Tow Costs

F.L. Whiteley wrote:

"Slick" wrote in message
...
What is everyone paying for a tow? At our club it's $17 to 2k and $22 to
3k.
We use a 260hp Pawnee and our club has no rental fees, only club dues.


Then I would say your dues may be subsidizing your tows at $2-$3/tow in
real terms, but that depends on your field elevation and business model
and
donated work. It's possible you are breaking even or that dues are
structured to do this based on your operating year, size of membership,
mix of private/club gliders, insurance coverage, and any number of other
factors.

The question you need to ask is whether the tow plane is paying its way,
including future repairs and maintenance and replacement, and perhaps
profiting the club. There are different strategies and philosophies for
looking at this. You may arrive a several appropriate answers for 'right'
pricing.

So, the answers may be relatively different, based on the above. FWIW, my
club rate is presently $8US hookup, $0.85US/100ft. That's
$16.50US/1000ft,
$25US/2000ft, $33.50US/3000ft. Anything above 9500MSL or aerotow retrieve
is charged by tach hour at $120US/tach hour. On a soarable day locally,
releases are generally 900-1700agl. Winch launches are $8 and usually are
1400-2200agl, depending on winds and length of run used.

Frank
I might add were are at 5500MSL, so tach hour rates from 4000AGL.

These rates were based on Pawnee 235 D. Our 250 conversion will be flying
Monday. Though fuel consumption is expected to rise about 1GPH, I expect
we might also see an additional tow per hour also. Rates will shake out
from there and fuel costs.

Frank