Roswell Air Center and AvFlight Roswell

When you want to go on an adventure, why not go find extraterrestrials. Yes, I said extraterrestrials. Where is the best place to find beings from another world? Roswell, New Mexico of course! What is the best way to get to Roswell to see extraterrestrials? By airplane! It is even better if it is a general aviation airplane. So climb in your plane with a flight plan to the Roswell Air Center, also known as KROW.

We review every airport and the fixed base operator that we use at each airport by the same criteria (if we have a choice of FBOs or if they have an FBO). So what will you find at Roswell Air Center and AvFlight Roswell?

What will you find at the Roswell Airport, also known as the Roswell Air Center? The fixed base operator (FBO) is Avflight Roswell. Not only will you find extraterrestrials, the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, but you will also find an aviation boneyard.

Let’s talk about the Airport Review of the Roswell Air Center Airport and KROW AvFlight.

Runway at Roswell Air Center

We landed on runway 17. We took off on 17 as well. The taxi was a bit long but it gave us the opportunity to check out the aviation boneyard.

Condition

There were no noticeable bumps, ridges, or hazards. The runway is in good shape and there is plenty of it for a small plane.

Hazards

 The runway was free of grass and any debris. There is nothing on either end to impede take off or landing. 

Controllers

The airport was quiet and with very little traffic. We only had four calls total. The controllers were prompt and everything went smoothly. They let us take our time to check out the airline boneyard.

Ramp at Roswell Air Center

Condition 

The tiedown area was clean and free of debris.

Security 

Gated and secure to keep out the extra terrestrials or maybe to keep them in. It is Roswell…

They have a gate that allows access to the parking lot from the field, but you cannot re-enter the field from the parking lot.  

Parking

There is lots of parking on the ramp. There were very few people and planes when we were there, but the ramp can hold a good many planes. This airport used to be an Air Force Base so there is plenty of room. An added bonus is that you get to check out the airline boneyard on your way to the parking.

Chocks

Chocks were provided by the line crew before we ever got out of the plane, so we did not pull ours out.

Tie downs/Ropes

There was a bit of wind and the line crew also arrived with ropes in hand to tie us down. As they handled the tying down, I proceeded inside to check out the FBO. 

Service at AvFlight Roswell

Friendly 

Talk about friendly!  

The inside staff was just as welcoming, directing us to the snacks and restrooms.  They asked if we needed a car before we had a chance to mention it.  

Helpful 

So back to the linecrew, three of them showed up for our little Mooney. You can tell when we pull up that we are not a huge fuel sale, but they greeted us the same way they greeted the Citation that landed just after us and the helicopter that came in as we were leaving.  

The inside staff was knowledgeable of the area, offered suggestions and were everything you could ask for.

Prompt

Prompt for sure!  I already told you the linecrew was on it!  We had to wait for service at the desk, as they were both on the phone. By wait, I mean maybe a minute.  However, they greeted us with a smile and a nod of acknowledgement. The wait may have been longer if we had not landed before the citation, but we got there first.

Line crew Bonus

Apparently the FBO has certified line techs on staff.  That is not a major concern for our Mooney but it is a nice touch for the bigger planes that desire that level of service.

Fuel at Roswell AvFlight

Full Service or Self Service

The fuel was full service. There was no option for self serve. The fuel is a bit pricey.

Ease of access 

Obviously we had no access issues as they brought the truck to us. They were fueling the plane before we left the airport for our day trip adventure in search of extraterrestrials and food.  

Card reader/Payment processing 

Since there is no self service, the card reader was inside.  There were no issues and the equipment appeared to be relatively new.  The processing was quick and easy.

Condition of pumps

The truck was well maintained.

Lighting  

There was no lighting visible on the ramp.  It may be there but we did not see it. If you go there and find it, let us know.   

Facilities at AvFlight Roswell

Clean 

The facilities were clean, neat, and organized. Dirt and crumbs in the lounge and food areas are a pet peeve.  There were none.  

Accessible 

The entrance to the FBO is obvious and clearly marked.  The entrance was a straight shot from where we were parked.  They have a golf cart in case your parking spot is not directly in front of the door.

WiFi 

The Wifi was fast and free.  The password was clearly visible, so there was no need to ask.

Comfort 

The facilities meet all your basic needs plus some.  Check out the section on food.  

Flight Planning

There was a designated room for flight planning that was comfortable and useful.  The FBO provides a computer, printer, and basic office supplies (tape, stapler, pens, paper clips).

Ground Transportation at Roswell Air Center

Crew Cars

The FBO has crew cars also known as pilot courtesy cars.  When I mentioned heading into Roswell to visit the Roswell UFO Museum, I was handed a set of keys like they knew me.  No signing of forms or pictures of licenses or any questions at all.  We were treated like regulars, on our first trip.

The crew car was an older model SUV that appeared to be well used and could use a vacuum (but so can my SUV).  The vehicle ran perfectly and got us exactly where I wanted to go, ie. food and the museum.  

Rental Service

The FBO also offers rental cars.  They said on site and off site.  No specific company was mentioned.

Uber/Lyft 

I pulled up the app for Uber and Lyft.  Uber automatically said no cars available.  Lyft looked for a while and then listed no cars available.  I would not count on Uber or Lyft for services at this airport. 

Food Options

Restaurant/Delivery options

The staff at the FBO offered menus for restaurants that delivered. They also offered menus for restaurants close by, accessible with the crew car.  I have food allergies and cannot eat wheat. They suggested one or two restaurants that would best suit my needs, which was appreciated. They also gave their preferences of items on the menus to the passenger from another flight in search of every item I cannot eat.  

Vending Machines

They had a vending machine with your basic chips, granola bars and crackers.  

Free Snacks

They had quite a few options for free snacks like chips and cookies.  Popcorn is always a good choice for us.  

Food Bonus

They even have hot dogs on a roller, plus ketchup, mustard and buns. They also have a table set up with nachos and a cheese dispenser, plus a jar of jalapenos. We did not eat the hotdogs or nachos since we were going into town to eat. I cannot comment on the flavor, but the hotdogs smelled good.  

In case you carry your own food around, they also provide a microwave.

Ice

They have an ice machine.

Coffee

There is a carafe for coffee on the counter, with sugar and creamer (not the powdered stuff).  They also have several tea options.

Water

They have a water dispenser that provides hot and cold water.  I always carry my refillable bottle, so this is a huge plus for me. If you do not have your own bottle, cups are available. 

Drink Bonus

The FBO also provides a soda dispenser, with ice, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Fanta, Poweraid, and Lemonade. 

Bathrooms

Clean 

The restrooms are neat and well maintained.  Nothing stands out about them, which is probably a good thing.  

Spacious 

The men’s restroom is average size per my pilot. The women’s restroom is a bit snug.  I had to turn sideways to close the door and the knee space was limited. (I am pretty tall). The room is a little dark, which made it feel smaller.  

Stocked 

So both restrooms are stocked with whatever you could need.  The women’s restroom has sanitary products and other hygiene products. The dry shampoo is a nice touch when you have headset hair.

Showers 

There are no showers but they do provide wipes and dry shampoo.  

Smell 

There is no noticeable smell either way, which is a positive for me.  

Fees

Ramp

The ramp fees are waived for the purchase of ten (10) gallons for a single engine airplane.  We arrived via Mooney.  Financially, it makes more sense to us to purchase fuel rather than pay a landing fee.

Hangar

Per the FBO hangars are usually available. We did not need a hangar, as it was a short stop for a trip to the museum and to eat.

Fuel

The fuel is a bit pricey based on what we are accustomed too. However, compared to some of the surrounding airports, it certainly was not as bad as some other options.

Additional/Surprise fees

No surprises.  No extra fees. Just the way we like it. 

Other Services at Roswell Air Center

Maintenance 

Light aircraft maintenance is available.  Luckily we did not need to use their services.

Pilot Store 

There is no pilot store.  This was a bit surprising considering this FBO has most everything else, (thinking about those nachos).  

Other 

It is nice to stop at an FBO, in a small single engine general aviation airplane, not buying much fuel, and get treated like the people that pulled up in the Citation Jet right behind us, that requested all the services including catering.  

Anything really cool to add to Airport Reviews

You have to check out the boneyard at Roswell Airport.  The view from the sky is something to behold. The view from the ground was interesting, as I have never seen so many airplanes in one location. (except for an airshow or EAA AirVenture).  I plan on doing some research on boneyards now that I have seen one and my interest is peaked. In the meantime, I did find an interesting article on the Roswell boneyard.  You can find it here.

You also can see quite a few extraterrestrials all over Roswell.  Most every window has a reference to UFO or extraterrestrial life. Take a crew car to the museum, as it is a memorable experience.  Make sure you stop along the way and grab a selfie with a life size extraterrestrial.  

Take a crew car to the museum, as it is a memorable experience.  Make sure you stop along the way and grab a selfie with a life size extraterrestrial. 

If you visit

If you visit, let us know!  If something has changed since our trip, drop a comment so other readers will know.  If you have a different experience, we want to hear about it. If we need to go back and check out something else there.  Email us.

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