AdamZ
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
- Messages
- 14,866
- Location
- Montgomery County PA
- Display Name
Display name:
Adam Zucker
We all know them and have seen them at our airports. "Ramp Queens or Hangar Queens" Those planes that NEVER fly, Have flat tires, so much bird poop that the plane could be an add for a bird laxitive and about 1000 dead bees or flys between the windscreen and glare shield.
Those of us that don't own often think Hey if your gonna let that plane rot just give it to me to fly. Well I just realized its more than just an aviators sin to let your plane rot. Not only is it bad and in most cases fatal for the plane to let it sit there year after year, But its bad for GA as well.
For every Hangar and Tie Down that a Queen takes up at an airport like mine, it is a Hangar or Tie Down that can be leased to an owner who intends to fly his/her plane. It takes a spot of a plane that will purchase fuel, maintence and annuals, charts, headsets, Oil , and other GA supplies from the FBO.
These "Queens" Don't need anything but their spot. Thier hangars and tiedowns become like mauselieums (sp) or graves.
So heres the point. As we all know making Money in GA is hard enough. Profits for some of these FBOs are very thin. We can ***** and moan about FBO's and lack of service here and there. Yes there are folks out there that could care less about us little piston drivers. But on the whole Not only do the FBOs need us we need them. I for one make it a point to always get fuel at a Fly In if I can, or make a small purchase at an airport businness where ever I fly ( in my rented plane) even if its just a bottle of Soda and a new chart.
The rent that Ramp or Hangar Queens pay for thier tie downs spot just does not cut the mustard. In effect it actually takes money away from the FBO.
To that effect some local FBOs are considering charging resident owners a modest quaterly minimum Say $200.00 per quater. What owner wouldn't use that in fuel alone every 3 months. Heck most annuals would cover that. I'm not a big fan of fees but I say Do It. If it helps get ride of the Queens, opens up spots for active pilots and makes running an FBO or Mx shop more profitable it will be better for GA.
Did ya ever think that if running an FBO were more profitable we'd have more little guys in the biz for longer and you wouldn't have to be a national FBO chain that only caters to the corp turbine guys in order to make any money?
Just my thoughts. Tawk amongst yourselves as the lady said.
Those of us that don't own often think Hey if your gonna let that plane rot just give it to me to fly. Well I just realized its more than just an aviators sin to let your plane rot. Not only is it bad and in most cases fatal for the plane to let it sit there year after year, But its bad for GA as well.
For every Hangar and Tie Down that a Queen takes up at an airport like mine, it is a Hangar or Tie Down that can be leased to an owner who intends to fly his/her plane. It takes a spot of a plane that will purchase fuel, maintence and annuals, charts, headsets, Oil , and other GA supplies from the FBO.
These "Queens" Don't need anything but their spot. Thier hangars and tiedowns become like mauselieums (sp) or graves.
So heres the point. As we all know making Money in GA is hard enough. Profits for some of these FBOs are very thin. We can ***** and moan about FBO's and lack of service here and there. Yes there are folks out there that could care less about us little piston drivers. But on the whole Not only do the FBOs need us we need them. I for one make it a point to always get fuel at a Fly In if I can, or make a small purchase at an airport businness where ever I fly ( in my rented plane) even if its just a bottle of Soda and a new chart.
The rent that Ramp or Hangar Queens pay for thier tie downs spot just does not cut the mustard. In effect it actually takes money away from the FBO.
To that effect some local FBOs are considering charging resident owners a modest quaterly minimum Say $200.00 per quater. What owner wouldn't use that in fuel alone every 3 months. Heck most annuals would cover that. I'm not a big fan of fees but I say Do It. If it helps get ride of the Queens, opens up spots for active pilots and makes running an FBO or Mx shop more profitable it will be better for GA.
Did ya ever think that if running an FBO were more profitable we'd have more little guys in the biz for longer and you wouldn't have to be a national FBO chain that only caters to the corp turbine guys in order to make any money?
Just my thoughts. Tawk amongst yourselves as the lady said.