This is killing me!!!

"Rob Montgomery" wrote in message ...
Between renting the ramp space, the insurance and the cost of staffing the place (not to mention inane TSA
regulations), and the low volume of traffic, I don't see how these charges are out of line. The airport charges the
FBO and the FBO charges you. I'd say we're getting one hell of a bargain (but, don't tell any FBO owners that I said
so :-)).

-Rob


What subsidies to the feds give to the airport? There should be a public transient parking area for (pick a time) short
term use...

"Blueskies" wrote in message
news

What subsidies to the feds give to the airport? There should be a public
transient
parking area for (pick a time) short term use...

The subsidies go to the municipality that owns and operates the airport, not
the FBO.
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Steven P. McNicoll" blatthered...
Man, I'm bummed.
I liked to fly into Reno, get some lunch/dinner, practice in class C,
etc.
No more.


If you don't want to pay these fees you can limit your flying to fields
without FBOs.

Or you can fly into fields that don't charge the fees...and that's about 95%
of the fields that have FBO's.

Geez!!!
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:42:38 -0800, "mindenpilot"
wrote:

Sorry for the rant.
I just flew into Reno tonight.
As it turns out, Sierra Air Center, the only GA facility on the ramp that
doesn't charge a ramp fee, now charges a $15 parking fee.
Yup, as of Jan 1 there's no more free landing at Reno.
What makes it worse is they said, "There's no fee if you get 15 gallons of
fuel".
That sounded OK to me. I was almost full anyway.
18 gallons of fuel at $3.73 a gallon!
It would have been cheaper if I filled up in Minden and paid the $15 parking
fee.
It's only $2.80/gal in Minden!
I felt violated!

When Meigs was open the numbers were similar, perhaps higher... I
recall a handling fee in addition to the parking fees.

It seems like a lot of money when you are used to parking for free at
most airports. Then I realized that I get to park for free in the
suburbs, and I do not downtown. Leaving my car overnight in a
downtown parking garage would have cost about the same as the Meigs
fees.

I never complained after that.

-Nathan

When Meigs was open the numbers were similar, perhaps higher... I
recall a handling fee in addition to the parking fees.

Bad comparison. Everyone knew that Meigs was very, very special, and gave
you unprecedented access to one of the great cities of the world.

Despite this status, many of us bitched about paying that fee, too -- and
limited our visits to very special occasions. Chicago would have been
money ahead to have eliminated those fees.

And I've flown to Reno. Outside of the air races, which are held one week
per year, there is nothing there that would make me want to return.

But the market will work, as it always does. Either this FBO will shortly
be rolling in money, or they will be crying because all of their business
evaporated.

If I had to guess, however, it's more likely that they make 95% of their
money on charters, but spend 30% of their payroll servicing Spam Cans. Some
bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive away
the little guys.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Some
bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive away
the little guys.

Or maybe have them pay their fair share...

Dave

Some
bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive
away the little guys.

Or maybe have them pay their fair share...

I'd be interested to see your version of what our "fair share" should be.

Let's see, for Spam Cans we've got...

....wear and tear on the ramp -- none.
....usage of airspace...covered in fuel taxes.
....???

I suppose we flush the toilet when we pee, but I generally buy a pop or
candy bar, which should cover the water expense. And the line guy is paid
whether he's doing anything or not.

What other direct costs are there for a Cherokee parking at an FBO for 90
minutes?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The line guy is there wether you use him or not. He still gets paid, as
does all the other staff. They have their phone bill.. their light
bill.. their insurance. They have a lease to pay, and sometimes
franchise fees to the local municipality. You are a business owner Jay..
and a service oriented business owner at that..

What would your response be if I came to your hotel, stayed for 90
minutes, and wanted a prorated bill rate cause I didnt stay until the
next morning's checkout (lets say say I just wanted to catch my soap
opera or something outrageous.. in your Memphis Belle Suite. I didn't
mess up any towels, didnt turn down the bed, did't even make a phone
call. What would the cost be to "turn over" that room? Minimal. Your
housekeeper still needs to get paid wether you used her or not for that
room. Would you as a regular practice, prorate such an occurance? I am
inclined to believe no.

It may be an apples to oranges comparison, but I think the spirit of the
argument is similar. The FBO's charge X number of dollars for UP TO an
overnight parking.. You.. as a business owner, have the right to do
that. Even if you were the only hotel in town, you could choose to do
that. On the same token.. they, as a business, can choose to do the
same. You, as the pilot, can choose to use or not use the facilities.. I
don't demonize you for NOT renting your rooms out by the hour...

Just because the spam-can's aren't the bread and butter of a corporate
oriented FBO doesn't mean that the spam can's don't deserve to be
charged for use of the facilities.. Even parking can get pretty pricey
depending on where you are (for CARS...).. and not all parking lots
pro-rate EITHER, depending on demand.

Yer a great guy, Jay... and I respect you for all the hard work you've
done as a pilot and a business owner, so please dont think Im attacking
you personally.. but I think we prolly will disagree on this issue

Dave

Jay Honeck wrote:
Some

bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive
away the little guys.

Or maybe have them pay their fair share...


I'd be interested to see your version of what our "fair share" should be.

Let's see, for Spam Cans we've got...

...wear and tear on the ramp -- none.
...usage of airspace...covered in fuel taxes.
...???

I suppose we flush the toilet when we pee, but I generally buy a pop or
candy bar, which should cover the water expense. And the line guy is paid
whether he's doing anything or not.

What other direct costs are there for a Cherokee parking at an FBO for 90
minutes?

That's why we always need to check http://www.airnav.com for gas
prices. The range is huge. I stop at a small airport and pay $2.22. I'm
told they still make 30 cents a gallon. I realize that larger airports
have a higher overhead, but I still believe the markups are often
excessive.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

mindenpilot wrote:

What makes it worse is they said, "There's no fee if you get 15
gallons of fuel".
That sounded OK to me. I was almost full anyway.
18 gallons of fuel at $3.73 a gallon!

Hard to see how providing a second option "makes it worse". 15 gallons
is a pretty small number, so I think this option takes quite a bit of
the sting out of having to otherwise spend $15 for pretty close to
nothing.

Jim Rosinski