly as you try to depart KAVL. There are ridge lines both east and west, and density altitude can be an issue.