Slightly OT-Ping Jay-A Suggestion For Your Inn

[RL Anderson]

Hi Jay,

Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you.
Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft
owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the
concept of your inn.

As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
reservation").

Just my $0.02 suggestion.

Rick

[Newps]

RL Anderson wrote:
> Hi Jay,
>
> Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you.
> Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft
> owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the
> concept of your inn.
>
> As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
> missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> reservation").




Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.

[Mxsmanic]

Newps writes:

> Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.

That's illegal, and those frequencies are indeed used. A licensed
base station is a much better idea.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Ron Natalie]

RL Anderson wrote:

>
> As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
> missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> reservation").

You can buy that service from ARINC. The other option would be to
try to get access to the "unicom frequency for towered airports" or
such. I think it's 121.6 off the top of my head.

[Blueskies]

"Newps" > wrote in message . ..
:
:
: RL Anderson wrote:
: > Hi Jay,
: >
: > Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you.
: > Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft
: > owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the
: > concept of your inn.
: >
: > As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
: > missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
: > station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
: > operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
: > if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
: > you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
: > reservation").
:
:
:
:
: Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.

You are going to get so slammed, esp. if Jim Weir sees this!

[Jay Honeck]

> Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> reservation").

Cool idea! I'll look into it -- thanks, Rick!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Newps]

Blueskies wrote:
> "Newps" > wrote in message . ..
> :
> :
> : RL Anderson wrote:
> : > Hi Jay,
> : >
> : > Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you.
> : > Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft
> : > owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the
> : > concept of your inn.
> : >
> : > As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
> : > missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> : > station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> : > operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
> : > if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
> : > you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> : > reservation").
> :
> :
> :
> :
> : Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.
>
> You are going to get so slammed, esp. if Jim Weir sees this!



I cast out my Jim Weir lure on that one. So far no luck.

[BDS[_2_]]

> > : > As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
> > : > missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> > : > station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> > : > operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so
that
> > : > if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to
see if
> > : > you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> > : > reservation").

A few years ago I was on my way to Front Range airport in CO and had to stop
over night in Imperial, NE due to a line of thunderstorms. I called the
unicom a few miles out and since it was quiet I asked a few questions about
getting a room for the night. The nice lady on the other end of the radio
said she'd take care of everything for us and that a ride to the hotel would
be waiting when we arrived. I found out after I landed that the airport was
unattended - turned out the woman on the radio lived down the street a mile
or two. The pickup truck was waiting to give us a ride into "town" just
like she said.

Neat airport - when I went inside there was a cardboard box full of cash and
coins and a set of keys on the counter. The sign on the box said that the
keys were for the courtesy car and just leave some money for gas if you used
it.

BDS

[Ross]

Newps wrote:
>
>
> RL Anderson wrote:
>
>> Hi Jay,
>>
>> Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for
>> you. Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or
>> aircraft owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really
>> likes the concept of your inn.
>>
>> As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
>> missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
>> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
>> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so
>> that if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to
>> see if you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an
>> "airborne reservation").
>
>
>
>
>
> Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.

Good idea, but 122.75 can be real busy on a nice day. Been there, done that.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

[Jay Beckman]

"Ross" > wrote in message
...
> Newps wrote:
>>
>>
>> RL Anderson wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Jay,
>>>
>>> Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you.
>>> Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft
>>> owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the
>>> concept of your inn.
>>>
>>> As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking that something was
>>> missing. Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
>>> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
>>> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
>>> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
>>> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
>>> reservation").
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Just use 122.75 or 123.45. Nobody else uses those anyways.
>
> Good idea, but 122.75 can be real busy on a nice day. Been there, done
> that.
>
> --
>
> Regards, Ross
> C-172F 180HP
> KSWI

Out here in Phoenix, 122.85 and 122.75 are used in the southern and northern
practice areas respectively.

Jay B

[Mxsmanic]

BDS writes:

> Neat airport - when I went inside there was a cardboard box full of cash and
> coins and a set of keys on the counter. The sign on the box said that the
> keys were for the courtesy car and just leave some money for gas if you used
> it.

Wow ... it's nice to know there are still places in the world where
things can work that way.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Mxsmanic]

I was looking at the exterior photos of the hotel, and I didn't
realize that it was practically in the middle of an airport.

All sorts of ideas spring to mind, but they would all cost a lot of
money. For example, the tower is cool as-is ... but what if it were
remodeled to look like a control tower? With a closed deck on top
overlooking the airport, and scanners to monitor ATC and put it
through a few speakers. And if you had your own UNICOM station ...
well, lots of things could come together.

Are you close enough to the airport that aircraft could taxi and tie
down right outside the hotel? You could style some of the rooms like
gates at an airport. Customers with their own aircraft just taxi up
to the "gate" and hop off. They'd be able to keep an eye on their
aircraft just by looking out the window.

Looking at the Kiwi section, I note that you have part of the airport
simulated for MSFS. Do you have a .bgl file online for download that
shows the airport in detail along with your hotel? I could fly there
in MSFS.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Newps]

Mxsmanic wrote:

> BDS writes:
>
>
>>Neat airport - when I went inside there was a cardboard box full of cash and
>>coins and a set of keys on the counter. The sign on the box said that the
>>keys were for the courtesy car and just leave some money for gas if you used
>>it.
>
>
> Wow ... it's nice to know there are still places in the world where
> things can work that way.
>


SOP across most of the country.

[BDS[_2_]]

"Newps" > wrote

> >>Neat airport - when I went inside there was a cardboard box full of cash
and
> >>coins and a set of keys on the counter. The sign on the box said that
the
> >>keys were for the courtesy car and just leave some money for gas if you
used
> >>it.
> >
> >
> > Wow ... it's nice to know there are still places in the world where
> > things can work that way.
> >
>
>
> SOP across most of the country.

I've seen plenty of keys for courtesy cars and lock boxes for gas money but
this was the only time I saw that much cash just lying there in an open box
on the counter. Most of my flying has been east of the Mississippi though -
maybe it's more common out west.

BDS

[A Guy Called Tyketto]

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Hash: SHA1

Jay Honeck > wrote:
>> Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
>> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
>> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
>> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
>> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
>> reservation").
>
> Cool idea! I'll look into it -- thanks, Rick!

Just to follow up on that, Jay..

Should you do this, or even if you wanted to do this for the
CTAF there, have you thought of putting up a LiveATC feed should you do
this? That wouldn't take much, if anything at all, especially given
your close proximity to the field. There's already a feed for CID, but
for the general aviation guy, and especially the publicity and
advertising you'd get, it may be worthy.

Details are at http://www.liveatc.net. Just a thought.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email:
Unix Systems Administrator, |
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! :) | http://www.wizard.com/~tyketto
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[Mxsmanic]

Newps writes:

> SOP across most of the country.

I guess I've spent too much time living in big cities. I presume it
doesn't work that way in Baltimore or East Los Angeles, but perhaps in
smaller towns it does. It would make life a lot easier if it were
that safe everywhere.

If there are any scum reading this group, I suppose they'll be heading
out to the nearest small airport now, looking for easy cash.
Fortunately, however, most scum can't read.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Morgans]

> I cast out my Jim Weir lure on that one. So far no luck.

LoL!!!

You are more devious than I thought!

Wait until he gets back in range. I hear a shark can smell a drop of blood
a mile away! <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Jay Honeck]

> > SOP across most of the country.
>
> I've seen plenty of keys for courtesy cars and lock boxes for gas money but
> this was the only time I saw that much cash just lying there in an open box
> on the counter. Most of my flying has been east of the Mississippi though -
> maybe it's more common out west.

We often leave our courtesy van at the airport, for pilots to drive
over to the inn, or to get a bite to eat.

People outside the pilot community find that amazing. We find it
everywhere we go.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Looking at the Kiwi section, I note that you have part of the airport
> simulated for MSFS. Do you have a .bgl file online for download that
> shows the airport in detail along with your hotel? I could fly there
> in MSFS.

Not yet. The guys that are modeling Iowa City for me have asked that
I wait till their done before making the "package" of files publically
available.

I'll post here when it's ready for download.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> >> Have you ever thought of installing a "Unicom Style" base
> >> station, for your inn, with its own discrete freq? Given your
> >> operation, it might be a dynamite idea to have a freq available so that
> >> if a pilot is transiting your area, they could give you a call to see if
> >> you have space available for an evening stay (i.e.: an "airborne
> >> reservation").

Another great idea. We already play Unicom in the lobby, and the
scanner is about 4 feet from my computer, which is on all the time,
connected via DSL line to the internet.

I'll check that out, too. Thanks!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Mxsmanic]

Jay Honeck writes:

> Not yet. The guys that are modeling Iowa City for me have asked that
> I wait till their done before making the "package" of files publically
> available.
>
> I'll post here when it's ready for download.

They are doing the whole city? Cool.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

[Peter R.]

On 2/5/2007 5:56:32 PM, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

> Another great idea. We already play Unicom in the lobby, and the
> scanner is about 4 feet from my computer, which is on all the time,
> connected via DSL line to the internet.
>
> I'll check that out, too. Thanks!

Archives at LiveATC.net are up to 45 days now, so if for no other reason you
should offer the feed so that you will have the ability to listen to your
Unicom calls up to a month and a half after making them.

--
Peter

[Newps]

A cool one is Seeley Lake, Montana. They have a short school bus as one
of their courtesy cars. Complete with the school bus door with that
long arm to open it. It's painted white but still pretty cool.




Jay Honeck wrote:

>>>SOP across most of the country.
>>
>>I've seen plenty of keys for courtesy cars and lock boxes for gas money but
>>this was the only time I saw that much cash just lying there in an open box
>>on the counter. Most of my flying has been east of the Mississippi though -
>>maybe it's more common out west.
>
>
> We often leave our courtesy van at the airport, for pilots to drive
> over to the inn, or to get a bite to eat.
>
> People outside the pilot community find that amazing. We find it
> everywhere we go.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Blueskies]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message ups.com...
:> > SOP across most of the country.
: >
: > I've seen plenty of keys for courtesy cars and lock boxes for gas money but
: > this was the only time I saw that much cash just lying there in an open box
: > on the counter. Most of my flying has been east of the Mississippi though -
: > maybe it's more common out west.
:
: We often leave our courtesy van at the airport, for pilots to drive
: over to the inn, or to get a bite to eat.
:
: People outside the pilot community find that amazing. We find it
: everywhere we go.
: --
: Jay Honeck
: Iowa City, IA
: Pathfinder N56993
: www.AlexisParkInn.com
: "Your Aviation Destination"
:

One thing everyone seems to miss about this...you are leaving a ~80 amu aircraft so you can run around town in a ~10 amu
ground transport machine. Seems to make sense that it would be available...

[Jay Honeck]

> > I'll post here when it's ready for download.
>
> They are doing the whole city? Cool.

Nah, just major landmarks.

Which is good, since it already runs pretty jerky, just with the few
buildings they've modeled thus far. Those add-ons are big files.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"