New pilot looking for advice on XC and FBOs

GSDpilot

GSDpilot

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GSDpilot
Passed my checkride last Friday and want to start using it! Thinking about a few short trips to build time and get some experience. I did look around for other posts before posting a new one, but am a little confused on the process to park/fuel at an unfamilar FBO. I assume if I plan to park or fuel at an FBO, I would call them prior to departure to give them a heads up of my arrival. Is that correct, and should I contact them en route or as I get close or do just park when you arrive? Looking for the proper ettique or procedure, and advice is welcomed. Thanks!
 
You can call ahead, but you certainly don’t have to. When you land, Tower will typically ask where you’ll be parking and give you taxi instructions to get there. The FBO is usually listening to Ground / Tower (or CTAF if that applies) so they can hear if anyone is coming to their facility. A lineman will be ready out front and will guide you in to park..

*note* most FBO’s have their own freq., so you can call them up while airborne to notify of your arrival.

Oh and don’t forget to bring a credit card or some form of payment - you’ll need it ;)
 
Congratulations!

No prior arrangements are generally necessary. Just land and taxi to the fuel pump. If you want to park for a while, you can walk into the FBO and ask where they'd like you park. Or you can call on Unicom after you've landed to ask where to park.

At a lot of smaller airports, there's nobody around, just pick a place to park that doesn't look like anybody's assigned space.
 
You can call ahead of time but you don't have to. The only time I contact an FBO ahead of time is if I'm remaining overnight, and sometimes not even then. If no one comes out there to marshall you into a tiedown, you can call them typically on UNICOM once you're at the ramp and just ask "where would you like me to park". Barring that, just pick an empty spot.
 
The only time I call an FBO ahead of time is if the airport diagram is confusing or I need a rental car. That happens about 5% of the time. Otherwise, I just fly in and figure it out from there. If there's a tower, they'll give you taxi instructions to general aviation parking unless there's more than one option and then they'll ask, so just be ready with an answer. If there's no tower, find your own way to where you want to go and avoid any big red lines for commercial airline security areas.

Be aware that sometimes where you turn from the taxiway to the ramp will make a difference between a marshaller from FBO #1 running out, one from FBO #2 running out, or nobody running out because they think you're going to tie your plane down yourself. Sometimes the marshaller is also doing something inside and can't run out, so be prepared either to see a marshaller or to find your own way. If you aren't sure what to do, it's best to call before your flight and ask. I think it's fair to tell them, "Hi, I'm a pilot and I'll be flying into your FBO tomorrow morning. Which taxiway turnoff should I use so I don't get directed to your competitor?" But if you get there and you're not sure what to do, it's also fair to pull into a tiedown spot or to pull up to the FBO and shut down to ask.

Mostly, if you don't hit any other airplanes or people, you will be fine and you'll learn as you go.

Two pieces of advice I do have beyond "don't worry and just do it":

1. Bring your own tiedown ropes or ratchet straps, whatever you prefer. And learn the proper way to tie down a plane using chains. Many airports provide ropes or chains but many others do not. Having a set of ropes with you and not having to ask for help with tiedowns will save you a lot of trouble in your journeys.

2. You are a pilot first and foremost until you are at least off of the runway, and to be safe you are a pilot until the engine is stopped. Once you are safely on the ground and deconflicted from other traffic and people, you can become an avgas customer, tourist, or whatever else you flew there to be. Don't get distracted calling an FBO on UNICOM or looking for where the fuel pumps are when you should be talking to tower, looking for traffic, or running a checklist. Distracting yourself from flying the airplane is how you do things like forget to push the mixture forward or to put the gear down.
 
Everything they said. Also, don’t forget to research fuel stops, and make a phone call if it’s a small place. Sometimes there is no fuel available even if FF claims there is. Ask me how I know. Now I call if it’s a dinky airport regardless. Out west here there are stretches of 2-3 hours between airports sometimes.

Two more things:
Brush up on your marshaling signals and don’t forget to bring along some fives for tipping.
 
I like air nav, to pre plan stops according to my needs.i also use foreflight for fuel prices.
 
Just go, land, and taxi to the FBO. At larger airports, someone may come out and direct you to a parking spot. At smaller airports, you can try calling on CTAF if anyone is listening to find out where to park temporarily, or just find an spot that looks empty or taxi to the fuel pump, as appropriate. At a controlled airport with multiple FBOs, you might want to research which one you want to go to, as ground may ask you where you want to taxi upon landing. Fuel and service prices may be different! If staying for a few days, you might consider calling ahead as some FBOs can help you pick up a rental car and may have hotel deals nearby. At least 50% of the time, it is cheaper to park your plane overnight than your car! Travel and enjoy.
 
I also second making your own set of tiedown ropes and taking them with you in the plane. Airport tiedown ropes are often missing, rotten, or the wrong length.

I made a custom set of ropes for my plane using sturdy metal clasp hooks and heavy duty, flexible 1/2 inch polypropylene rope that is strong enough to secure a large boat. I clip them on the plane tiedown rings, then thread the bitter ends through the ground rings and tie a tautline hitch to firmly secure. They take up very little space in my 6x12 inch travel crate in the back along with microfiber rags, spare oil, paper towels and plastic polish.
 
FWIW, almost no matter where you are, there are about a bajillion small airports out there with one or two self-service pumps and a very rudimentary FBO.. restrooms, maybe a couch, a computer to check weather.. and getting in and out of those isn't much different than driving your car to the local Gas'n'Go or whatever. If you're feeling a bit nervous, just drop in to a few of those smaller places first. You'll usually see some "T"s painted onto the apron as a guide for parking, but not always. Just park where you'd be out of anyone's way. If someone needs you to move, they'll let you know. Folks are generally helpful and pleasant. I'd call ahead at larger unfamiliar fields just for your own comfort, but it's not necessary.
 
3 things to keep in mind with a newly minted license.

1) Branching out:
Long x-country trips really cement your learning. Take incremental steps further out as you will learn a lot and encounter new situations not well rehearsed in your training. Consider fly to new places with an experienced friend who's PIC. Right side (You) can fly under the hood towards IFR requirement; as you both get PIC log entries.

2) Airport & FBO selection:
Ask on a forum like this for recommendations for local airports and FBO's before trip planning. Also call ahead to FBO's for pricing and services prices can vary. Being extra nice often gets fees waved. I was just at an FBO over the weekend with a policy of waving tie down costs when buying 20+ gals of fuel per trip. I bought 50 gals and asked the manager if he could wave the second over night fee and he did, but required his approval to his staff.

3) Navigating new Airports:
Have a destination taxi diagram handy, either pre-printed or the plate up on ForeFlight. Totally new airport to new pilot, plus the excitement of the trip and whatever else encountered new, can make a first time field confusing especially with cross-wind runways and ground control with read back instructions.

Enjoy!
 
Unless I need the plane in a hangar or ramp access for a car or something I just show up.
 
GSDpilot said:
Passed my checkride last Friday and want to start using it! Thinking about a few short trips to build time and get some experience. I did look around for other posts before posting a new one, but am a little confused on the process to park/fuel at an unfamilar FBO. I assume if I plan to park or fuel at an FBO, I would call them prior to departure to give them a heads up of my arrival. Is that correct, and should I contact them en route or as I get close or do just park when you arrive? Looking for the proper ettique or procedure, and advice is welcomed. Thanks!
Click to expand...

You should look at airnav first. At busy airports, it is a good idea to call to check how parking works. Some charge for overnight, some will charge even to stop for a couple of hours. At airports with scheduled passenger service, security will be tight. You will need to be escorted to/from the ramp. If you show up after hours, this might incur extra fees. So checking ahead is always a good idea.
 
Building xcountry time is the best way to gain experience and confidence. Generally, the larger the airport, the more services and competing FBOs that are usually available, and many available 24hrs. Often, but not always, services at larger airports, mostly those near large metro areas, are attached to higher fees. So calling ahead is important to understand your choices. Smaller airports may or may not have the services you need. Calling ahead is important to find out if anyone will be at the FBO to serve you, whether the bathrooms are even accessible when you arrive, and whether there is a self serve pump. You can arrive anywhere in the dark, but lessening anxiety will occur if you arrive during daylight to unfamiliar airports. Calling ahead will help you know what to do when no one is there to help, how to get out of the airport after parking, and how to get back in during off hours.
 
If you avoid airports with control towers you generally also avoid excessive fees.
 
woodchucker said:
Everything they said. Also, don’t forget to research fuel stops, and make a phone call if it’s a small place. Sometimes there is no fuel available even if FF claims there is. Ask me how I know. Now I call if it’s a dinky airport regardless. Out west here there are stretches of 2-3 hours between airports sometimes.

Two more things:
Brush up on your marshaling signals and don’t forget to bring along some fives for tipping.
Click to expand...
Tipping and marshall signals, great advice. Thanks!
 
NordicDave said:
3 things to keep in mind with a newly minted license.

1) Branching out:
Long x-country trips really cement your learning. Take incremental steps further out as you will learn a lot and encounter new situations not well rehearsed in your training. Consider fly to new places with an experienced friend who's PIC. Right side (You) can fly under the hood towards IFR requirement; as you both get PIC log entries.

2) Airport & FBO selection:
Ask on a forum like this for recommendations for local airports and FBO's before trip planning. Also call ahead to FBO's for pricing and services prices can vary. Being extra nice often gets fees waved. I was just at an FBO over the weekend with a policy of waving tie down costs when buying 20+ gals of fuel per trip. I bought 50 gals and asked the manager if he could wave the second over night fee and he did, but required his approval to his staff.

3) Navigating new Airports:
Have a destination taxi diagram handy, either pre-printed or the plate up on ForeFlight. Totally new airport to new pilot, plus the excitement of the trip and whatever else encountered new, can make a first time field confusing especially with cross-wind runways and ground control with read back instructions.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Great advice, thanks!
 
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