Thread: Ramp Fees
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Old August 29th 08, 01:53 AM posted to rec.aviation.owning
dave
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Posts: 37
Default Ramp Fees



Mike wrote:
"noname" wrote in message
...
I landed at Bridgeport airport in Connecticut to pick up a friend and
ended up at Atlantic Aviation Services. I was trying to get on the
other side of the tarmac to where my friends plane was parked but it
was blocked. The FBO guy waved me in to park and with nowhere else to
go I parked. Before I got off the wing of my plane, I was told to pay
ramp fees of $20.
I told him I was going to leave and he insisted that I go inside and
pay or I would get billed via N number. I went in and complained and
they insisted again.

I paid and commented on their policy which left them surprised.

Is this legal to not have the ramp fees posted and demand payment even
though I offered to leave their ramp immediately?


Yes, it is legal. When you land at an airport, you are essentially
patronizing a business and the responsibility is with you to investigate
such things beforehand.

I think that it is entrampment by having the ramp blocked and the ramp
rat guide me to parking.


In this case, their fees were clearly posted in the official publication
and the fee advertized was a landing fee, not a ramp fee. So you
incurred that cost as soon as your wheels hit the runway, not when you
taxied to the ramp. It may also be the airport, and not the FBO who is
charging the fee. The FBO may just be the collection point.


No the landing fees are totally different than the ramp fees. The
airport charges the landing fees and the FBO charges the ramp fees.

I was flying with an instructor who works from that airport and was also
totally appalled.
I have yet to see anywhere where it is advertised that there is a $20.00
ramp fee. If anybody can find one, please let me know and I'll accept
that I was taken by my own ignorance.

The afd from the faa says "Parking fee all acft after 2 hrs. Ldg fee all
acft except solo students. Flight Notification Service (ADCUS) available."

In hindsight I should have just pulled the chalks and left with them
hanging on my wing and wait for them to bill me.

Dave