Facilities Charge?

scottyboy75

scottyboy75

Well-Known Member
Is it common for FBO's to charge a facilities charge? The reason I ask is I landed to get fuel at Sun Valley and because I did not buy 25 gallons of gas they charged me 25 bucks. It wasn't a landing fee it just reads facilities. Did I just pay to use their urinal?
Shane
 
Yeah, some will. Some are required to do so by local laws. You just have to call and check before flying into a place.
 
I guess it took my by surprise because when it was Sun Valley Aviation I paid no charge. They recognized me asked if I was going to be in the EC 120 this summer and then charged me. Did not even mention the facility charge.
Shane
 
Next time tell them you are a student pilot on a solo xc...Gets you of out of a ramp fee sometimes.
 
MikeOH58 said:
Next time tell them you are a student pilot on a solo xc...Gets you of out of a ramp fee sometimes.
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RICHARD5 said:
"Sun Valley traffic, Lear 45 on final, student pilot, Sun Valley."
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Haha, that's excellent. I like the advice Mike...

On topic, yes, ramp fees, facility fees, overnight fees, and tie down fees are all becoming more prevalent every where I go. I know our company charges a $5 or $10 ramp fee (I don't remember which) for a single piston. With the purchase of fuel or coming at the right time of night (or day) you'll be able to get out of it.

Sometimes it amazes me what we get charged on the road as a lifeguard. Signature in MIA charged two of our Citation S-II's (one brought the heart team down, the other the liver team) $551 for a landing, ramp, and facilities fee. After the GM got in to work at 9A.M. we were able to bring it down $100 a piece. Still, we were there five hours. It doesn't make sense for us to buy fuel either; we're 50 minutes away and we have our own fuel.
 
AviatorGator said:
Sometimes it amazes me what we get charged on the road as a lifeguard. Signature in MIA charged two of our Citation S-II's (one brought the heart team down, the other the liver team) $551 for a landing, ramp, and facilities fee. After the GM got in to work at 9A.M. we were able to bring it down $100 a piece. Still, we were there five hours. It doesn't make sense for us to buy fuel either; we're 50 minutes away and we have our own fuel.
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That's Signature for you. :banghead: They get so annoyed if you aren't coming in there looking for jet-A. That means you're too small and an embarrassment on their ramp.
 
FiveO said:
That's Signature for you. :banghead: They get so annoyed if you aren't coming in there looking for jet-A. That means you're too small and an embarrassment on their ramp.
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:yeahthat: That said, MIA is a special case. I've never seen anything quite like it at other signatures, especially as a lifeguard. That said, I wish the MIA situation was better. That cost gets passed on to the customer, which in turn nails the health insurance companies and the organ recipient. It's one thing to roll up there with some well off family or a group of execs. It's quite another when the heart/lung team is racing back; every minute counts. The only reason we go there is because of the FBO's proximity to the hospital. Fighting over ramp fees and how long it will take to open the ramp access gate should not enter the equation.
 
MikeOH58 said:
Next time tell them you are a student pilot on a solo xc...Gets you of out of a ramp fee sometimes.
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TAC AIR wanted to charge $30.00 to me and the student, if we didn't get fuel.
I say, "it is a c-150 and has been in the air for an hour, the max you will fit in is 5 gallons."

They didn't care, so we bought 5 gallons. :panic:
 
AviatorGator said:
:yeahthat: That said, MIA is a special case. I've never seen anything quite like it at other signatures, especially as a lifeguard. That said, I wish the MIA situation was better. That cost gets passed on to the customer, which in turn nails the health insurance companies and the organ recipient. It's one thing to roll up there with some well off family or a group of execs. It's quite another when the heart/lung team is racing back; every minute counts. The only reason we go there is because of the FBO's proximity to the hospital. Fighting over ramp fees and how long it will take to open the ramp access gate should not enter the equation.
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It's so unfortunate. As they say, pick your battles, Signature.
 
FiveO said:
That's Signature for you. :banghead: They get so annoyed if you aren't coming in there looking for jet-A. That means you're too small and an embarrassment on their ramp.
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I wish Signature would at least offer reciprocity for you if you tie down your a/c at another Signature. We keep our plane at Signature PIE, which you would think meant that we could get free overnight tie-down at PBI ... Negative.
 
Murdoughnut said:
I wish Signature would at least offer reciprocity for you if you tie down your a/c at another Signature. We keep our plane at Signature PIE, which you would think meant that we could get free overnight tie-down at PBI ... Negative.
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They are the WORST there. I have a horror story for another day.
 
Murdoughnut said:
I wish Signature would at least offer reciprocity for you if you tie down your a/c at another Signature. We keep our plane at Signature PIE, which you would think meant that we could get free overnight tie-down at PBI ... Negative.
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So true! We've started to work deals with several of the signatures in our area that we fly into on a regular basis; I've actually not had much to complain about. But every one of them is a different deal, no reciprocity like you said. PBI is interesting; we like Jet Aviation because we'll go in the pilot's lounge and play Wii while the doctors are at the hospital :rawk: Tennis, anyone?
 
Signatures have to make money, thus the landing/handling charge. Atlantic will hit you with an even larger charge. Medical flights are no exception as they pass along the charges anyway. If a line guy has to marshal and chock you, then you're getting charged! Included in that fee is an airport charge. :)
 
fly4food84 said:
Signatures have to make money, thus the landing/handling charge. Atlantic will hit you with an even larger charge. Medical flights are no exception as they pass along the charges anyway. If a line guy has to marshal and chock you, then you're getting charged! Included in that fee is an airport charge. :)
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Money is king, no doubt. However, if you show me an airport that has both an Atlantic and a Signature, I'll show you an airport where Signature charges more. Every time.

My point about the medical flights was that they are few and far between, and charging them outrageous facility fees, etc. only hurts all of us and raises the cost of healthcare and insurance.

Not every airport charges fees. Gainesville does not charge a transient same day parking fee to our FBO. The FBO charges smaller aircraft a nominal fee which is wavied with a fuel purchase. Even at big airports (MIA for example) care to guess what the landing fee is that goes directly to Miami-Dade county? Less than $18.00. If you're able to go to the domestic general aviation terminal there, you're in luck. If you need anything more than that, over $500 for a light jet to park for 5-6 hours is completely unreasonable. Period.
 
Signature is cheaper in all these cities in both AVGAS and Jet. KMSY, KHOU, KCRP, KPSP, KISM, KSBA, KSNA.

At other locations, either Jet or AVGAS is cheaper so I'll consider them equal. At no location is an Atlantic cheaper than a Signature.

FBO's have to charge high fees to make people buy fuel... other wise they will not stay in business. At most FBO's a top off will wave all fees, even if it takes 5 gallons.

I have both an Atlantic and Signature on my field at MSY and I know both in and out. The only thing Atlantic has over a Signature is a better marketing department and Reward Bucks.

Regarding Miami, I agree stay away if at all possible... they ARE insane.
 
Murdoughnut said:
I wish Signature would at least offer reciprocity for you if you tie down your a/c at another Signature. We keep our plane at Signature PIE, which you would think meant that we could get free overnight tie-down at PBI ... Negative.
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It's not waived because it's an airport charge. KPBI enforces this charge to Signature. The alternative FBO on the field will charge you the same.

The only fee that Signature can waive is the handling charge or give you a discount for being a based customer.
 
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