When I lived in Atlanta, I used to stop at KGVL to get cheap self serve. The
last time I was there, I parked at KPDK, but filled up at KGVL to save some
money. I was surprised that KGVL now has a full serve FBO with extremely
high gas prices, and is obviously courting the corporate crowd. I think it
would have been cheaper filling up at KPDK! Darn that urban sprawl!

BTW, now that KPDK owns all the land to the North ( departure off 2R&L),
wouldn't it be nice to fill the empty lots with T hangers? It would pay for
itself in a few years of rent.

"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
. ..

"Peter R." wrote in message
...
Bob Noel wrote:

The J row went from $353/month to $459/month to $505/month to
$606/month.

That's a tough pill to swallow. You have my condolences.

As insurance premiums and waiting lists dictate, I suspect that there
will
be many other airports here in the US that follow Bedford's lead in the
next five years or so.

--
Peter

I wouldn't expect a big change in hangar or tie-down costs unless you're
based near a population center which is growing extremely rapidly and
where there is a substantial amount of discretionary income. In those
areas (I live in one - Atlanta), the close-in airports are well into a
changeover process where they are intentionally running off spam-cans and
rolling out the red carpet for the corporate crowd. I've got no problem
with corporate GA, but I do have a problem with FBO's (who are typically a
government selected monopoly) consistantly pooping on the little guy - the
same guy who's faithfully helped keep them in business for decades.

Other than the areas with rapid population growth, hangars and ramp space
are relatively plentiful and cheap, 'cause there are fewer and fewer
planes and pilots as old pilots get out of the game and aircraft are
attritted through accidents, prohibitively expensive repairs, and other
causes. I think we're facing a future in "Light GA" where there will be
a significant reduction in the number of airfields and FBO's supporting us
in the next decade or two. That creates a death spiral of sorts, because
the thing that makes GA useful is that almost every little town has an
airstrip. When that ends, so does much of the utility, and even more
pilots will walk away.