Crew cars only for "professional" pilots?

BigBadLou

BigBadLou

Final Approach
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Lou
I recently called an FBO at a planned destination to reserve a crew car for about an hour and was surprised by the answer that I do not qualify because my airplane is not registered under a corporation.

Trying to analyze this strange-sounding requirement, I can only surmise that the FBO does not want every GA Joe Schmoe to wear out their Cadillac or Jaguar and that only fancy pilots in uniforms are worthy of the car keys. (again, this is only a WAG)

So would it help if I landed in my beat-up ol' rusty Cherokee, climbed out and walked up to the CSRs at the counter, asking for a crew car dressed like this?
(I wonder if they would bother counting the stripes :lol: )

Aaaaaaand discuss. :D
 

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Which FBO so we know not to use them.
 
Funny, because the genuinely fancy corporate pilots (the ones with the best jobs) aren't wearing uniforms either.

And yes, I'm jealous! :D
 
You need a tie to be a Pro!!! :)
 
Man, I've never had an FBO deny me a car because I was little fish. Often a fuel requirement, but even then, as long as I take what I can they'll usually give it to me anyway even if I don't meet the minimum.

Where the heck did you find five bar boards??
 
BigBadLou said:
I recently called an FBO at a planned destination to reserve a crew car for about an hour and was surprised by the answer that I do not qualify because my airplane is not registered under a corporation.

Trying to analyze this strange-sounding requirement, I can only surmise that the FBO does not want every GA Joe Schmoe to wear out their Cadillac or Jaguar and that only fancy pilots in uniforms are worthy of the car keys. (again, this is only a WAG)

So would it help if I landed in my beat-up ol' rusty Cherokee, climbed out and walked up to the CSRs at the counter, asking for a crew car dressed like this?
(I wonder if they would bother counting the stripes :lol: )

Aaaaaaand discuss. :D
Click to expand...

My airplane is registered in an LLC that sounds possibly corporate (but is just a name I made up and only owns the airplane) - does that mean I'd qualify for this crew car?
 
BigBadLou said:
I recently called an FBO at a planned destination to reserve a crew car for about an hour and was surprised by the answer that I do not qualify because my airplane is not registered under a corporation.

Trying to analyze this strange-sounding requirement, I can only surmise that the FBO does not want every GA Joe Schmoe to wear out their Cadillac or Jaguar and that only fancy pilots in uniforms are worthy of the car keys. (again, this is only a WAG)

So would it help if I landed in my beat-up ol' rusty Cherokee, climbed out and walked up to the CSRs at the counter, asking for a crew car dressed like this?
(I wonder if they would bother counting the stripes :lol: )

Aaaaaaand discuss. :D
Click to expand...

:yikes::hairraise::yikes::hairraise::yikes:
 
Never been turned down ether, also I've seen jet A burners which arnt registered to a corp.

By all means post the FBO and location.
 
Henning said:
Interesting, I've never been turned down if one existed.
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I was turned down once and I just did a 135 charter. I asked for a car to run in for a sandwich to take with me.

I was told they hold the cars for the jet crews only. But if I get a minimum of 50 gallons they will wave the landing fee.

Fortunately their lineman parked me way off to the side and out of view. I told the CSR girl, "wait, I left my flight can in the plane. I'll get it and give you a fuel order."

So I cranked up and left.

A week later we received a bill for the landing fee but without a tail number. It was sent back stating tail number needed for billing purposes.

When I find a non-piston friendly fbo, I just make a note of it and never go there again.
 
That sucks. I've always been pretty lucky with stopping in a good FBOs, even some with negative name recognition when it comes to piston pilots.
 
Were you by yourself? You need to be with two other people to form a 'crew'.
 
Back in the day, the manager of Hawthorne (the competitor to Signature) at Dulles told me he treats everybody the same. The guy who shows up in the Bonanza on Saturday may well be the guy who returns in the G-IV Tuesday. Of course, they've had a change of ownership there and while they treat everybody the same, it's with the same level of money gouging contempt.

I swung into Fayetteville and politely declined fuel and asked if there was a place over in the terminal to grab a bite. They insisted we take the crew van and head out to a local barbeque place. I have to say I was impressed.

Even Signature at IAD will offer up a crew car to me in the Navion when I ask.
 
KAPA - Jet Center will not loan car out to spam cans, don't know about TacAir
1V6 - Canon City - no cars for anyone. But you can rent one for $50/day
KFTG - never seen a crew car there, but there may be one or 2
 
Lou wrote me about this as I have the FBO listed in my app. I was able to confirm what he told me was accurate, that they will only loan to "Professional flight crews with a corporate registered airplane", for 2 hours. I modified the listing in my app to reflect this info. Glenn
 
Ive surprisingly never been turned down. Even as a snotnosed kid with a buddy with me, without buying fuel (but I put gas in the car before returning).
 
BigBadLou said:
I recently called an FBO at a planned destination to reserve a crew car for about an hour and was surprised by the answer that I do not qualify because my airplane is not registered under a corporation.

Trying to analyze this strange-sounding requirement, I can only surmise that the FBO does not want every GA Joe Schmoe to wear out their Cadillac or Jaguar and that only fancy pilots in uniforms are worthy of the car keys. (again, this is only a WAG)

So would it help if I landed in my beat-up ol' rusty Cherokee, climbed out and walked up to the CSRs at the counter, asking for a crew car dressed like this?
(I wonder if they would bother counting the stripes :lol: )

Aaaaaaand discuss. :D
Click to expand...

Why did you post 6PC's picture? LOL
 
Seanaldinho said:
Ive surprisingly never been turned down. Even as a snotnosed kid with a buddy with me, without buying fuel (but I put gas in the car before returning).
Click to expand...

I have never met an FBO policy written that couldn't be by passed, or fuel price that couldn't be negotiated, by simply being nice and smiling.
 
Gotta have the 'stache so they know you mean business.
 

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So if i pull up in my G650 and it is registered to in my name i cannot borrow a crappy car?
 
Solution:

Carry FAA bill of sale filled out with it being sold to a Corporation, and say you're ferrying it home for the company.
 
Just tell them to get FUUUCKED!
Better yet leave the number and I will call and ask for a car. When they tell me no I will act a fool!
 
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Is this Sugarland? Don't buy any fuel and use Uber... It will be cheaper than getting their crew car. Better yet land at a different airport...
 
Gubbins said:
Is this Sugarland? Don't buy any fuel and use Uber... It will be cheaper than getting their crew car. Better yet land at a different airport...
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The problem is that Sugarland is not the only sh*tty airport in Houston. I am starting to dislike Houston. Texas is a great friendly state but Houston somehow manages to form an exception.

Another option would be to go to Hooks where they are somehow friendly to GA pilots but then I'd have to drive across the whole stink-town and that defeats the purpose of flying.
 
I am really thinking about calling again and asking whether they care more about the plane being a "professional" plane or the pilots being "professionals" because I will be flying there with my ATP buddy and he could just flash his ATP ticket and see whether that would unwad the CSR's panties. :D

If that doesn't help, I'll have to just sit there in the plane until a private jet arrives and then walk in with the crew. :)
 
Bill of sale man, bill of sale.
 
jordane93 said:
And at least 10 stripes.
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We all know what separates the real pilots from the rest....

Lanyards and IDs. That **** says, " All access, baby!" A pilot without some sort of **** hanging around his neck with a picture on it just ain't a real pilot.
 
I'm sure it's just another FBO that's fed up with losing their car for 2 hours while some yokels from the next county over empty the tank to drive across town to some BBQ joint.

Yeah, I know, it's usually the charter pilots that leave the crew car tank empty, but not in the mind of the FBO manager. Of course GA pilots are cheap, and bich about paying $.75 gallon more than the self serve pumps at East BFE municipal airport.

I don't care such policies, but it's their business, and my option not to patronize it. One exception: if the airport has minimum standards for FBOs, and the minimum standards include the availability of crew cars, they may be in violation of the airport's rules.

Of course there are plenty of FBOs with no crew or courtesy cars at all.
 
Come on down to KOEL and use my courtesy car anytime! B)

Red and yellow black and white he who buys fuel is precious in my sight! LOL

But honestly, ANYONE who flies in is ALWAYS free to use basically anything they need.
 
I get paid to fly, but a quick glance at my dirty carhartts doesn't make one think "professional"
 
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