AOPA and airport cars

[drgwentzel]

Flyers,

In regards to services that AOPA provided, how about this idea:

I just heard about a new AOPA service for $10.00 per month for The Partnership Program. It sounds like a fine service.

I'd like to suggest a similar service that maybe the large AOPA membership base might find useful if they could put it together.

How about an "Airport Car Club" database? Membership is free if you provide a car at your airport or any airport. Members would pay a fee who do not provide a car but wish to use the service.

Using any car is free within certain reasonable common sense rules. Members can search a database of airports that have available cars and what and where those cars are. Cars can be reserved online and keys are kept in lock boxes attached to the car's driver's side window and the combination provided upon reservation. Top the car off when you're done and leave the key for the next pilot.

This would be a great service *only* if enough members provide cars. I will be the first to offer a car in Atlantic City, NJ.

Gene Wentzel

 

[Jeff Oslick]

I believe this was tried by another outfit a few years ago, don't know how it worked out. Probably not well since I can't find it on the web. I suspect insurance/liability would be a major hurdle.

What would probably work better is a more widely published database of FBOs who have crew cars available, possibly with a paid subscription database to allow you to reserve a car for a few hours. I suspect if such a database existed and came into common use, more FBOs would offer that as a service and put some well-worn used cars up for the task.

If you did it through a database reservation system, you could have automatic acknowledgement that the individual using the vehicle is strictly responsible for any and all damage and liability associated with the vehicle use.


Jeff

 

[ajstoner21]

Do most FBO's have a courtesy car? The very few I have been inside have had a car or two for use. It would be nice to know for sure.

 

[John Baker]

That's been one of my problems with flying, if you don't have transportation when you get there, what's the point of going to any particular destination? I fly to assorted airports, but usually only if there is a restaurant or hamburger stand on the airport.

So I go to French Valley, an OK restaurant, Borrego Valley, a good restaurant, except it is closed for the whole summer, until September. Big Bear has a wonderful little restaurant on the airport, great food and service. Santa Monica has a good restaurant on the airport, and another just across the street.

Oceanside Airport does not have a restaurant, but just a block away is a wonderful little Mexican eatery, the food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is much like being down in Mexico.

Bracket Field has a very nice restaurant on the airport, and so does Bermuda Dunes.

Other than eating, what the heck do you do with yourself?

John

 

[Anthony]

Bring a bike and you can get many, many places. Bum rides, walk, rent a car, taxi, etc.

Sometimes you are SOL when so many of our little airports are ghost towns these days. I will check Airnav and call ahead to scope out the transportation. If I am just going to fly a bit, I try to go somewhere with things within walking or biking distance. On airport restaurants get old after a while and there is much more to do at most destinations than just eating.

I remember once I wanted to fly a couple kids to Great Adventure in NJ. The closest airport was Lakewood, yes the Hindenburg Lakewood. I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone nor could I line up a taxi, so I just drove them instead becuase by the time I d*cked around with the plane, and such, combined with the transportation uncertainty it wasn't worth it. So much for GA sometimes.

 

[steingar]

Used to be I could get a car just about anywhere I landed, even borrowing one from a local. It was never a big deal. These days, not so much.

 

[Jeff Oslick]

Other than eating, what the heck do you do with yourself?

Big Bear has rental cars. Bishop does too (on weekdays at least, through Enterprise). Kernville - go camping/fishing at the airport. Columbia (where I'm headed this weekend for the Father's Day Fly-In) on airport camping and a short walk to historic town (gold mine tours available too). Mariposa - rent a car, drive to Yosemite. Oceano - camp at airport and/or walk to the beach. Santa Ynez - get a cab ride or rent a car to go to Solvang. Santa Barbara - walk to the beach (yes, expensive fuel/parking fees). Chino - Planes of Fame Museum. Palm Springs - walk to town, go to the Air Museum.

If you run out of stuff to do with a plane in California then....go to Las Vegas or Arizona!

Jeff