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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
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