Not rotary, but worth passing along
anyway.
From: Lancair Mailing
List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf
Of Stuart Seffern
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 7:29
AM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] FBO Gouging
I flew with a friend to the Kentucky Derby on Friday to KSDF
and blew a left main tire tube half way down the runway on landing. I
called Atlantic Aviation, the only FBO on the field, a week before to ask about
costs saying we were coming in for the Derby
weekend. They said there were no landing fees if you buy gas and only a
$5/night tie down. They also had free crew cars! Great!
It took 1 hour to arrive and tow us off the runway by
using a hand dolly under the tire and the tug tied onto our tow bar because
they did not have the correct adaptor. Atlantic
then wanted to charge me $200 for the tow, without asking
first. There were no tie downs. We could have easily
walked the airplane off the runway with the small hand wheel dolly.
Then they wanted $500 for their maintenance shop just to take a look at
it plus $75/hour to pull the tire, replace the inner tube and reinstall
the tire. Remember, Atlantic has no
competition on the airport.
Wait, it gets better! I respectfully declined Atlantic
Aviation's $800+ offer, and took the tire to the auto parts
store where I replaced the tube for 10 dollars, plus a 10 dollar tip to Eric,
the counter guy who let me use his work bench and tools for free. I then
found a gas station and filled the tire to what the gage said was 45
psi and reinstalled the tire on the airplane with two friends lifting up on the
wing with their backs, no jack!
When the airplane was lowered the tire looked a bit flat so
I checked the pressure and found the actual pressure was 30 psi! I then
walked over to Maintenance... five guys who were doing nothing but standing
around. I politely asked if they had a portable air tank
because I needed just about 10 pounds of pressure in order to safely take
off. They went into conference for ten minutes while Jim and
I stood there and then emerged to say that they would "sell me the
air" for $150!
So, It was back to the auto parts store to buy a
$30 air tank, and the gas station for air.
6.25/gal for 100LL!!... Also respectfully
declined, at this point not wanting to give them my credit card number.
We would stop on the way home if necessary!
Also, no free crew car or even a shuttle ride the 3
miles to the Churchill Downs. A Hertz Rental cost us $271.56 for a 27
hour rental with the AOPA Discount! (Glad I bet that $2
on Barbarao to win the Derby!)
Of course there is no recourse except telling this
story. It is the best "Consumer Protection" we
have! Repost this wherever you like.
Buyer Beware! Atlantic Aviation's FBO at KSDF is the
worst case of gouging I have seen in 30 years of flying!
Thank god for experimentals that we can repair ourselves!