Ramp fee's GA

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skippy101

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What is it with pop up ramp fee's? example. KIWA is now charging a ramp fee.
Nothing on there website. No flyers etc. The only way you find out is when you land.

I don't think they should be able to charge these pesky fee's unless there is a heads up in advance.
 
skippy101 said:
What is it with pop up ramp fee's? example. KIWA is now charging a ramp fee.
Nothing on there website. No flyers etc. The only way you find out is when you land.

I don't think they should be able to charge these pesky fee's unless there is a heads up in advance.
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At least you found out about it when you were there.

Fly into Jersey and they send you a landing fee bill in the mail. Even if you pay the ramp and other associated fees at the FBO before you leave.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Landing fee's and Ramp fee's are different. Only landing fee's I have had to deal with are AVX and SMO
 
It’s getting harder to find out ,about ramp fees,during preflight. Can get expensive,when you find out after landing.whats everyone using to do preflight info on airports?
 
frfly172 said:
It’s getting harder to find out about ramp fees during preflight. Can get expensive when you find out after landing. What’s everyone using to do preflight info on airports?
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FTFY

I typically use Airnav.
 
skippy101 said:
Landing fee's and Ramp fee's are different. Only landing fee's I have had to deal with are AVX and SMO
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Yes, but typically the FBO will collect both.

Landing fees are much more common here on the east coast.
 
Ramp fees are much more common than landing fees in the SE. But overall, luckily still more are free than not
 
Landing fees for single engine piston type stuff? Oh man... that’s so lame. I really hope that doesn’t make it out to the west coast... this passion of mine is doomed in the long run, for sure... get it while you can, boys.
 
skippy101 said:
What is it with pop up ramp fee's? example. KIWA is now charging a ramp fee.
Nothing on there website. No flyers etc. The only way you find out is when you land.

I don't think they should be able to charge these pesky fee's unless there is a heads up in advance.
Click to expand...
They have been doing that for awhile, at least 2 years when several of us in Tucson were going to fly up there to attend the IA refresher course on the field! We were warned that they would not even waive the fees for attendees... As a side note, if you know of an excessive ramp fee and send it in to my website, I will post it.
 
retpd2001 said:
They have been doing that for awhile, at least 2 years when several of us in Tucson were going to fly up there to attend the IA refresher course on the field! We were warned that they would not even waive the fees for attendees... As a side note, if you know of an excessive ramp fee and send it in to my website, I will post it.
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Joplin Missouri
 
My experience is that small Airport landing fees are generally charged by a government entity that is not directly associated with the provider of FBO services. The privately owned FBO gets not benefit or takes a hit and therefore is unwilling to collect it. That’s when you get a mailed invoice for the fee.

Given the way airports function, I try my damndest to support the FBO and whatever entities pay for the Airport. Buy fuel, pay fees, whatever, as long as they seem reasonable whatever that means. Otherwise I avoid the place. It would be nice to know ahead of time but our expectation that we can land wherever and get whatever we want for ‘free’ is troubling for airport operators. That said, I’m pretty damn happy with how it all works in general.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
While I'd love for everything to be free, I don't really have a problem being charged a fee to use someone's ramp, or to land at someone's airport. How else is the runway going to remain in good condition so that I can land? How else is an FBO going to remain in business so they can provide the services I need?

I agree that they shouldn't be excessive, and that all fees, from either the FBO and the airport should be easily discernable. For the most part, they always have been everywhere I've flown. (I admit that the list is not the impressive.)
 
I’ve only encountered landing fees at a Class B airport, and ramp fees at Class B C and D airports.

No fees for the ~50 untowered fields I’ve visited.
 
Landed at Mackinac Island (Lake Huron). It is a warm summer morning in a holiday weekend and the joint is jumping. So I'm standing behind a guy flying a turbine Pilatus and he pays the single engine fee to the cute girl at the counter. My turn and she zaps me for the multi engine fee . (I knew all this) But the hulking Pilatus is towering over my poor little Apache and is almost twice as long in the fuselage and longer in the wing span. The Apache looks like a toy next to the Pilatus. So I point out the window and make a token protest (in fun) to her that I shouldn't be charged more, "Just look how big that single engine plane is".
She looks at me, grins, winks, and says "bigger is always better - NEXT"
 
I don't mind paying a landing fee at a big airport with services in the middle of a big city. I mind very much paying one at a podunk airport with few service sin the middle of nowhere. And I make it a point to only pay them once.
 
Rykymus said:
While I'd love for everything to be free, I don't really have a problem being charged a fee to use someone's ramp, or to land at someone's airport. How else is the runway going to remain in good condition so that I can land? How else is an FBO going to remain in business so they can provide the services I need?

I agree that they shouldn't be excessive, and that all fees, from either the FBO and the airport should be easily discernable. For the most part, they always have been everywhere I've flown. (I admit that the list is not the impressive.)
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And if you don't want any "services" other than parking and going through the FBO-controlled gate?
 
paflyer said:
And if you don't want any "services" other than parking and going through the FBO-controlled gate?
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Find out the boundary of the FBOs parking area. Park outside that. The walk will be a little longer.

At some "We really only want business jets parking here" type FBOs, complain about the walk if it takes more than a minute. At the very least you will get to ride in a stretch golf cart.
 
skiermike said:
Landing fees for single engine piston type stuff? Oh man... that’s so lame. I really hope that doesn’t make it out to the west coast... this passion of mine is doomed in the long run, for sure... get it while you can, boys.
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Too late, North Bend OR(KOTH) already charges a $10 landing fee... Probably to pay for their shiny new-ish tower. Got the bill in the mail after doing a little trip down the coast. Newport(KONP), on the other hand would be happy to have your business with decent fuel prices and courtesy cars.
 
Zeldman said:
Find out the boundary of the FBOs parking area. Park outside that. The walk will be a little longer.

At some "We really only want business jets parking here" type FBOs, complain about the walk if it takes more than a minute. At the very least you will get to ride in a stretch golf cart.
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Doesn't exist in a of places. And good luck with trying to access the ramp if the only way in/out is through the FBO.
 
paflyer said:
Doesn't exist in a of places. And good luck with trying to access the ramp if the only way in/out is through the FBO.
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Probably true back east.

Here in the southwest I can park out of an FBOs parking area. And not a problem using the FBO since they can not deny me access to my airplane. Or I just ride out and back in with the ambulance.

One time the number pad was not working to open the drive through gate. So I slid my flight can under the gate and over the sensor on the other side. Gate opened, and the medics thought I was some sort of genius..... Of course if it had not worked, they would have thought something else about me.

Believe me, I am a tightwad. I find where the pay to park places are and avoid them.
 
paflyer said:
Doesn't exist in a of places. And good luck with trying to access the ramp if the only way in/out is through the FBO.
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I was actually shocked, I saw on the Eugene, OR(KEUG) airport diagram that there's an area labelled "General Aviation Parking" away from the FBO. I called the airport admin, they said sure, $5/night, when you need to go back to your plane just call airport ops at the phone number on the sign and they'll escort you back out. Haven't tried it yet, but one of these days when I have a commercial flight out of Eugene I'll see how it works.
 
OkieAviator said:
Are you still not allowed to pump your own car gas?
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That ticks off my dad (he's passed, but lived in NJ) so much! It's ridiculous and every time I go up there to visit family I get ****ed off too. Some of the attendants are not in any hurry to fuel you so you can move.
 
mscard88 said:
That ticks off my dad (he's passed, but lived in NJ) so much! It's ridiculous and every time I go up there to visit family I get ****ed off too. Some of the attendants are not in any hurry to fuel you so you can move.
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"This m********* pumped his f****** own gas!!"

latest
 
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Dr. O said:
Landed at Mackinac Island (Lake Huron). ... he pays the single engine fee to the cute girl at the counter. My turn and she zaps me for the multi engine fee.
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Oh, I forgot about Mackinac Island. KMCD.

I have to take back what I said about never having paid to park at an untowered airport. I did pay at KMCD. They didn’t provide any service, or even any tie-down ropes. Just some grass where you pay to park.

I paid my fee to a glum male state-park employee who just sat in an office collecting a dozen payments each day and doing nothing else.

I think Mackinac Island is peculiar because it is a state park. Great destination in the summer, but the parking fee was an annoyance. Kind of like driving somewhere nice and having to stop to pay at a toll road booth.
 
mscard88 said:
That ticks off my dad (he's passed, but lived in NJ) so much! It's ridiculous and every time I go up there to visit family I get ****ed off too. Some of the attendants are not in any hurry to fuel you so you can move.
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Another of the many reasons not to go to new jersey...
 
Pilawt said:
Likewise in Oregon - no self-service gasoline for motor vehicles. But the law expressly excludes aviation fuels, so self-serve avgas is ok.
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And this is why I got a diesel pickup and a card lock account(and it gets good fuel mileage). Technically you are allowed to pump your own diesel, but many stations that sell gasoline won't allow it. Cardlock is available for personal accounts for diesel only. But now I can pump my own diesel in the car and avgas in the plane.
 
If it’s somewhere I’ve never been, or if I’m spending more than a few hours I always call the FBO to verify their hours, and to inquire about fees

I’ve found that basically everywhere I have been that charges a ramp fee will waive it with a small fuel purchase ~10 gallons or so

Considering I own my bird and pay for the gas, I will need the gas anyway at some point so if the place has a ramp fee that is waived with a fuel purchase, I’ll just purchase fuel. More value that way as I’m getting something I need anyway (except for the rare occasion that the fuel cost is so outrageous it would not be benificial)
 
JustinD said:
I’ve found that basically everywhere I have been that charges a ramp fee will waive it with a small fuel purchase ~10 gallons or so
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Recently overnighted in Morristown, NJ. Handlers had no idea how to tug (or even to connect a tow bar to) a Mooney after they marshaled and parked me in the middle of the main aisle. I ended up getting back in the airplane, firing it up, and taxiing over to the tiedowns myself. I was very polite and thanked them for asking me before they broke anything.

Then asked them to top it off. Next a.m., was charged $30 for a (non-)handling fee, $20 for overnight self-tie down, and for ~12 gallons of fuel at their $6-ish per gallon.

Me: I thought you waived the handling fee with a top off? Most places do.

Morning ramp guys: Nope. Need 20 gal min.

Me: How about a pro-rate?

Morning ramp guys: Nope.

Me: I can’t take any more or I would, because I topped off at the last stop for the same reason.

Morning ramp guys: Not our problem. We can’t waive it. Talk to the manager. He’s not in, though.

Me: OK, here’s my number.

>1 week later, manager calls

Me: Explain situation, suprised at non-waiver of fee with a top off.

Manager: Running a FBO is expensive. Never, ever heard of an FBO waiving fees with a top off. Need 20 gallons.

Me: You realize you charged me a premium fee for sub-premium handling and a self park due to non-trained handlers?

Manager: So sad. Too bad. Can’t refund after the fact. Call next time before you arrive, talk to me, and maybe we can work out a deal. <hear shiny jet turbine whine in the background>

Me: <Thinking, really? After no response from you that day, the next, or all week, you want me to try and get a hold of you for that kind of service??>
 
skippy101 said:
What is it with pop up ramp fee's? example. KIWA is now charging a ramp fee.
Nothing on there website. No flyers etc. The only way you find out is when you land.

I don't think they should be able to charge these pesky fee's unless there is a heads up in advance.
Click to expand...

Not real common at the GA airports in NC, and if they have them, they'll usually waive them if you buy gas. Segraves aviation runs the FBO at Morehead City (KMRH)...I'd avoid that place, at Kinston (KISO) too. The airports would love to have the business, but ironically, the FBOs are discouraging. I'd call an airport in advance if you're worried about fees. Expect them for the airports with regular commercial service, RDU, GSO, CLT, AVL, etc. PGV and EWN not so much.
 
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