Landing fees

[jrthomas]

My wife and I are at the beach on the southern North Carolina coast. The nearest large town is Wilmington, which is 45 minutes or so away. We've been coming here for many years mainly because it's so quiet and not so busy, even during the summer months. I stopped by the local airport, which I often do when I'm hear to talk airplanes and catch up on what's going on. Anyway, to my point, I found out they're charging a $100 landing fee now. This is new to me and I haven't been into any municipal airport in NC that charges to land. I asked some questions and was told that their landing fee was less than most airports charge. I know that most don't charge at all but I didn't argue. They did say they could waive the landing fee if I buy gas. I didn't dare ask if there is a minimum purchase required get the waiver. I went on their website. They show their charges for tie down, by the day and by the week but no mention of landing fees. Maybe that's just their way on welcoming unsuspecting visitors who come to visit and spend tons of money. This airport is very busy with lots of visitors going and coming, lots of high end planes, skydiving operations and an EAA chapter. I can't believe they're hurting for money. Am I overreacting or am I right in thinking it's more about greed and the love for the almighty dollar? James Thomas

[Esser]

I'm always of the view the airports don't make money off light GA even if they try. Airports I've seen hurting for cash charging for light planes usually never see those planes again. Nothing makes me avoid an airport like a landing fee.

4,000lbs and under shouldn't be charged. Commercial operators, twins, turboprops are a different story.

[efwd]

wow, can you imagine what it would cost to fly to Oshkosh from Southern California if I was charged to land everywhere I went. Talk about a GA severed spine.
Eddie

[Floog]

Fortunately we can still barnstorm smaller GA friendly fields and burn car gas.
To hell with the airlines and the airports they operate out of!

[Dave S]

If those who charge such userous landing fees were to think about what they are doing...they might consider what would happen to Wal Mart if they charged a $100 per car fee every time a customer "landed" in their parking lot.....duh!

I seriously doubt that such places with the exorbitant fees give a rat's elbow about sport and hobby flyers. Our presence or absence means nothing to them.

Quite a while back I made which was to be my last trip to the Rochester MN airport.....after landing I was informed of their new policy that required a landing fee......so I asked how much the Shiek, in for his annual physical at Mayo, had to pay for a landing fee when he parked his Gulfstream next to my Kitfox.... "Same fee - we treat everyone the same here".

Never again.


On the happy side of the world, I think back to the Cable/Union airport in Wisconsin which serves everyone from radio free cubs to turbos and business jets. Cable had a along time airport manager by the name of Libby who so faithfully made the place work for everybody. Libby and her husband Carl moved from Chicago in 1949 to manage the Cable airport....her husband died 10 years later in 1959; and, Libby continued to manage and make sure the airport worked for everybody. She died in 2005. Libby was physically handicapped and couldn't walk far; but, she lived in the airport terminal under a special governance provision, did everything from being sure the unicom got answered with accurate information every time to personally mowing the grass cross strip with her riding lawnmower.....yes, I said riding lawnmower. She had a quart can of gas strapped to the side of the mower in case the mower ran out gas since she could not walk back if that happened. I got my butt chewed by Libby once when I landed a rental Cessna on the tar, rather than grass strip......something like " Can't you see I just finished mowing the grass, why the bleep did you land on the tar????? - trying to wear out your tires or something???"

Now....Libby and fees....the airport was not an overly financed entity; but, Libby made it work through one of the most novel fee systems I have ever seen at an airport......cans.....cans everywhere.....each with a label requiring a fee for a specific service......want to use the phone...that will be 10 cents.......want to use the bathroom....that will be 10 cents..many, many cans each with 10 cents.

I think the moral to the story is to buy only from your friends:)

Make sure we always put gas in the courtesy car, be nice and support those airports that understand.

Almost forgot to mention...Libby was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.

[colospace]

Outrageous fees is AOPA's hot button for this year. So maybe things will get worked out.

[Kitfox Guy]

Bullhead City, AZ (IFP) is another formerly GA friendly destination that has been destroyed by excessive ramp fees. It use to be a small non-towered airport that was located adjacent to the Colorado River and the casinos of Laughlin, NV. It was a great place to visit as you could fly to IFP take a 30 second water taxi ride across the Colorado River and enjoy a breakfast or lunch buffet at one of the casinos, all within walking distance. It was a great destination for CA, NV and AZ GA pilots.

Sadly, a few years back they razed the old airport and replaced it with a large towered facility that isn't friendly to GA. They imposed a $35 "handling fee" which is waived with the purchase of 15 or more gallons. When I land my KF there I doubt I have room to accept 15 gallons of fuel, and I never embark on a cross country flight with anything less than full tanks. I haven't been back to IFP since they imposed the new fees and a lot of the other pilots I know haven't been back either.

[jrthomas]

Update! I just talked to a different employee of the airport in question. He said I was told wrong the other day. The landing fee only applies to Part 135 operators. The incorrect info was given to me in the presence of the airport manager so I assumed it was correct. As Uncle Joe says, "that's a big ******* deal." The last employee I talked to said "come on down, no charge." I hope he's right. Sorry I stirred up a hornets nest for no reason. James Thomas

[efwd]

LOL it wasn't for "no reason". As you can see, since I last flew into Bullhead they have instituted fees. That sucks. I considered going there regularly when Im done building. It was nice to cross over, have lunch, and head home. That was the first time I heard a guy with a stuck mic, who said "F--k, why wont anyone answer me?" :D

[jtpitkin06]

If those who charge such userous landing fees were to think about what they are doing...they might consider what would happen to Wal Mart if they charged a $100 per car fee every time a customer "landed" in their parking lot.....duh!
.

Uhh.. I guess you haven't been to an event at a sports stadium. You pay a hundred bucks or more for each ticket and they still ding you another $50 to park.

John p.

[Dave S]

John....correct.......:)....I have no interest in getting involved in that extortion either....

[896tr]

Have any of you driven to the strip in Vegas lately? You now have to pay to park at the casinos! (greedy bas...rds!) Want valet parking? $20:mad:. Wanna eat at a barfette? Prepare to pay somewhere between $40-$100:eek:+ per person for low quality food and service. And they say the mafia no longer controls Las Vegas. Ask a local, they will tell you that the new mafia is the greedy corporate owners.

[tx_swordguy]

the difference between landing fees and stadium parking are. If you don't want to pay stadium fees just park somewhere else and walk a mile or two. You don't really have the same option if you are in the air and need a place to land. Granted you SHOULD carry enough gas to go somewhere else if needed, but there are places that with a slow plane could push the reserve envelope in order to reach a different airport.

[Esser]

If anyone is interested COPA has a interesting study (About 10 years old) about the impacts of landing fees on GA traffic.