Money grubbing FBO's

On Mar 27, 6:52 am, "Cary" wrote:
I think it is very sad that we are losing more and more FBO's around
the country. Just yesterday I received notice from an FBO (Wings) that
has been in operation in Saint Paul for 39 years is now closing
because of lack of funds. If the only way these FBOs can stay in
business is to charge higher fees for fuel and add a ramp fee for
parking, then they need to do that and we have to support them as best
as we can. Otherwise, we will continue to lose FBOs, training
facilities, GA pilots, and ultimately the airport. I don't like paying
these fees either, but I know that most GA FBOs are not making a ton
of money but are barely hanging on.


Again, I repeat my challenge. If anyone thinks the FBOs are charging
way to much, start your own fuel business, charge 10 cents/gal less
and become rich. If it doesn't work, then maybe the FBO isn't
overcharging as much as you think.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
On Mar 27, 6:52 am, "Cary" wrote:
I think it is very sad that we are losing more and more FBO's around
the country. Just yesterday I received notice from an FBO (Wings)
that has been in operation in Saint Paul for 39 years is now closing
because of lack of funds. If the only way these FBOs can stay in
business is to charge higher fees for fuel and add a ramp fee for
parking, then they need to do that and we have to support them as
best as we can. Otherwise, we will continue to lose FBOs, training
facilities, GA pilots, and ultimately the airport. I don't like
paying these fees either, but I know that most GA FBOs are not
making a ton of money but are barely hanging on.


Again, I repeat my challenge. If anyone thinks the FBOs are charging
way to much, start your own fuel business, charge 10 cents/gal less
and become rich. If it doesn't work, then maybe the FBO isn't
overcharging as much as you think.

-Robert

You do realize that at MANY airports the FBO has an agreement with the
airport owner that they are the only ones that can sell fuel? Mine, KELD, is
but one example. I can bring my own fuel but I can't sell it to someone
else. The stipulation is in my grond lease for my hanger.

On Mar 24, 7:59 pm, "wise purchaser" wrote:
what has happened? I have been seeing multiple FBO's charging for
using the ramp from 10 to 25 bucks to park per day also RIPPING me
off for fuel. Charging almost 4.50++ a gallon for AVGAS. PLUS county
flowage tax!

http://www.airnav.com/ is your friend. I haven't bought fuel at home
for nearly 2 years. I make a fuel stop on the way out of town and an
hour or so before getting home. Small county and city airports all
over are trying to attract visitors by selling without the big price
markups. Support them and work the free market at the same time.
--
Gene Seibel
Tales of Flight - http://pad39a.com/gene/tales.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

My FBO is the only one on the field, and they do charge more than at
smaller airports not far away. However, they have an excellent flight
prep room with both WSI and internet weather. They haul my plane out
of the hangar when there's a ridge of ice in front. They bring fuel
to my hangar. They let me wash the plane inside their hangar on
Saturdays (or week days if they aren't too busy). They pick me up
from the train and bring me to the airport if I'm too loaded to hike
the mile. Although I won't let them do my annual, they have a shop on
the field when I find problems that need to be fixed before I fly. I
suspect that their airport fees have increased because of additional
airport security procedures since 9/11.

I don't begrudge them a decent profit margin; they are fine people.

On 27 Mar 2007 07:05:12 -0700, "Gene Seibel" wrote:

On Mar 24, 7:59 pm, "wise purchaser" wrote:
what has happened? I have been seeing multiple FBO's charging for
using the ramp from 10 to 25 bucks to park per day also RIPPING me
off for fuel. Charging almost 4.50++ a gallon for AVGAS. PLUS county
flowage tax!

http://www.airnav.com/ is your friend. I haven't bought fuel at home
for nearly 2 years. I make a fuel stop on the way out of town and an
hour or so before getting home. Small county and city airports all
over are trying to attract visitors by selling without the big price
markups. Support them and work the free market at the same time.

Unless it's close and at a substantial discount, I can not descend,
land, fuel up, take off and climb back to altitude for what I could
save at the cheapest place within 200 or 300 miles.

Clare 48D is about 20 NW and they used to be almost a buck cheaper
than here. If it was on the way, it was worth stopping However at $90
plus an hour I'll have a good half hour engine time taking off, flying
over getting gas and flying back. Only on long trips do I use 45
gallons and that would just be breaking even. Let's say I flew to PJY
which is a bit over 3 hours. Let's say it took 50 gallons for a
savings of $50 dollars, but that would add about 0.4 hours to the
engine so 90 X 0.4 = 36 or $50 - $36 = $14 saved but I've added a take
off and landing after fueling so after refueling I still have to fly
home and put the plane away. You wouldn't have to drop the difference
to much less than a dollar a gallon before it'd be costing me money to
save a little on gas.

OTOH if I'm just out playing around, or practicing and I practice a
lot then it makes sense to stop off and purchase fuel that is only a
little cheaper. Plus they have free coffee, donuts, and ice cream.

Locally we have little mark up, BUT the city was cheap and didn't put
in large tanks so they can't take a full truck load and that means
they have to pay noticeably more per gallon. When the FBO was selling
gas he had to pay a flowage fee on top of that. Now the city has fired
some one to operate the airport and being it's the city selling the
gas there is no flowage fee, but it's still about 10 cents a gallon
higher than most places near us.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com