Landing fee at SJC? Are we now so far??

Hi:

my friend from SoCal complained several times that every
each time he lands in SJC to visit us, even if it is for
15min only to make a pickup, as soon he taxis to transient
parking at the Jet Center, they charge him $40. I called
Jet Center, but they decline to give any answer.

I do not fly from SJC anymore. For 6-7 years this was my
home base, I used to land on the old 30R and later on 29
literally hundreds of times, and this kind of news surprises
me. Virtually the entire general aviation, small piton
anyway, has been evicted and pushed away from SJC since,
but there are still some remaining hangars with small
aircraft. Maybe some of you know what is going on with
SJC? Is it true with the $40, or is it merely a Jet Center
rip-off?

Thomas

ThomasH wrote in
:


Hi:

my friend from SoCal complained several times that every
each time he lands in SJC to visit us, even if it is for
15min only to make a pickup, as soon he taxis to transient
parking at the Jet Center, they charge him $40. I called
Jet Center, but they decline to give any answer.

I do not fly from SJC anymore. For 6-7 years this was my
home base, I used to land on the old 30R and later on 29
literally hundreds of times, and this kind of news surprises
me. Virtually the entire general aviation, small piton
anyway, has been evicted and pushed away from SJC since,
but there are still some remaining hangars with small
aircraft. Maybe some of you know what is going on with
SJC? Is it true with the $40, or is it merely a Jet Center
rip-off?

Thomas


The $40 is the Jet Center's ramp fee. I haven't looked currently, but
a few years ago their ramp fee ($40) for a short stop was higher than
Signature's at SFO. There is no landing fee at SJC.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

On 05-Nov-07 8:42, Marty Shapiro wrote:
ThomasH wrote in
:

Hi:

my friend from SoCal complained several times that every
each time he lands in SJC to visit us, even if it is for
15min only to make a pickup, as soon he taxis to transient
parking at the Jet Center, they charge him $40. I called
Jet Center, but they decline to give any answer.

I do not fly from SJC anymore. For 6-7 years this was my
home base, I used to land on the old 30R and later on 29
literally hundreds of times, and this kind of news surprises
me. Virtually the entire general aviation, small piton
anyway, has been evicted and pushed away from SJC since,
but there are still some remaining hangars with small
aircraft. Maybe some of you know what is going on with
SJC? Is it true with the $40, or is it merely a Jet Center
rip-off?

Thomas

The $40 is the Jet Center's ramp fee. I haven't looked currently, but
a few years ago their ramp fee ($40) for a short stop was higher than
Signature's at SFO. There is no landing fee at SJC.

Thanks Marty!

Great, thus we have to discover how to park and avoid the
"ramp fee," for whatever they charge it... I do not want
drive to RHV to pickup my friend when he comes... Maybe
the east parking at ACM would be an option.


Let me tell a story: One upon a time, as the grass was green
and small aircraft took off every minute from SJC, like in
Van Nuys 16R... :-): On the east side is ACM aviation.
We used to get fuel from them before the 30R got extended.
My flight club was in the old terminal building east or 30L.
Later we moved to the west parking and our runway of
operation was the 29. Fuel service was than switched to
Jet Center, if I recall, and our office was in the same
building, in which they reside. A very nice pilot shop
with a deli was operating at the entrance, turned now into
a deli only and souvenir shop. There are no pilots anymore
at SJC...

The story of destruction of general aviation on this airport
almost got on the One Six Right DVD, and was discussed by
the AOPA a few times. The entire west side of the airport
has been demolished and is destined to be a large jet business
only. Tie down spots are deserted for some 2 years already.
Finally they constructed at least one new hangar on the
wasteland. The east side is for at least 15years a construction
zone, never ending. Now they have finally started the new
terminal building. This airport management is good only in
legal games and keeping their jobs, but they are a horror
with money management, planing, and of course, they forget
that airport is for aircraft, not for parking lots and
for abandoned land. Their concept is that all small craft
will go to the "relieve airport Reid-Hillview," but this
airport is one of the most aggressively contested airports
for a closure, see http://www.reidhillview.com/, and the
vicinity is, to be diplomatic, not high class. I was not
at ease to leave behind by car for an overnighter over there.

We also have a colossus here, almost dormant, the Moffett
Field. But city of Sunnyvale does not have any pilot
lobby and they to not promote the plan to convert
the still NASA field into a general aviation base for
the south bay!


Thanks for the diagrams in the other posting, but we do
have all these, don't we?

Thomas

ThomasH wrote in
:

On 05-Nov-07 8:42, Marty Shapiro wrote:
ThomasH wrote in
:

Hi:

my friend from SoCal complained several times that every
each time he lands in SJC to visit us, even if it is for
15min only to make a pickup, as soon he taxis to transient
parking at the Jet Center, they charge him $40. I called
Jet Center, but they decline to give any answer.

I do not fly from SJC anymore. For 6-7 years this was my
home base, I used to land on the old 30R and later on 29
literally hundreds of times, and this kind of news surprises
me. Virtually the entire general aviation, small piton
anyway, has been evicted and pushed away from SJC since,
but there are still some remaining hangars with small
aircraft. Maybe some of you know what is going on with
SJC? Is it true with the $40, or is it merely a Jet Center
rip-off?

Thomas

The $40 is the Jet Center's ramp fee. I haven't looked
currently, but
a few years ago their ramp fee ($40) for a short stop was higher than
Signature's at SFO. There is no landing fee at SJC.

Thanks Marty!

Great, thus we have to discover how to park and avoid the
"ramp fee," for whatever they charge it... I do not want
drive to RHV to pickup my friend when he comes... Maybe
the east parking at ACM would be an option.

No, it is NOT an option. They charege the same $40 as the Jet Center.
ACM Aviation was founded by A. C. Markula, one of the early big shots at
Apple Computer. When the Jet Center was built, he owned a sizeable
percentage of it as well. Eventually, both became part of SJJC Aviation
Services, LLC. In June of this year, SJJC Aviation Services, LLC was
purchased by Macquarie Infrastructure Company, which in April had purchased
the Mercury Air Centers chain of FBOs.


Let me tell a story: One upon a time, as the grass was green
and small aircraft took off every minute from SJC, like in
Van Nuys 16R... :-): On the east side is ACM aviation.
We used to get fuel from them before the 30R got extended.
My flight club was in the old terminal building east or 30L.
Later we moved to the west parking and our runway of
operation was the 29. Fuel service was than switched to
Jet Center, if I recall, and our office was in the same
building, in which they reside. A very nice pilot shop
with a deli was operating at the entrance, turned now into
a deli only and souvenir shop. There are no pilots anymore
at SJC...

I haven't been into the shop in several years. The last time I was,
they still sold charts and a few pilot supplies, but were mainly a deli.

I learned to fly at SJC and even soloed there. This was before the
airspace became alphabet soup and SJC was an ARSA airport. They day I
soloed, I was doing patterns on 29 with my instructor. He had me stop at
the Jet Center to take a break. He sent me into the gift shop to get a
sectional, telling me that I was going to start cross country lessons soon.
When I came out of the gift shop, he told me he had endorsed my medical and
go out and give him three patterns. As I walked out the door, he yelled at
me that his flight bag was in the airplane and I should take care of it.

I was also a member of the flying club you mentioned for several
years. They had been operating at SJC for something like 30 years when the
airport suddenly decided that the club rules were in violation of the
airport rules and kicked them out. These were the same club rules the
aiport approved when the club was first formed and allowed to base at SJC.
The club is now at RHV.

There are pilots at SJC, but they fly biz jets.

The story of destruction of general aviation on this airport
almost got on the One Six Right DVD, and was discussed by
the AOPA a few times. The entire west side of the airport
has been demolished and is destined to be a large jet business
only. Tie down spots are deserted for some 2 years already.
Finally they constructed at least one new hangar on the
wasteland. The east side is for at least 15years a construction
zone, never ending. Now they have finally started the new
terminal building. This airport management is good only in
legal games and keeping their jobs, but they are a horror
with money management, planing, and of course, they forget
that airport is for aircraft, not for parking lots and
for abandoned land. Their concept is that all small craft
will go to the "relieve airport Reid-Hillview," but this
airport is one of the most aggressively contested airports
for a closure, see http://www.reidhillview.com/, and the
vicinity is, to be diplomatic, not high class. I was not
at ease to leave behind by car for an overnighter over there.


When they first opened, the San Jose Jet Center and the airport were
not GA (read non-biz jet) hostile like they are today. Several flying
clubs were based there over the years (Business Aircraft Center, American
Flyers, Squadron Two Flying Club). Long ago, though, both turned hostile
to GA unless it was the biz-jet crowed or air cargo.

The Jet Center has even been hostile to Angel Flight. They did, in
the past (but no longer) hassle some Angel Flight pilots over the ramp fee
and I know of one Angel Flight camp mission for deaf children to Mariposa
which had to move at the last minute from SJC to RHV because the Jet Center
didn't want us there. The RHV airport staff was outstanding that day with
they way they pitched in and assisted both the Angel Flight pilots and all
the kids.

RHV is not going to be closed. That was finally defeated several
years ago and they have been making improvements. The idiots at the county
have finally wised up and are fixing up the second floor of the terminal
building and will have a restaurant there again (after over 20 years). No
one would lease because the county would only give a month-to-month lease.
Now they will give the restaurant a long term lease. They have also
repaved the parking area, redone the gated entrance, and made some other
improvements, using Federal grants, so they won't close it very soon.

The current RHV airport manager is a good guy and straight shooter.

BTW, SJC is owned and managed by the ****ty of San Jose. RHV, along
with PAO and E16, are managed by Santa Clara County. The county owns RHV
and E16, and manages PAO, which is owned by Palo Alto and leased to the
county.

We also have a colossus here, almost dormant, the Moffett
Field. But city of Sunnyvale does not have any pilot
lobby and they to not promote the plan to convert
the still NASA field into a general aviation base for
the south bay!

Its not just nimby's in Scummyvale. It's also the nimby's in Mutton
View which don't want GA at Moffett. But, NASA seems to have other ideas.
The Google 767 files out of Moffett and they do permit some freight
flights. I hope NASA lets in a lot of freight flights, especially in the
big jets which SJC can't easily handle, like the 747F.

Thanks for the diagrams in the other posting, but we do
have all these, don't we?

Thomas



--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

"MS" == Marty Shapiro writes:

MS Several flying clubs were based there over the
MS years (Business Aircraft Center, American Flyers, Squadron Two
MS Flying Club).

Also the Lockheed Flying club. I was a member of that during a
student intern stint, soloed and got my license out of SJC....a long,
long time ago.
--
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a
reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating
the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the great struggle
for independence.
~ Attributed to Charles Austin Beard

Bob Fry wrote in :

"MS" == Marty Shapiro writes:

MS Several flying clubs were based there over the
MS years (Business Aircraft Center, American Flyers, Squadron Two
MS Flying Club).

Also the Lockheed Flying club. I was a member of that during a
student intern stint, soloed and got my license out of SJC....a long,
long time ago.

Were you in the Jet Center or the old GA terminal building? There
were several other flying clubs at SJC which had lockers at the old GA
terminal before it was torn down to expand 30R.

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

(remove SPAMNOT to email me)

On Nov 5, 10:36 am, ThomasH wrote:

Actually 16R is mostly for kerosene burners too: bugsmashers are more
commonly directed to the smaller 16L.

Fortunately here in the valley we also have WHP, which doesn't attract
the jet set at all.

Let me tell a story: One upon a time, as the grass was green
and small aircraft took off every minute from SJC, like in
Van Nuys 16R... :-):

On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:26:10 -0800, ThomasH wrote
in :

Maybe some of you know what is going on with
SJC? Is it true with the $40, or is it merely a Jet Center
rip-off?


http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSJC/SJJC#c
From Avner Papouchado on 25-Oct-2007
Very expensive, not worth it. Have a monopoly on field and charge for
it. If you can make it to SQL (2600ft)

From Jeremy Elson on 30-May-2007
One of the best run FBOs I've ever used. It's true that fuel is
expensive here, but the premium is understandable given their
location, and the money is well spent on first class facilities and
top-notch staff. Even though I fly a light single (177RG), I
consistently receive superb service from everyone -- the linemen, the
receptionists, and everyone in between.

From Cory Von Pinnon on 11-May-2007
I was very impressed with these guys. We called inbound 15 minutes
prior to landing and told them we needed the works. Within 2 minutes
of engines shutting down, they had a GPU and fuel truck hooked up, and
the gals came out with the papers, coffee, and ice. Service doesn't
get much better. Great job guys.

From Gordon Prioreschi on 07-Dec-2006
Courteous and efficient, the way a large-airport jet center should be.
$40 to park a piston single overnight seems like a lot, but a little
perspective: it costs $36/day to park your *car* at SJC. And the
parking garage doesn't have valet service. And your car doesn't have
fifteen feet of wing sticking out of each side.

From Steve Seidner on 17-Aug-2006
I flew into SJC and used San Jose Jet Center. Without a doubt one of
the finest and best run FBO's in the country. There were there to
assist with all my needs and this was all just for my A36. They treat
the piston pilots as if they were flying a Gulfstream. Thanks for the
great job!

From Patrick Snow on 15-Jun-2006
One of the better corporate oriented FBO's. Prices seem to be on the
high side. Very crowded ramp space with a lot of larger corporate
aircraft. Fuel prices were very high. The fuel price was much higher
than our home base fuel price. We could not take the amount of fuel
required to get the discounted parking (1000 gallons). Only a 45
minute flight back to home base. Ramp fee was $900 for 4.5 hours on
the ramp. There is no competition between FBO's at KSJC anymore since
the San Jose Jet Center has purchased ACM. There are high prices at
both FBO's now. Aircraft: Boeing 737/BBJ.

From Michael Sutton on 25-May-2006
Busy, attractive FBO catering mainly to the kerosene set. Ramp fee of
$40 is waived with a minimum fuel purchase (25 gallons for my Cessna
T210). Friendly, efficient staff. AvFuel bonus points only awarded for
50-gallon purchase or top-off.

From Giani Philipp on 30-Sep-2005
"We have absolutely nothing to do, nor are we associated in any way
with Airnav" I was told by the manager, after telling him on Airnav
the fuel prices were drastically LOWER. At first, they also did not
believe me, so they were doing their own research until they found out
I was right, that is when they had to call the manager that had guts
enough to tell us pilots that AirNav is unimportant in "his" FBO and
that you can totally forget any sort of flexibility in that aspect.
Otherwise, the FBO is great, besides the Internet not working when I
needed it the most, but it is clean, and a nice place I had to add, if
you're looking for luxury, and want to spend extra cash, go there, you
get a free crew car as well, but make sure you accept the gas prices
and that they will differ from Airnav.

From Ken Price on 12-Jul-2005
When you see gasoline priced the way it is here, you can be sure it's
nothing more than gouging. They pay the same as anyone else selling
gas and don't believe anything else. In little towns out in the middle
of nowhere, it isn't this expensive. So it's gouging, pure and simple.
From Chuck Kissner on 09-Jun-2005
The San Jose Jet Center continues to be an excellent FBO. It is
difficult to keep a facility of this size operating consistently well,
but the SJJC seems to have done it. While there has been staff
turnover, this is normal for an operation of this scale in Silicon
Valley. The fact that things continue to operate well indicates good
management, strong procedures, and attention to training. Yes, it is
relatively expensive here, but I spend at least as much in many other
major metropolitan FBOs around the U.S.

From Carl Conti on 21-Mar-2005
Used to fly monthly there in a Meridian. There were outstanding people
there. Naomi Brown was one that I remember for positive attitude and
great service. All have left. On my last trip there I was charged
$100+ per day for parking. They count it as a full day if you are
there for any part of a 24 hour period, e.g.if you land at 6pm and
leave at 6am the next morning that's two days parking. They did
generously waive one day's parking out of 5 in consideration of the
130 gallons of fuel bought- but only after I complained. Now I fly
into HWD. The Hayward Jet center provides outstanding service if you
arrive before 5pm. Fuel price is at least $.50 cheaper. It's a little
longer drive to Milpitas, and I miss the on site Hertz office.

From Joshua Beadle on 14-Nov-2004
Concerning Kevin Bannon comments on 09-Oct-2004: I never fly into a
new FBO without first checking the AirNav comments. I am constantly
amazed by the "outraged" pilots who fly into a major city airport only
to be shocked by a minimum purchase of fuel to waive the parking fee.
Hey guys: make checking AirNav or calling ahead to the FBO part of
your preflight planning and quit the bitching. Kevin is the same kind
of pilot that gets "surprised" by the weather because he didn't check
it before launching.

On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:26:10 -0800, ThomasH wrote
in :

Maybe some of you know what is going on with SJC?

You'll find two Transient Parking areas depicted on this airport
diagram: http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0711/00693AD.PDF
Presumably there is not charge for tie down there.

On Nov 5, 9:29 am, Larry Dighera wrote:
On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:26:10 -0800, ThomasH wrote
in :

Maybe some of you know what is going on with SJC?

You'll find two Transient Parking areas depicted on this airport
diagram:http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0711/00693AD.PDF
Presumably there is not charge for tie down there.

Unless something has changed you still pay the $40 for those. SJC is a
very GA unfriendly airport (the county figures you should be at RHV).
I once landed at SJC to fly another plane. I pulled plane #1 out of
its tie down spot and put plane #2 into the spot while I went out to
fly plane #1. When I got back there were two security trucks sitting
there with their lights flashing. They said there were getting ready
to tow plane #2. They keep track of what plane is in which spot.

-Robert