Comments should be posted on the AIRNAV
site for that airport. http://www.airnav.com/
Al
Warning!
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.
Now we needed gas....
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!
Regards,
Stu Seffern
www.Lantzairflyers.com
sseffern@yahoo.com