kontiki wrote:
"Andrew Gideon" wrote in message

I wouldn't call a $35.00 landing/parking/handling fee by Signature the
only FBO small GA friendly
Is $35 really unfriendly in the NYC metro area? I haven't lived in the
area for almost 10 years but even then it cost over $20 to park a car
for the day in prime midtown spot. Why would it not cost the same or
more to park an aircraft?

Agreed. A reasonable overnight parking fee ($10 a night ?) I could go
along with but $35 will pretty much guarantee a lot of GA aircraft
will avoid that FBO. In their own way they are contributing to the
extermination of general aviation.
I expect to pay $10 a night almost anywhere. Often it's less. But at
prime locations I'm sometimes surprised at how little we pay... and how
much we complain.

I'd like use of all airports to be free too. I hate getting charged
parking and service and whatever. Although with the increased security
that 9/11 caused, I feel like I get a little more for the dollar. But
I'm willing to pay to get access, security, and service. I'm glad
someone is there to provide it and I have to be willing to pay for it.

It shouldn't work the way it worked for me this weekend. I filled up at
our private tank, then flew to our local Class C airport to pick up my
passenger. The FBO generously provided a car and driver to do the round
trip to the passenger terminal. No charge but I tipped the driver. We
returned and flew to a busy Class B. There were a number of smaller
airports nearby but none as close to our downtown hotel as the this one.
We tookour tail dragger directly to the overnight parking area knowing
that it can't be towed. We were met by 2 golf carts for luggage and the
trip to the FBO. We checked in, ate a cookie, met our host, and off we
went. We stayed an extra day. Returned, told the receptionist that we
needed a ride out to our plane because it couldn't be towed but
otherwise didn't need anything else. "Fine, have a nice flight". Three
different guys helped us get our luggage out to the plane.

No charge. I'm embarrassed by that. I know that they have charges for
overnight parking and service in lieu of a fuel purchase. But I didn't
offer and they didn't ask. It shouldn't work that way but often than
not, it does. (Taildragger helps). How do these guys stay in business?
I know my $35 isn't going to make or break the business but how many
businesses provide great, on-demand service and don't bother to collect
anything? Maybe I'll invest that $35 in a new ANR headset to stimulate
the economy.

No, actually I returned home and filled up again at the private tank
with the $35 I didn't pay the FBO. Great for me!

Just as with excessive income taxes, there is a point of diminishing
returns. There somes a point where reducing tax rates actually results
in an overall increase in tax revenues because people start increasing
economic activities. I think some of these FBOs need a little dose of
supply side economic thinking.
It was BS then, it's BS now.