6. AOPA Faces Off Against Big FBOs
Over the past year, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has been duking it out with big FBOs in the courts and city council chambers about how much it costs not to fly but to land many places. To get started, AOPA reached out to members to identify FBOs that its customers report charge excessive ramp fees, often coupled with sky-high fuel prices for a one-two punch that makes landing at certain airports an expensive proposition. The response from the FBOs, which often operate monopolies at popular GA airports, has been predictable. Very little movement. But in October, Signature Flight Support, the nation’s largest chain of FBOs and a prime offender in what AOPA calls “egregious pricing,” published its rates for piston singles at its facilities. The good news: At least we know what to expect. The bad news: The fees are still really high.
