This is killing me!!!

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:42:38 -0800, "mindenpilot"
wrote:

Sorry for the rant.
I just flew into Reno tonight.
As it turns out, Sierra Air Center, the only GA facility on the ramp that
doesn't charge a ramp fee, now charges a $15 parking fee.
Yup, as of Jan 1 there's no more free landing at Reno.
What makes it worse is they said, "There's no fee if you get 15 gallons of
fuel".
That sounded OK to me. I was almost full anyway.
18 gallons of fuel at $3.73 a gallon!
It would have been cheaper if I filled up in Minden and paid the $15 parking
fee.
It's only $2.80/gal in Minden!
I felt violated!

When Meigs was open the numbers were similar, perhaps higher... I
recall a handling fee in addition to the parking fees.

It seems like a lot of money when you are used to parking for free at
most airports. Then I realized that I get to park for free in the
suburbs, and I do not downtown. Leaving my car overnight in a
downtown parking garage would have cost about the same as the Meigs
fees.

I never complained after that.

-Nathan

If you don't want to pay these fees you can limit your flying to fields
without FBOs.

???

You don't find charging $15 to park a Spam Can for 90 minutes to be
excessive?

I don't know where you fly, but here in the Midwest that FBO would be
ostracized out of existence.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

When Meigs was open the numbers were similar, perhaps higher... I
recall a handling fee in addition to the parking fees.

Bad comparison. Everyone knew that Meigs was very, very special, and gave
you unprecedented access to one of the great cities of the world.

Despite this status, many of us bitched about paying that fee, too -- and
limited our visits to very special occasions. Chicago would have been
money ahead to have eliminated those fees.

And I've flown to Reno. Outside of the air races, which are held one week
per year, there is nothing there that would make me want to return.

But the market will work, as it always does. Either this FBO will shortly
be rolling in money, or they will be crying because all of their business
evaporated.

If I had to guess, however, it's more likely that they make 95% of their
money on charters, but spend 30% of their payroll servicing Spam Cans. Some
bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive away
the little guys.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:8KrKd.32689$EG1.17113@attbi_s53...

You don't find charging $15 to park a Spam Can for 90 minutes to be
excessive?


I understand free market competition and that FBOs need revenue. Don't want
to pay fees for parking? Don't go to airports that charge them.

Some
bean counter figured this out, and is now intentionally trying to drive away
the little guys.

Or maybe have them pay their fair share...

Dave

There's no free market out here in California, and I suspect the same
in Boston. It takes a blessing from the county/city to approve miles of
permits. The county councils interview applicants and approve their
favorite.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...

There's no free market out here in California, and I suspect the same
in Boston. It takes a blessing from the county/city to approve miles of
permits. The county councils interview applicants and approve their
favorite.


There are many in government that do not understand the value of free
markets. That's true nationwide.

"Steven P. McNicoll" blatthered...
Man, I'm bummed.
I liked to fly into Reno, get some lunch/dinner, practice in class C,
etc.
No more.


If you don't want to pay these fees you can limit your flying to fields
without FBOs.

Or you can fly into fields that don't charge the fees...and that's about 95%
of the fields that have FBO's.

Geez!!!
--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:8KrKd.32689$EG1.17113@attbi_s53...
If you don't want to pay these fees you can limit your flying to fields
without FBOs.

???

You don't find charging $15 to park a Spam Can for 90 minutes to be
excessive?

I don't know where you fly, but here in the Midwest that FBO would be
ostracized out of existence.

I think I've hit maybe two fields without FBO's in the past couple years,
only three or four that have fees, and NONE that are so egregious.

I love it when companies/communities shoot themselves in the ass then bitch
when it backfires in their face. :~)


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
.net...

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:8KrKd.32689$EG1.17113@attbi_s53...

You don't find charging $15 to park a Spam Can for 90 minutes to be
excessive?


I understand free market competition and that FBOs need revenue. Don't
want
to pay fees for parking? Don't go to airports that charge them.

Free market competition on a municipally owned airport?

What school of economic theory is that from?


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO