Combo Deals -- Do they work?

Opinions, please!

(No one on Usenet has any of *those*, right? :-)

We're considering putting together a combo deal with a couple of other local
airport businesses, along the following lines:

1. Come to Iowa City and stay the weekend in one of our aviation themed
jacuzzi suites...
2. While you're here do your BFR with _________, a local CFII...
3. While you're here, have your aircraft annualed by ___________, a local
shop with 40 years experience...
4. Any other suggestions? Tickets to a football game? Dinner at the Old
Capitol Brew Works?

Of course the package price would be very attractive -- much less than
normal.

I've seen these kinds of things for "Overnight IFR Training" and "Weekend
Ground Schools" -- but do they work? Anyone ever done anything like this
before?

Would you feel comfortable having a strange shop annual your plane? (Or is
that actually a selling point, having "new eyes" check things over?)

I've talked to a couple of CFIs, and my favorite shop, and they're
interested in trying it -- but I don't want to waste their money if the
consensus here is that it's a dumb idea...

Thanks!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 13:03:27 GMT, Jay Honeck wrote:

We're considering putting together a combo deal with a couple of other local
airport businesses, along the following lines:

1. Come to Iowa City and stay the weekend in one of our aviation themed
jacuzzi suites...
2. While you're here do your BFR with _________, a local CFII...
3. While you're here, have your aircraft annualed by ___________, a local
shop with 40 years experience...
4. Any other suggestions? Tickets to a football game? Dinner at the Old
Capitol Brew Works?

it seems that you have great rooms; how about some ... uuhmm ... 'other'
amenities?

Of course the package price would be very attractive -- much less than
normal.

I am no friend of combos. but this is only me. I shop around and pick what
suits me best. But there might be a chance to bundle up. there might be no
reason for you to combo with football tickets, because you're booked out
anyway. You need to find combos that fills your rooms during off season.

I've talked to a couple of CFIs, and my favorite shop, and they're
interested in trying it -- but I don't want to waste their money if the
consensus here is that it's a dumb idea...

Maybe something romantic or so. Theater/concert/... tickets, a dinner, a
suite and a limo.

Thanks!

#m
--
Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html

Jay Honeck wrote:

Opinions, please!

All of your ideas sound good except the annual inspection. I, for one, would
never do that if I felt there was any chance that the IA might find something
that would keep the plane in the shop and extend my visit. The single exception
to that would be if the shop had a reputation for special experience with my
brand of aircraft; for example, I once considered flying the Maule down to
Moultrie and having the annual done by Maule Flight.

On the other hand, all it would cost you to try it is a bit of advertising
expense, right?

As far as a training package goes, there are two types that might be big
winners. One would be a basic package slanted towards overseas customers like
some of the Florida schools do. I don't know how practical that would be for
you, but the way the Florida schools do it, someone from, say, Britain comes
over, stays a month or two, and goes back home with a fresh PPC. IIUC, at least
one of those schools can provide an international or British license, rather
than just an FAA certificate.

The other would be the sort of cram course which you describe. At one time, I
would've been very interested in a package that could've gotten me past the IFR
written in a long weekend. Doing it away from home would have been attractive,
since my employer at the time would call you up and keep you working if you
stayed at home.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

George's idea of offering to non-US pilots is very attractive. I'd
also recommend it as a stop-over for people doing those "see the USA"
type trips. Iowa City (and Iowa in general) is a nice, middle-of-the-
country stopping place.

As for the annual - sorry, not me. I must agree with (George?, other?)
not wanting to be grounded for some period of time NOT AT HOME due
to airworthiness issues.

But I do love the BFR concept!

On 25 Sep 2005 16:08:58 GMT, Blanche wrote:

George's idea of offering to non-US pilots is very attractive.

ever asked foreign pilots about this?
how many renters are on site? if you don't have at least 3 renters within a
2 or 3 hours driving distance (or even less), you lost. Do you have a
reasonable connection to one of the big hubs to bring in the foreigners?
Atlanta? Chicago? Detroit? NY? (to name a few).

what are good arguments for this area? weather? area (restriced airspace)?
scenery?

I'd
also recommend it as a stop-over for people doing those "see the USA"
type trips. Iowa City (and Iowa in general) is a nice, middle-of-the-
country stopping place.

Not knowing anything about Jay and his hotel it would never come to my mind
to point the nose of an aircraft to Iowa City. Knowing Jay I really must
have some spare time to do it.

#m

--
Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html

Do you have a reasonable connection to one of the big hubs
to bring in the foreigners?
Atlanta? Chicago? Detroit? NY? (to name a few).

Now you have hit on one of Iowa's biggest problems... lack of commercial
air service.

Now you have hit on one of Iowa's biggest problems... lack of commercial
air service.

Nah, that's Iowa City's problem.

Iowa is (unfortunately for our airport, which had commercial service long
before any of them) amply served by commercial service into Cedar Rapids,
Des Moines, and Moline (Quad Cities)...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 14:44:42 GMT, George Patterson wrote:

I don't know how practical that would be for
you, but the way the Florida schools do it, someone from, say, Britain comes
over, stays a month or two, and goes back home with a fresh PPC. IIUC, at least
one of those schools can provide an international or British license, rather
than just an FAA certificate.

training or courses in the US for a foreigner aren't that sought after any
longer; the hassle with US bureaucracy might beor is too high [1]. Hour
building is a different story, but therefore I need more than an airport
(scenery) and more than one motel.

[1] small examples: first they haven't allowed to send the passport via
registered mail, only regular mail was accepted (idiots!); then you have to
show up in person for their visa. la-la-la ... other countries have
airports, too (Hello Canada, SA, OZ, ...!).

#m

--
Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:uJyZe.1922$%L4.1777@trndny02...
Jay Honeck wrote:

Opinions, please!

All of your ideas sound good except the annual inspection. I, for one,
would never do that if I felt there was any chance that the IA might find
something that would keep the plane in the shop and extend my visit. The
single exception to that would be if the shop had a reputation for special
experience with my brand of aircraft; for example, I once considered
flying the Maule down to Moultrie and having the annual done by Maule
Flight.

On the other hand, all it would cost you to try it is a bit of advertising
expense, right?

As far as a training package goes, there are two types that might be big
winners. One would be a basic package slanted towards overseas customers
like some of the Florida schools do. I don't know how practical that would
be for you, but the way the Florida schools do it, someone from, say,
Britain comes over, stays a month or two, and goes back home with a fresh
PPC. IIUC, at least one of those schools can provide an international or
British license, rather than just an FAA certificate.

First there is the Issue of M1 visas, not to mention the TSA. The Florida
schools are usually both FAA and JAA approved and it would be a dumb thing
to only get an FAA certificate when you can pick up a JAR one at the same
time.

If you are looking at foreign pilots without an FAA certificate then a
package which helps then get the FAA certificate (home licence verification
and a trip to the nominated FSDO) along with a BFR and access to a decent
plane to rent might do the trick. In other words make it easy to fly!

There are some foreign pilots who might like to visit other parts of the US
even Iowa. As someone who has flown from Wisconsin to both the east and
west coasts and back that means I know of one, me.
Trip one was September 2004 to the west and trip two was July 2005 to the
east.
Trip three has to be north to south, Wisconsin to Florida and back maybe
July 2006 or it could be along the Canadian border to Seattle or a run
around the Prairie lands (seems a bit dull that) or down into Texas (even
duller).

Personally I have managed to land in 20 different states so far which for an
alien is not too bad. The most memorable fields, Sedona and Everglade City;
the most forgettable, Walla Walla (still not sure which state that was in)
and Worthington, Minnesota.

All it needs is some imagination.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:zexZe.366651$_o.277188@attbi_s71...
Opinions, please!

(No one on Usenet has any of *those*, right? :-)

We're considering putting together a combo deal with a couple of other
local airport businesses, along the following lines:

The combo deals you listed sound good.

How about putting ads in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, etc.,
newspapers with reduced room rates if an intro flight is taken? Guests can
take an intro flight either at IOW or bring a coupon saying they took one
recently someplace for the discount. Say if a room is $75/night without a
intro flight or $65 w/intro flight included, I would take the intro flight
just for the discount. It seems like most places I've seen the 'Learn to
fly' signs are at airports, which isn't seen much by the general public.

As far as getting current pilots into your place, how about advertising in
IA Wings, Midwest Flyer, etc?

Have you tried contacting the Des Moines FSDO, FOD FSS, Collins, etc., to
see if they would be willing to give a seminar or something at your place
during a non-football weekend?

-Greg B.