Fees at Dulles (KIAD)?

I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature
and Piedmont/Hawthorne. Folks driving Gulfstreams and Beechjets
probably don't think about those kinds of things and they probably
make up most of the customer base. I'm flailing along in a Beech 23
and really cannot afford to have the charges add up to the value of my
airframe!

Has anybody done an overnight at KIAD recently? What kind of chrages
(and reception) did you get?

Thanks,

Jack
Sundowner - N6363U

"Jack McAdams" wrote in message m...
I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature
and Piedmont/Hawthorne.

The landing fee and parking fees are small. Less than $10 each. The
gouge fee is rather steep if you don't by fuel. Hawthorne used to be
the better FBO, but when Piedmont ousted the local management, it
went into the toilet. It took me months to get the billing straightened out
the last few months we were based there.

Jack,
I called Signature at IAD a couple of weeks ago and there is an
$8 landing fee, a $24 parking fee for 24 hours and a $20 handling fee.
The handling fee is waived if you buy 7 gals or more of gas.
I also fly a Sundowner and that's what these fees were based on.
They don't seem to go by light single, twin, etc... They ask you your
make/model.


"Jack McAdams" wrote in message
m...
I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature
and Piedmont/Hawthorne. Folks driving Gulfstreams and Beechjets
probably don't think about those kinds of things and they probably
make up most of the customer base. I'm flailing along in a Beech 23
and really cannot afford to have the charges add up to the value of my
airframe!

Has anybody done an overnight at KIAD recently? What kind of chrages
(and reception) did you get?

Thanks,

Jack
Sundowner - N6363U

On 29 Dec 2003 13:18:51 -0800, (Jack McAdams) wrote:

I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature
and Piedmont/Hawthorne. Folks driving Gulfstreams and Beechjets
probably don't think about those kinds of things and they probably
make up most of the customer base. I'm flailing along in a Beech 23
and really cannot afford to have the charges add up to the value of my
airframe!

Has anybody done an overnight at KIAD recently? What kind of chrages
(and reception) did you get?

I did not do an overnight at Dulles, but on 09/09/2003, I parked a
Cessna 172 for a day at Piedmont (recommened by my CFI).

Landing fee was $10.96, and ramp/parking was $20.00.

aw

"aaronw" wrote in message ...

Landing fee was $10.96, and ramp/parking was $20.00.

You were overcharged on the landing fee. The rest of the gouge
is at the FBO's discretion.

Jack,
Consider Leesburg, KJYO. Not much further and a lot cheaper. Still
Piedmont but less issues with the Turbine set.

Michelle

Jack McAdams wrote:

I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature
and Piedmont/Hawthorne. Folks driving Gulfstreams and Beechjets
probably don't think about those kinds of things and they probably
make up most of the customer base. I'm flailing along in a Beech 23
and really cannot afford to have the charges add up to the value of my
airframe!

Has anybody done an overnight at KIAD recently? What kind of chrages
(and reception) did you get?

Thanks,

Jack
Sundowner - N6363U



--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

I love flying into large airports, so this might not be everyone's
experience, but I found Dulles as accommodating and friendly (in terms of
controllers/FBO) as any other large airport. I went to Piedmont each time,
and they are very friendly. I think they charged $10 or so, and I didn't
buy gas. Maybe the waived the ramp fee for me, I don't know. But I try to
be nice to the FBO people and they usually return it.

Jets (but never the airlines) are sometimes a little condescending to us
little guys but why would I care about small minds?


"Jack McAdams" wrote in message
m...
I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Flying sounds a lot more logical but I am wondering about the fees
charged by either of the big-time FBOs there. I think it is Signature

(Jack McAdams) wrote in message om...
I am going to take an instrument training seminar near Dulles in
January and am trying to decide if I should fly down (1.3 hrs) or
drive (3.5 hrs).

Fly sounds easier, and more fun!

...

Has anybody done an overnight at KIAD recently? What kind of chrages
(and reception) did you get?

I fly out of Leesburg (JYO). Depending where your seminar is, either
Leesburg or Manassas would be a cheaper bet. Prices are cheaper, and
the traffic is used to smaller planes. Rental cars can be available
at either place, call the FBO to prearrange. Manassas is a towered
airport, Leesburg is uncontrolled. At Leesburg people typically enter
the pattern on a 45. If Leesburg is using 17, then the "blue water
tower" is a common spot to call about on the way to the quarries,
another popular checkpoint. If runway 35, then there's no such named
checkpoints.

Don't forget the ADIZ stuff in any case, file, talk, and squawk.

Have a good trip.

-Malcolm Teas