Runway: How bad is too bad for a C172?

[cpknight]

I'm a student pilot with experience landing C172s only on immaculate, well-maintained concrete runways. For a variety of reasons, I'm planning on visiting CYEA with some regularity, but the runway itself seems to have been poorly maintained for a few years ("terminal" building is nice enough, and the ARCAL apparently works fine, and is otherwise a nice little rural aerodrome). I drove out there to take a look, and while it appears to be entirely level, there are a few cracks with weeds encroaching, and parts of the surface nearing the sides seems to have a layer disintegrating. I'm not experienced enough to judge. Any thoughts on how bad is too bad?

CYEA Runway View 3

IMG_0265.jpg (336.38 KiB) Viewed 1939 times

CYEA Runway View 2

IMG_0249.jpg (236.01 KiB) Viewed 1939 times

CYEA Runway View 1

IMG_0244.jpg (437.16 KiB) Viewed 1939 times

PS. Not a lot of traffic at CYEA as far as I can tell. Looks like someone might have visited last summer. A helicopter outfit has a fuel cache there. Not much else going on, though. If you've ever flown there - or have thought of flying there - I'd be interested in hearing - please PM me.

[Chris M]

You'll be fine.

As a comparison, here's Cedres (CSS3) where I got my license 11 years ago. It's bad enough now that I make nice curvy rollouts to avoid the potholes, but obviously not everyone does that and their 20K hour 172 is still kicking.

[photofly]

The parts of the runway in your pictures are great - don't worry about that.

[Adam Oke]

Looks good to me! Better than most runways I've been in and out of for my entire career.

Just keep an eye out for various things that might damage your prop.

Avoid taxiing and/or landing in standing water.
Avoid loose gravel -- if it is inevitable, just ensure you are continuously moving and at low RPM
Avoid loose gravel and debris for start up and run up.
Avoid taxiing through tall weeds.
Just keep your head on a swivel for these runways that are not maintained so diligently.

The 172 will fair out fine on gravel, grass, and hard surfaces as you show. Gravel and grass, you should be more concerned about soft spots, ruts, and holes.

When this topic comes up, I often relate it to driving. Would you drive a modest truck down the runway at 80-100kph? If so, you likely have a decent runway.

[cpknight]

Thanks all - much appreciated.

[fish4life]

Good job asking a a checking though better than finding out the hard way. You should see if you can go with someone that has a lot of experience into some grass strips and get an idea what those are like. Bonus you will probably have way more fun than the pavement ones.

[Rookie50]

Good job asking a a checking though better than finding out the hard way. You should see if you can go with someone that has a lot of experience into some grass strips and get an idea what those are like. Bonus you will probably have way more fun than the pavement ones.

+1, runway is fine. And good on you for asking -- there are no dumb questions --

[co-joe]

Remember your nosewheel is fragile, and your prop is close to the ground. Pulling full aft on the control column while taxiing usually takes enough weight off the nose gear to raise it a good 3 inches or more especially if you have power on. This is 3" more prop clearance, less chance your prop blows loose asphalt around or picks it up. Treat it like a soft field. I did a bunch of flying out of Airdrie before they paved the new runway. It was an old BCATP field and 2 of the runways were totally unusable, the 3rd was rough as heck and had weeds growing through it. Keeping weight off that nose lessens the likelihood of damage if you find a new pot hole.

To me your pictures don't look worrisome but you are the PIC, so your call. Good on you for asking.

[Meatservo]

I'm not surprised you asked, since we are all taught to be very, very careful. But like the other guys say, that runway there is perfectly adequate for a 172. In fact you might end up liking it better than your immaculate one!

[PilotDAR]

Being aware of the runway surface relative to your operations is excellent! Respect the care for the plane as you are able. I always taxi tricycle aircraft which the control wheel held nose light, even if only for the moral satisfaction of knowing I tried to prevent damage to the prop and nosewheel. A trick for your back pocket when operating on anything less then clean pavement is to taxi a tricycle Cessna with 15 degrees of flap extended, and full nose up elevator. With careful management of the power it may be possible to actually taxi with the nosewheel off the ground. A trick of limited use, but demonstrates good control if you can do it well. Don't bang the tail on the ground trying it though!

I once was driven up to a little used aerodrome to ferry a fellow's 172 home for him. It was hangared there, and was time to come home for the summer. What had not been explained was that some time in the past fall, the area of grass between the hangar and the runway had been plowed into "light" furrows. Taxiing across "normally" would be impossible. I employed my trick, with an added element: I had the owner sit in the back seat, and his daughter crouch in the baggage compartment. Well aft of a flying C of G, but handy for only taxiing. With flaps 15, controls full nose up, and just the right amount of power, the nosewheel rose off the ground while still stationary, and I waddled the 172 across the rough ground at a waling pace with no problem. Moved the daughter to right seat, owner back to his car, and home I flew no problem.

[Rookie50]

Have to remember that flaps 15. Even taxiing for rwy 15 at YKZ that's a good idea. Horrible heaves over on that ramp.

[PropToFeather]

I'd say all your pictures of the middle of the runway look perfectly fine. Land on the centerline, and you shouldn't have any problems (if you're encountering those potholes from the last picture, you're probably a bit off ). Like others have said, use soft field technique while taxiing, it'll help with any debris. And, if it makes you feel any better, that runway looks waaaaaaaay better than the apron at the last large-ish controlled airport I flew a 172 out of!

[Cessna 180]

Buttonville's taxiways are far worse than that hahaha! Seriously, the first time I was there I couldn't believe how bumpy it was.

[redlaser]

It's good ,trust me, landed the Buffalo there last week,.

[Wmayeur]

Also, check the notams for ice and snow... If you can't figure out how bad the coverage is, or if the runway friction index is then you are out of your league, and need to fly a big more with an experienced pilot from the near north. Unless you are flying into CYSN, they blow the snow ONTO the runway instead of clearing it, and keep a standing 'at pilots own discretion' type of notam posted.