And we wonder why some FBOs, especially in big cities, are so expensive. Courtesy cars (with associated insurance cost) first class facilities, and cities that feel they should get a chunk of the revenue.
Don't get me going!
Dave
Well ya know I've got mixed feelings on this.
At 6Y9 we are about as basic as you can get ,so the cost to use it is pretty much zero for any pilot to fly in. I do the maintenence ,but I'm going to use it anyway, my burden in life so to speak.
On the other hand at 9D9,(a GA airport only) where I keep my plane, the whole city and county taxpayers foot the bill.(Fed money also) Except for the 50-60 pilots that use it ,it almost gets to be a pilots country club.
With budget cuts and all, some of us pilots,(few) volunteer to help with whatever needs to be done, some of the others b_t_h and complain about the snow plowing, or the grass, or about boo-koo other things and don't lift a finger,some do neither. It's no wonder many of the non flying public question why their tax dollars are being spent for the sole use of the "rich pilots"
In my opinion one of the biggest threats to GA is the pilots, we need to help more at the airports. I think this is why some are promoting user fee's.
Example: We have a pilot who has sold his business for millions, flys many days of the week for fun, yet buys fuel at other airports because it's .05 cents cheaper,complains about everything the manager does or doesn't do. While he's complaining others are flipping pancakes one sat. a month to drum up money for things like windsocks,etc.
Smaller airports are in jeopardy if pilots don't support them.
Ask what you can do to help, everybody!!!